Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-04-06
AN AWAKENING.

In a crowded street man whose funeral
he had attended seven years before, he will
then be able to realize how i felt when j
came suddenly upon Milton Ross in far
western city.
stopped abruptly, rooted to the pave
ment, as it were, with the shock.
"Why, Miltonr" cried, holding forth
my hand
There was not a sign of recognition in
his face; indeed there was that very faint
curl of the lip, hardly a sneer, which is
often seen when person is saluted by mis-
take. But it was impossible that l could
make any mistake about this man. Years
before, had met him almost daily in our
eastern home had frequently transacted
business with him-knew him, as the say
ing goes, as we'll as though he had been
my brother And what if had attended
his funeral, seven years before? Here he
stood, in his own person, the same as when
last saw him in life bearing not a trace
of age nor change.
"You surely know me- Milton, said
81 am John Tanner"
This time there was very decided sneer
and it was in his speech.
II don't doubt that your acquaintance
is very desirable one, Mr.. Tanner, to
the misfortune not to be of the number.
Please stand aside, sir i"
/ obeyed in dumb amazement, and he
walked on. Every word and motion gave
me increased assurance that here was no
mistake. Not only was the voice that OF
Milton Ross, but the manner and sub
stance of his speech had that half sarcas-
tic dash for which be had been noted. i
watched him as he strobe off through the
crowd. And there was his peculiar gait,
that l could have sworn to anywhere; a
weakness in the right hip causing the step
of that foot to be shorter than the step of
the left.
My business in this town was finished,
and was on my way to the railroad sta
ton when this meeting occurred. My res
olution was at once taken to wait for
another train. Nature had given me an
investigating disposition. / was not the
person to see dead men walking about,
without calling them TO account for the
eccentricity of the proceeding. So / fol
lowed my quondam friend down the street,
keeping him easily IN sight. Once stop
ped a gentleman who had the air of being
a resident of the place, begged his pardon,
and indicating the object of my pursuit
asked him if he could tell me that mans
name. He could certainly-that was
Stanley Robbins, the merchant.
"Lives here?'
"Oh, yes"
"How long?"
My informant reflected an instant and
said the time was rather more than six
years.
l continued the pursuit 1t led me into
a large dry goods establishment, over the
g 4
in great gilt letters the name Of Robbins.
Walking straight back to the Office, j
found the proprietor alone His fair fore
head contracted into frown as he saw
me. And then he did IA thing which
seemed to me very significant. He closed
the office door.
''Sir, you are laboring under very Gu
rious delusion, he said.
''Sir, l am not! You were long a resi-
dent of s., in the state of -. You
were buried there seven years ago. How
you got out of your grave and got so much
life into you, don't know and have the
curiosity TO find out. How was it?'
The man certainly had amazing self pos
session. i had adopted a tone and manner
of cool assurance, hoping TO throw him of
his guard, but he overmatched me. His
face wore an easy smile, "a combination of
amusement and irritation, and he replied
promptly to my accusation:
MY dear sir, please remember that
am business man and have not the time
for any sensational nonsense. You look
like a person in possession of his senses,
and am willing TO believe that it is only
your zeal that has led you into annoying
me about an accidental resemblance. If
you have no other business here, must
wish you good morning"
How provokingly cool he was, TO be
surel But / was not to be thrown off the
scent by any such device. l put my card
down on the desk before him.
"Alr. Ross" said, "there is my name
1t is well enough known to you without
the card / shall leave this town by the
o'clock train; in the meantime / shall be
at the C house. You'd better call
there and explain this resurrection to me-"
He Tipped away the card and took down
ledger. My hand was on the doorknob
when he swung his stool round and faced
me.
"You don't-that is-you won think il
necessary to telegraph or write to s.
before / see you again."
Confession spoke in the words
Milton 1 said, "this masquerading
has gone far enough with us. You see /
can't be deceived. Speak out, now, like
man and explain yourself"
/ saw rapid change in his face as he
opened the door himself and called out:
"Mr. Perkins, shall be particularly
engaged for an hour. / must not be dis
turbed."
He led the way to his private Office,
locked the door and asked me TO sit down.
Then he stood before me, and said in a
defiant voice that was plainly assumed:
you are right, Mr.. Tanner, am Mil
ton Ross. What them"
Nothing in particular. Only IL strikes
me that perhaps you've missed your voca-
ton. You seem to be doing prosperous
dry goods business here. But from the
manner in which you've faced me down
for the last half hour / should say you
would make capital actor
His cool bravado vanished in an instant.
The strain had been too great, and his
breakdown was complete. He dropped
helplessly into a chair and looked pitifully
at me.
"For the last half bour Tobn ~ Ia ,osd