The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-05-19

He Made when Addressed by the Bishop
The Estate Changed Owners.
The following remarkable incident
in the life of the late Samuel Wilber-
force. bishop of Oxford and afterward
Of Winchester, is related as absolutely
authentic. and the good bishop himself
is said 10 have many times rehearsed
the story to his friends. Bishop vii.
berforce was most prominent among his
CONTEMPORARIES Of the English clergy
and was once a leader Of the high
church party. He, however. frequent
" found time to devote to the social
side of life and was sometimes STYLED
the bishop Of society.
On a certain occasion the worthy
bishop had accepted an invitation to
stay at a country house not far from
London. Entering the drawing room
previous to dinner on the evening of his
arrival. he noticed a priest evidently
of the Roman COMMUNICATING bv
the open fire and taking no part in the
general conversation. The bishop was
somewhat surprised at not being pre-
sented to the priest, and his astonish-
ment was great when, few moments
later, dinner being announced, the
guests retired, leaving the priest at his
place by the fire. The hostess having
assigned Bishop Wilberforce the seat Of
honor at her right hand, as soon as an
opportunity offered no remarked:
Il beg your pardon. madam, but
may | inquire who was the priest we
left sitting apart in the drawing rooms"
"Ah, you have seen him, thenf'' re-
Piled the lady. 1T is not every one
who has that privilege. | cannot tell
YOU who he is or whence he comes.
For many years this specter has haunted
the house and grounds-it has, in fact,
been tradition in the family. He
seems to do no harm, and although he
appears only occasionally we have be-
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost. -
How very singularr' remarked his
lordship. But have you never adj
dressed your priestly specters"
Indeed. have had no opportunity,
nor the desire. for that matter" re-
sponded the hostess, growing pale.
May take the liberty now?" in
quired the dignitary.
with all my heart, your lordship,"
replied the lady. The bishop arose,
and returning to the drawing room
found the priest where he had left him
a few minutes before Having no fear,
the bishop said kindly:
WHO are you, my friend. and why
are you here?"
The specter seemed to sigh deeply and
say, as though to itself, AT last"
Then, in hollow voice, addressing
the bishop. it continued: Il am the
spirit of priest who left this world
some so years ago, and l am here TO
impart to any one who will receive it
a secret which died with me. | could
not rest in my grave while a great
wrong was being done which it was in
my power to right. | have been re-
turning all these years in the hope some
one would address me, for it was not
given to me to be the first to speak. All
men have Stunned me until now, and
it is your mission to do my bidding.
was priest of the church Of Rome
and was called to this house so years
ago to receive the confession Of dying
man. He was the sole possessor Of a
secret, the knowledge of which would
alter materially the entail of this vast
estate, and in his death this man wished
to repair the terrible wrong he had
brought upon his kin.
AT his request | wrote down the
confession word for word, as he gave
1t to me, and when he finished had
barely time to administer the final sac
rament of the church before he expired
In my arms. 1t was very important
that | should return to London that
night, and in passing through the libra
ry to leave the house | concluded 1t
would be safer not to carry the paper
: ON which was written the confession
away with me, but to place it in some
secure, unseen spot, where | could Cd
tain 1t the following day and deliver
the document to the person for whom
1t was intended. Mounting the steps
~ 'io DOOh buelNeS, look Oul a W.
OF Young's Night Thoughts. which
was the first book upon the uppermosr
shelf nearest the last window, and IN
sorting the paper carefully between It's
; leaves | replaced the book and depart
, ed. A horse was awaiting me at the
door, but ere we reached the entrance
81 the grounds he took fright. l was
thrown and instantly killed. Thus died
the secret of my confessor with me. NO
ono has disturbed that book in all these
years, and no one has had the courage
10 address this messenger from the I'M
known. The paper will be found as
have stated, and now remains for you
, TO correct the injustice which has So
long been upon this noble family. My
mission is over, and can rest IN
/, peace.
AT the close of this remarkable speech
'ne specter faded gradually from sight.
AMI the bishop was left gazing inte
space. Recovering from his astonisn'
inent, Bishop Wherefore went at once
10 the library and found the book eA'
! actly as indicated by the specter. IL
Its secluded corner, upon the top shelf
thick with the dust of ages. evidently
, the book had remained umnolestee
4 -. Il ~