The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-06-08
that there must be more to the story.

that there must be more to the story.
''Our acquaintance had covered a
period of three years." he resumed, Gin
c-eAsing all the time in intimacy and
mutual esteem, and one day as we re-
turned from a late drive through the
country together Mr.. Gray said. with
little nervous shifting Of the lines
and a catch in his usually smooth voice:
X, I've favor to ask of you. I'm L
bluff sort of man, as you have reason
to know, but l know you'll give Inc
credit for a reasonable share of com
mon sense. What l want to say is this:
You've been coming to this town OF
quite spell now. and like as not your
keep right on coming as long as you're
on the road. Every time you have been
here for the last three years you have.
been in my store, and you've huulo:ch
the old man by sitting there along IN
the twilight and whistling for him
And tell you now, wherever am thai
music is good enough for me. Now, my
boy, when you come here again and go
into my store to ask for me they viii
tell you that am dead. l know it. We
need make no words about it. And
then want you to take this horse ami
drive over the hill to that little GENE
terry you can just see up there. and find
where they have laid me. Then (non-
sense, boy, know what l am talking
about!)-1 want you to sit down on the
mound that covers me and whistle
Whistle the hymns and songs, the airs
from the operas and the songs OF the
street, any and all of them
Il expostulated with him, referred
him to his perfect health and tried to
laugh away his morbid fancy, but it
would not do In minute | had
promised and his hand had closed over
mine with the earnest: Thank you,
lad, thank you. shall hear you!''
The women drew their wraps a little
closer, and one of the men said, nerv-
ously:
"DeucAd uncomfortable statement.'
"Well," continued Mr.. X, 81 was
sent on another route after that and 1t
was nearly a year before again Wis
tied Mr.. Gray's town. [ had heard
nothing from him in that time aud
our odd agreement did not occur TO
me until l saw the unfamiliar faces at
TIE store. l asked for my OLD friend
Oily to learn that he had becIl dead
thee months, and am not ashamed 20
say that q chill, sharper than that OF
the autumn air. ran over lne
when l remembered my prom
Use at our last meeting. l frank
ly own that | tried to get out of
it, but taking the horse drove out 90
his pleasant home Just on the edge of
town. His widow greeted me very
kindly and | ut once made known my
errand, which was to secure her con-
sent to the canceling of my rashly
made agreement To my surprise she
held me to its fulfllment
mir. Gray was very much in, earn
est when he made his singular re-
quest, | am sure she said. "A few
moments before he died he told me to
tell you that he would be listening.
did not understand what he meant
then, but you have brought the exDla-
nation. must insist upon your keep
ing your promise to my husban&i.'
"Wcli, drove up over the hill to the
little cemetery that be had pointed
out, and while the glow faded from the
western sky and shadows grew and
purplcd into twilight, [ sat up, the
grave and whistIed just as l had prom
Used, perfectly conscious all the while
that lie--waS listening"
The story Was done and the little
group had sad good night" Bat the
teller of the ta:e. Herman 4. Kohls;,at.
now pub. ia,.er of the ( j; 70 ll:.r
Ocean, still! sa5 in the iuoon!.g-a;, softly
viii Ting amt thin ling now Il :,n:t O.
liQui>. silver was sflinin:. II . window
that he knew, touching he sunny lead
Ga Iii, Own little Kath.>r.na, who. like
TnGc!ieraya little maiden, would soon
re il..;y-;a:2d making d prayer at
home for hiln.-Grace Duffie Roe, in
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