Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-19
A STRANGE, WEIRD STORY.
A Remarkable Incident In the career Oh
the Late Father Walter.
washington PostD

(Washington Fost)
Tho death of Rev. Father Walter not
only recalled his connection with the
famous Surratt trial. but brought to
mind a strange story Of a visitation from
TIE supernatural world, in which ne was
the principal actor.
The following incident was told py
Father Walter as his own experience "
n fellow-pricst. who IS now living IN
Virginia town: n-.,.o.
.One stormy. dark night Father water
had retired. when. possibly aoou, .
o'clock. there came a violent pun AT TN,
helI At the sound he sprans up anu
ononIng the window. glanced at 'hc "ooi
e,en below. There stood two chiidr"h'
hov NJ about II and "A girl Few years
Younger. Both were simply Ci'"' ar,
tbcir dress plainly showed theE pe'o''
10 parents who had a enaH snare oi '''''
worlds goods. -,.., ,ho rriost
"What DO you want! aSN'N ''0
OF his small visitors. mic ,.o,,
nour father is dying. and wants 70"
IN come 10 him Immediately one
"We will show you the way. H., .,s
", fow moments the priest was
,rnsscd and. opening the door. steppen
az, in The street. where the two chiiii'"
non. ,v.itinr. II was cold. and the sharP
,.i,J eoemed To pierce the thin garments
If the nair. but, without word ti'e!
cot ont with the priest following cI"Se!
behind. After a long walk through iohcE
streets and drcary alleys. they turned up
n lane and stopped before tail, ricKely
tenement house that stood desoia'e' WIN
only single taper cleaning from
earret window The boy opened the door,
but did not enter.
"Nv fathers room is the first door at
the top Of the house lac explained as
the priest stepped within. You VIII see
a lrht shining through the kcyhoie, ana
can't well miss IL.
stumbling up the dark, rickety stars
from floor to floor, the priest CROPPED his
way toward a faint line Of light that
shone above. Not a sound save MS foot
falls broke the solemn silence. ana the
ulace seemed devoid Of human habltInts
At last he reached the top floor and
opened the door from whose keyholc the
faint ray trombled out into the inky
darkness.
Here pitcous sight met his eyes. The
room which was bare of any furniture
save broken chair and a ragged pallet
was dimly lighted by candle stuck in
bottle Its feeble ray danced in the darS
corners and threw erotesque shadows on
the livid face Of man beneath the cover
let Of rags.
"Who are your" demanded the man. in
a low voice, as the priest entered the
room.
Il am Catholic priest Father Walter
replied. "and you sent for me awhile
ago"
You are mistaken" the man managed
to whisper. Il did not send for you
there was no ore to send. am all alone;
| have no family. 10 friends, and nave
lived here alone for months"
THAT is very strange answered the
priest. "for two children, bog and
girl, called at my house n few moments
ago. and told me their father was dying,
and brought me to YOU"
Two children" gaspcl the man. as he
almost surang upright from his bed.
"What-what did they look Ike"
In a few words the priest described ac-
curately the dress Of the boy and girl,
and as he ala SO the man covered his
face with his skeleton fingers. slowly
the tears came trickling through, and
sobs convulsc1 his frame.
They were my children" he cried at
last. MY poor. dead Children ana he
sank back on his pillow, almost uncon-
scious
When his strength had somewhat re-
turned he told Father Walter his story.
How. after the death Of his wife. he had
taken 10 drink; how the children had
been neglected. ana had finally been lad
by their mothers side. how he had sunk
lower and lower, til now he lay dying
a drunkarls death. He had prayed for
a priest, but there was no one to send
for him.
'Thcy were my dead children who came
for you. father" he said. with a broken
voice. "My poor children were sent by
Heaven to bring YOU to their dying
father And the repentant sinner re-
ceived the last Offices OF his church.