Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-11-16


there was nothing Immediate impend.
Ing, %. STOPPING over my poor friend,
I whispered. at the same time pressing
kiss on her forehead--that half an
hour should see me Mt her side again.
But sho took no notice, and much
against my will I hastily and noiscless.
~ left the room.
Throwing q shawl over my head,
hurried across tho square. and as I
passed the church the clock struck IL,
and I suddenly remembered that to-day
was my birthday.
I got back in less that half an hour
and on my return heard, to my ever.
lasting sorrow, that I had not been
gone ten minutes before my dear L.
became restless and uneasy, then look.
Cd hastily round the room, gave cry,
thcn there came rush Of blood to her
mouth, and after o few painful strug.
giles she sank back, gasped once or
twice and never moved again.
OF course thought then, and do to
this day, that abe was looking round
the room for me and that she died feel.
ing that had broken my faith with
her. A bitter, never.failing regret!
I have given this light sketch of the
feelings which existed between me and
my poor friend before narrating the
circumstances Of her supernatural visit
to mel Just to emphasize the facts Of
the alluring fascination. the intense af.
lection, which existed between us dur.
ing her lifetime. and which, I firmly
believe, have lasted beyond her grave.
Quite q year and o half after her
death my poor L., with what motive
I know not--unless It may have been,
40 sometimes fondly hope, to assure
me that she understood and sympa.
thized with my sorrow at having failed
her ut tho moment Of her extremity
appeared to me- She came once, but
mover again. Il occurred thus:
I had been suffering all day from
brow ague and had gone early to bed,
but not to sleep. All the evening had
been kept painfully awake by that
Same church clock which have men.
toned above.
Il seemed to mo to strike oftcner,
louder and moro slowly than any clock
I had ever had tho misfortune to como
across. OF course my ailmcnt Of tho
moment caused tho clocks vagarics to
appear peculiarly painful. and bore
the annoyance very restcssly, with my
face turned pettishly to the wall, but
when tho midnight hour began to
chime I felt % though I could bear It
NO longer. Muttering an impatient cx-
ciamation, turned In my bed 30 as to
face the room, and looking across It
saw my poor l. standing close to a
screen between me and the door. look.
Ing at me.
She was In her usual dress, wearing
what was then called q "cross.over,"
which was tied behind, while her bon.
net which she was always In the habit
Of taking OF a. she came upstairs. was,
40 usual. hanging by tho ribbon on her
arm. She had smile on her face, and
I distinctly noticed her lovely little
white ears, which were always my ad-
mirstion and which were only half GOV.
cred by her soft brown hair.
She stood-a minute 1t sccmed-loOk.
Ing ct me. then she glidcd toward ME,
and !. half apprehensive that she was
about TO throw herself on my bed, ex.
claimed. Jumping up In q sitting pos
ture:
Dearest! What brings you here 50
later"
With deep reverence be 1t spoken; but
40 soon % these words were out of my
mouth ! was irresistibly reminded Of
those spoken. holy writ tells us, by st.
Peter at tho awful moment of the trans
hguration! Awed and dazed at the sight
of the spiritual visitants, we are told
he uttered words mot knowing what he
said" These words of mine also seem.
cd to leap to my lips. with but little
meaning In them, II any.
Al soon, however, rs my voice had
ceased the apparition disappeared and
! remained some moments motionless.
One Of the most curious features Of
the case 10 that although was very es-
pecially restless and awake ut the mo.
ment OF the appearance. recognized
my friend % completely that forgot
also to recognise the fact that she had
died. or rather 1t happened too quickly
for me to bring that fact to mind. In.
deed, II all took place In such fash,
In such q moment of time-sO much
quicker than con tell it--and she look.
cd 20 exactly like her well-known self
that till she had disappeared really be.
lieved was seeing her In the flesh! OF
course a. soon o. I had time to reflect
remembered and realized what 1t Mas
! had seen!
was not frightened, but felt colder
than ] had felt In my life. and have
never felt 20 cold since. but the mois.
ture seemed to pour of my body. !
called no ono TO my assistance. All
realized was that God had permitted
me to see her once more, and that per-
haps he might send her to me again.
But he has not done 90. and probably
now he never will.
lay awake all the night afterward.
hoping for--and, I think, almost expect
higher again, and after the day dawn.
ed ! fell asleep.
Before telling my story to anyone
and dreading unspeakably all the
douoting add sarcastic speeches which
such . narration would inevitably call