Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-11-30


| WI SHM& scious that was talk.
W ing with demon,
who sat by my bedside. He was very
pleasant sort of fellow and not bad
looking, but somehow I knew he was q
demon.
"Would you like to hear what they
are saying about you and go to your
own funeral?" he asked pleasantly.
"People generally do attend that
ceremony personality" I suggested !;
then after moments reflection,
asked, "Am l dead, then2"
"Of course. Did you not know it?'
"lf did it must have escaped my
memory" " L replied imperturably.
"Well, you are dead, but will give
you the remarkable power of going
among your family in the spirit and
invisible to them
"That's very kind of you, but I've
heard you people seldom perform SER
vices for nothing. What recompense
do you require?"
''None. The penalty you will pay
will be sufficient reward to me-"
''What penalty?'
''To see yourself as others see you,
and hear what they say of you"
My friend then dematerialized him.
self into thin air, and the next mo-
ment I was gliding noiselessly down
the stairs.
L should explain to you that I am
an orphan, without parents, but a
member of q large family; sisters,
brothers, cousins and all the rest of
it. happen to have more money
than any of the others, and have
hitherto been much sought after on
account OF many excellent personal
qualities. l am not married. Well,
the fact is, | am of rather retiring
disposition, and not having yet come
across a girl who would help me out
with the preliminaries, l had not
| found courage to take the fatal plunge.
My eldest sister, Priscilla, had there.
fore been keeping house for me.
l easily passed through the closed
parlor door without opening it, which
was very convenient, and found N.Y.
self, unseen by them, in the midst of
relatives from different parts of the
country. They were waiting break
fast for some important person who
had not yet made his appearance. I
was foolish enough to think it might
be myself and sat down to my Gus
tomary seal at the foot of the table !;
but, OF course, no one saw me. | had
forgotten for the moment that was
dematerialized spirit Soon, how ,
ever, the door opened, and the i'm
portant individual entered tine apart.
ment. 1t was my eldest brother Tom
Now L began to understand He was
my executor and residuary legatee
He represented me, the late Crawley
Slowquicker, Esq, deceased, hence
all the court and Difference paid to
him. This was absurd, you know, for
bigger fool never lived.
Well, he made straight for nv
chair, and sat down where was sit.
ting This was stepping into my
shoes with a engeance-actually
usurping the same place occupied by
my discmbodied spirit. Tom was a
bulky fellow, and 1 felt the affront.
Besides, wishing better to watch the
proceedings, I got up quickly and sat
behind my chair.
Two things especially attracted my
attention, and somewhat shocked me.
In the first place, Priscilla's presiding
seemed much more lavish than under
my regime, and in the second 1 was
struck by the happiness and gayety of
the whole company. This was calcu-
lated to take my faulty down few
pegs; for had fondly imagined that
my death would plunge my entire
family in the nttermost depths of de.
srair. But it hadn't
81 never like going into black, "
Priscilla was saying in her even tones
to Aunt Gwen; "it's SO very un.
lucky"
II don't mind the change at ALL"
said Aunt Gwen "the color Just suits
me, you know. But J. really can't tell
what orders to give, not knowing how
l am provided for"
"That's as good as asking" said
Tom, with one of his horrible laughs,
which ! used to consider so hearty.
"A mods as good as wink to blind
horse. suppose the regular thing is
to read the will after the funeral; but
as it's all among ourselves it does not
matter, and I'll read it to all directly
after breakfast"
Then they started talking about
their late relation, Crawley Slowquick.
er, and the things l heard about my.
self positively astonished me.
They were all sadly deficient in the
bump Of reverence, and l found that