Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-16
HIS REAPPEARANCE.

Two American yeomen, more inquir-
ing race than exists among agriculturists
of any other region, had been neighbors
from childhood upward.
Peter Prince had remained unmarried,
that superintendence of the concerns of a
farm which falls to pettiooat government
being under the management of a sister.
John Horner had taken wife to rule over
his butter and cheese, his children and
perhaps himself Notwithstanding this
dissimilitude of condition, the friends CON
tinued their ancient attachment, smoked
their pipes together, talked of past times
and speculated ON the future.
Horner was Of more irritable tempera-
ment than Prince, and his anxiety to pry
into the secrets of the world unknown
was proportionately greater. One even
ing, when the subject was under discussion,
he thus addressed his friend:
Peter, though you mock at ghosts
and the notion of the spirits of the de-
ceased returning to visit the friends they
have left behind and the scenes which were
dear to them when in the flesh, have
never heard from you Or any other person
an argument which convinced me of the
improbability of the souls of the departed
being permitted to hover about places and
persons deservedly dear to them, and of
appearing and giving a salutary warning,
either by signs or words, of approaching
death and the necessity of due prepare
tion."
Peter Prince laughed, and after knock
ing the ashes out of his pipe he thus ad-
dressed his friend:
"Give me the tobacco, John. l never
said it was not SO. I only say cannot
comprehend how it can be. Give me
coal Of fire. l cannot reach the tongs"
There may and certainly do exist
great many things beyond our limited com.
prehension," said John, landing the tongs.
True, true, rejoined Peter after few
whiffs. II may believe much that cannot
comprehend, but cannot believe in that
which contradicts all I know. But we
have talked this matter over often enough,
and we shall know no more of it until we
have passed from this to another state of
existence. "
Until one or other of us has left this
world, said John very solemnly. "Then
perhaps the privilege may be granted.
Horner paused.
"What do you mean?" asked Prince.
II am thinking said Horner very de-
liberately, that as one of us will probably
be removed before the other and have the
knowledge so thirst after given to him
he might be permitted to return and i'm
part it to his friend"
Every WE'LL John Horner," said Peter,
laughing. ~ promise that If go first l
will come and tell you all about it il
can, and, John, you must promise the
same neighborly Office in regard to me if
it is your first turn"
II don' said Horner solemnly.
Here we drop the colloquy and proceed
to the denouement of our story with as
much breyity as possible, being convinced
that brevity is the soul of story as well
as of wit.
Potter died in the presence Of his friend,
if not in his arms, and with his character
istic hardihood, almost with his last
breath, after recommending his sister to
Horner's care, reminded him of the en-
gagement they had entered into, conclud-
ing:
ut is my turn to know first, and here
solemnly renew my promise.
blow to Horner. He became melancholy
His thoughts dwelt upon a future state
more than ever. He feared that he and
his friend had been wrong in entering up
on such contract. He looked to see
spiritual visitor or to hear from the world
whose secrets he had so daringly asked to
have displayed to him. He feared nowwhat
he had so earnestly wished. Solitude be-
came irksome to him, and he dreaded
sleep, excepting that in the night, when
spirits wander until the cock growing calls |
them to the prison house, the ghost of his
friend would announce the fatal secret of |
his condition and summon him to partici |
pate. John fell sick and disclosed to his
wife the compact he had entered into with |
Peter.
Now, Mrs. Horner was woman little
given to speculations of any kind. She at
tended to her duties, worked hard, scold-
ed sometimes harder; went to church reg
ularly and had little anxiety respecting an
other state of being. She laughed at John,
and, it is said, called him and his friend |
Peter couple Of old blockheads for max
ing such dangerous agreement. We
shall see whether she or her husband was
right.
Horner's illness made it necessary to
seek his bed long before the household
cares Of his helpmate permitted her to
think of rest. Suddenly he heard his name
pronounced solemnly, and thrice John
Horner" was repeated. The curtains were
drawn aside, and there stood Peter in flow
ing robes, unlike his former guise, and
much changed even in countenance, but
still it was Peter Prince. Horner gazed
upon his former friend and tried to ask
for the important communication, but he
could only say:
"Speakp'
He then saw the vision bend toward the
floor, and, rising, pronounce the mysteri-
Gus words:
at might have been better. 1t might
have been worsel"
Horner started up in bed, exclaiming,
"Stay, tell me more!" but the vision was
gone, and he saw his wife, standing, with
a bowl in her hand.
GAS live, saw him!" exclaimed the
sick man.
"Saw who9" asked Mrs. Horner.
"Peter Prince!"
"Nonsense''
"As plain as see you. He stood just
where you now are"
swell, what did he sayP" said the dame.
"He called thric John Horner? John
Horner john HGrnerr He bowed low,
and, rising, said: 1t might have been bet
ter. 1t might have been worse!'
'Ha, ha, ha' almost shouted his wife.
~ called you three times before / could
make you open your eyes, and, finding
1 hnt had knnnl-nd tho ION cton,,nd |