The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-04
"A GHOST / KNOW. z

Brooklyn Standard Union.

fore me. my brain awhlrl, Then I set
out on my changed Journey.
a farmer took me in stout wagon,
ten miles across, u rough hill country,
from the railway station. to MELONS,
place. An the way the north wind bit
sharp at our threats, ind now and then
flaw OF icy snow struck like hail upon
the wagon boards, AID tie faImsr. with
out regard for the sadness OF my
thoughts, Kept UP an inceSsant gossip,
part Of which now recall something
like this
"Well, sir. the first 1 knew OF It, twas
about midnight, when was reused out
o. sleep by big explosion which set
the winders a-rattlln and dishes tum-
bin about in the cupboard, an SIGH Q
tremblin' o. the house as l thought It
would surely fail about our ears i
reckon, sir, It purity nearly scared peO-
pie hereabouts out o their wits with the
Thought o. the worlc comm to an END,
besides breakin' every winder light an
land knows how many dishes and fancy
things within ten miles o. II.
II was talkin' with Squire seaton in
the village, and he says there was such
a carrylh' on there as hedn't been since
the last President was 'p!nted. Every
QOklN MGb UuN y ugut ANA 9gAlAN OAA 9AAA
ners who had never been known to pray
in all their born days were down on
their knees In the middle pf the streets,
cryin' for mercy"
About this time vi sAns upon the
hump of decllvity, and saw lying be-
fore US. like an lumber picture, the
Valley OF the Mississippi. And after q
little journey down the rough slope and
along under the winter trees we came to
the island itself and the river hard by
shining In the sun.
/ found the Island. as Nelson had
written, quiet. isolated spot, with the
river on one side the sloughs, now COW
cred with span OF Ice, cutting It of
from the mainland on the other three.
Vines and brush and scrubby trees had
evidently Mt one time covered Its entire
surface, but over its whole length and
breadth there was nothing standing now
bnt two tall trees One OF these was
clmoBt entirely Rhorn OF limbs and the
other stood at an angle Of 45 degrees,
ne roots at It's base sticking straight up
into the air Rocks and chunks of
earthand bits OF wood were strewn every
where, and right in the center of the
island was a great hole, an acre or
more In extent. Here the doctors la
oratory had stood.
/ walked along the edge OF the exca-
walton. and looked down Into Its
depths, and the sun shining bright, I
was able to make out at Its bottom
few rocks and a hand mirror Elittering
in the light clambercd down and
secured the glass, the only thing Iouho
intact upon the premises, Not sign
| of Nelson's remains were to be seen,
and with a heart heavy within me, 1
rode back with the farmer the way we
had come.
Each anniversary of that January eve
on which Nelson had made known TO
me his fatal Intentions, barring two,
during the last ten years, he has Vis-
tied me. The first time he came 1 was
terribbly shocked and startled by his
presence and the unusual manner OF his
coming Indeed, so bewildered and un-
steadled was my mind that have no
right conception OF what took place on
that occasion This much, however, l
recall well and good.
He walked in through the door with
out so much as opening 1t, and coming
10 the fire held his hands for moment
to the warmth: then. leaning up against
the mantel in his old familiar way, lit
a cigar and began to smoke.
While he was doing this was trying,
as best knew how, TO get back into my
own way, and to check little the ter
ror that was upon me.
After he had regarded me for bit
and had brought my eyes to bear upon
his face with some degree OF composure'
he said;
"Well. old boy. I'm back, you see, to
have chat with you. 1t has been q
whole year since / was here. and yet 1t
seems but a little while. But time files
fast when one is busy, and have been
full OF work"
And all the while he was speaking l
did not see his lips move once save as
he pufred at his cigar, keeping little