The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-04-12

at this hour. Annie, as usual, lay at
his masters feet, occasionally looking
upward and emphasizing the fact of his
presence by the same loud rap of his
tail.
The old man remained in this posi-
ton for some time. He was thinking of
the years that had passed since his wife
had been taken from him, and now he
believed the time short until he should
meet her. Save for those who minis
tered to his comfort, and were paid
for their services, he had lived alone,
with only the companionship of dog.
Annie was the third mastiff that had
enjoyed the privilege of lying at his
feet
The time is short" he thought,
aloud; and Annie imme diately bounded
to his side.
you are in the habit of going with
me FOR a walk at this hour, sir. Come
along. | have a strange errand to do
tonight"
Without further conversation with
his dumb companion, Philemon walked
slowly up the street until he reached
the village furniture and undertaking
establishment. Here he paused as
| though somewhat undecided whether
to enter. a Gin light burned in the
rear of the store, though the front re-
manned in darkness. Finally Philemon
entered the dimly-lighted building in u
hesitating manner. The proprietor
| n hn ha
recognizing his visitor cordially well
coined him.
When he had selected a coffin and
! given directions as to how he wished it
trimmed he left the astonished UNDER
taker and walked toward the home of
fellow psychist.
After seriously considering the mat
ter, Philemon had decided to visit this
man and explain The state OF HIS feel
ings regarding the spiritual phenom-
ena, as he was pleased to consider the
occurrence in the doctors Office that
morning. His friend listened attentive
! ly until he had finished; then he
laughed.
IF you neither saw nor heard any
thing unusual yourself my opinion is
that those ply sicians were playing a
| joke on YOU" was the unsatisfactory
reply. And the matter seemed to have
a little less serious an aspect to Phile-
mon, though he had gone too far, and
arranged his earthly affairs prepare
! tory to entering the next world with
too much genuine anxiety, to cast it
off at the tirsV laugh from his friend.
SHOULD this matter prove 10 be as |
! think, you will speak a few words over
my remains, will you note" he inquired,
half hoping that his time On earth
would end abruptly, if only to con-
vince the man that he was right.
Il will" was the grave reply; and
Philemon departed.
! His words had not produced the eff
feet upon his friend that he had hoped,
! though he still felt convinced Of the
genuineness of the warning; and with
! the faithful Amze walked hon eward,
repeating few comforting verses of
Scripture, believing it the proper thing
for man to do who expected ere long
to take that journey from whence no
man returns.
lie reached the corner of the street
near his home without speaking to the
dog. 1t had been his custom 10 con-
verse with him in confidential man
ner, quite ignoring the fact that he re-
ceived no reply; but tonight the dog
seemed to understand his masters
mood and trotted on ahead. Suddenly
man emerged from Phiemon's gate,
and Amzie gave bark of recognition.
1t was DR.. Elwell.
Good evening, Mr.. Harventhal. I
have been searching for you for an
! hour. | thought you seemed somewhat
disturbed over our hearing music
this morning, and | wanted to tell
you that after you left we dis
covered that your back had rested
against the thin pipe of the speak
! ing tuge which communicates with
my house, and my daughter was
| playing the piano. If you were not so
hard of hearing you probably would
have heard it yourself"
Philemon mumbled something, be
scarcely knew what, and the doctor
hurried on. But load seemed TO have
been suddenly lifted from him. He now
realized that he had eaten nothing since
morning, and understood that the faint
feeling be had experienced was caused
| by hunger; though before he sought
food he exclaimed: "Never mind Am
zie; you are provided for! NEEDED a
shock. '-Woman's Home Companion.