The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-24
Poor Smith STAYS Away.

A man VINO died recently made g pro-
mise some years ago 10 to come back. but
the poor fellow has failed: an of which
proves the vanity Of promises made in
defiance OF natures teaching and law
IT was Immediately after a visit 10 a
haunted house with an Eagle reporter
that the man in question made this ex-
traordinary promise. He actually be-
Ieved at the time that he would have
the power not only Ii commune with but
he made himself visible, 10 his friends
after death.
For six weeks or more strange noises
bothered q. worthy and truthful family
of this town The woman OF the house
who had been a widow for some months
called the attention Of a reporter for the
Eagle to some of the many unaccountabIe
phenomena that she could not solve. One
Of them was especially annoying and
pulled with a jerk the cover from over her
and carried to the floor at The foot OF the
bed. a picture was turned toward the wall
one night while she was gazing at it.
She locked her chamber door one night
and placed a chair against It in such a
way that it could not be pushed away
by one on the outside. No sooner had she
done this and gone to bed than the chair
fell with crash ard the locked door
opened and closed with a siam. At
another time while she was sewing by
a lamp a hand palm slowly rubbed down
her face. It was the most authentic
case of ghost ever called 70 the attention
Of the reporter and he decided TO remain
i'm that room one night at least. The man
lately deceased agreed 10 accompany him
and both of them slept in the widows
bed. OF rather reposed on it. if existence
under such circumstances could be called
repose. After the light had been eXtin-
guished Smith which is a convenient
name for the man recently deceased, man
ifested strange exultation. for he was a
confirmed spiritualist.
Listen" ne said. with a voice that put
frost on the spne.
The reporter heard nothing but the beat
ing of his heart which was making VIC
ious upper cuts at the short ribs
MI smith heard footsteps. OF at least
he believed he did. soft footsteps on the
rag carpet
The reporter grasped the quilt with
grip Of steel and watched the dim out
line of the picture on the wall
DO YOU see the three-cornered sparks
Of Hght9 whispered Smith who wasn't
a hit afraid. and this suggests the idea
that only those who do not believe in
ghosts are afraid of them.
The reporter saw no lights and said
trembling
Down went the bed with a crash that
brought the widow and child Of ten
screaming from the next room. The man
Who wasn't sfraid Of ghosts was an ocean
~ his own perspiration. the man who be-
lieved In ghosts was calm. II was Smith
caused the bed % fan He felt he said.
somebody jerk the quilt from over him
and raised up so suddenly and violently
TO recover The quit and jerk 81 back that
the side rail- that supported the bed Stats
save way smith insisted tu the DAY
of his death that somebody had jerked
the quut away The reporter contendod
thar It was rot touched.
Next morning Smith said. "If die be-
fore YOU I VIII come back and prove To
sou that only The visible. part If man
dies. when / am 5ead I shall appear 10
you. and YOU VIII SEQ me this morning
Poor smith has been dead four months
nsa come back lie never
hurt a man In his life and his lie and his
spirit s-reiv Wouldn't hurt one, ard SET
rhe dark riehts in lonesome places the
man v-ho doesn't believe in spirit visions
Keeps SHARP look ahead ana some times
looks behind him.