The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-01


IN one Of the midland counties. The
rector, tall, elderly man, aud a Wild
over, was one Of the party. 1T was
noticed during dinner that he wore a
wedding ring, presumably that Of his
deceased wife; and over this another
ring, in which were set three hand
some gems.
After dinner the conversation turned
upon precious stones, aud the diff
Guilty Of knowing at times the differ
enee between true stones and imita-
tions. One Of the latter kind was pro-
duced by one Of those present, and
comparison instituted between it and
the one which was worn by the rector
When this part Of the conversation
was ended, the rector said, a strange
story is connected with this ring Of
mine, which ! shall relate if you care
70 hear IL
Audience was given, and the rector
began
IT is just forty years since I be-
came engaged to be married. l was
then a curate with means Of a limited
character; but had received a Gift Of
less than one hundred pounds. and,
foolish though it may seem 70 be.
bought this ring for my future wife.
We had no thought of marrias just
then, but my rector died somewhat
suddenly, and I was presented to the
living. This accepted, and in a
short while we were married, aud lived /
together in the happiest way possible. /
This happiness lasted six months, /
when my wifo's health failed. She |
had strange fits Of depression and /
melancholy. Doctors were consulted, +
but without any apparent success such /
as we desired. The organs, they said, T
were sound, and all they could ID was
to recommend 0pal air exercise aud /
tonics. In spite Of these things. how
ever, she gradually lgrew worse, and
was finally obliged TO take her bed. /
In less than one week from her going I
to bed, as / sat one evening In my /
study preparing for Sundays work, T
her sister, who had been in attendance I
upon my wife. rushed into my room /
and declared that she was dead
Il thought the poor girl had gone
mad but, after hearing her story, ]
accompanied her To the bedroom, and I
to my surprise and intense grief con-
eluded that her spirit had taken its
fight The doctor was called. aud
pronounced her dead For three days
was PROSTATE / was well nigh
heart-broken. On the evening Of the
third day I was told that those who
were in Charge OF the body were un-
able to take the rings IRON Of her
finger. and they were anxious to know
what they should do under the circum-
stances. Leave them on. was the
only answer / could give in my trouble
and annoyance at such query.
The following day I followed her
10 her grave. The front door Of the
rectory opens, continued the rec
Tor, TO the turnpike road. but there !
is another door, with two glass panels.
which opens directly into the church
yard TWAS outof this door / fol-
Owed her coffin After the service /
returned 70 the rectory, and, although !
accompanied by neighboring clergy
nan, who had read the service. and =
Who tried to help me inmy grief re- !
used TO be comiorted !,
Evening came, and J was alone. \
)ne Of my maids came into the room,
nd lighted O lamp. 7 tried to read.
Mt to no purpose Tired aud ex 3
austed. ! must have fallen asleep !,
hen | was aroused BIZ loud lluock !.
my door The clock struck twelve. +
nd ] realized chat I had been asleep Y
n three holrs. Opening the study 8
oor, / said. please, what do You !
ant whereupon one Of the gmls.
tepping forward and taking bold of {
~ coat sleeve. said \
oh, sir, DC comet Z
"Ancther, with ierror-strieken face. =
aid. Is
Mistress IS standing at the side
oor, tapping on the glass
u demonstrated with them. told N
lem they were very foolish, and urged =
lem to 60 TO bed at once. As walked y I.
) the side door they followed. NY =
air stood on eud when / looked 81
rough the panels. aud saw, AZ / .n =
lought, q figure ID white. Immedi- =
ely ! drew the bolt and opened the
Dor. can never forget the sight +
~. ;n
There stood my wife ia her grave ve
othes, stained with blood. Before / IA
uld speak, she said eo
" Don't be frightened. tb
They told me afterwards that I ~
sped, my wife my wife, aud fell
'wn senseless When / came 10 my / I'll
II I was in bed, and my wife sitting "a
ar, dressed as she was won't to bein le.
.ys gone by / realized the events IN
the past few days. aud when equal lel
the task, 7 said no
What can all this means 81
She said little ID reply, but suai on
ant to solve the mystery. She said
G felt as Il she we're being roughly OF
fakened out Of sleep. She found IN,
rself in q coffin at the bottom Of a vel
ave, with the blood running from 4 rh
{ IN her ring finger The grave was "a