Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-07-14

on the morning of his departure for
New Orleans. He had no hat on, but
wore spectacles, and was standing in
his old favorite attitude, with his
hands behind him.
Il want you to understand that at
this precise moment, although 1 was
surprised beyond measure, 1 was not
in TIE least frightened because l did
noe for a moment suppose that what
1 saw was-well, a ghost or apparition
of any sort. The thought that flashed
across my bewildered brain was
simply that there had been some abb
surd mistake somewhere, and that my
brother had never died at all, but was
here alive and well. 1 took a hasty
step toward him.
"'Good heavens, old fellow I ex-
claimed Where on earth have you
come from? Why, we all thought you
We're deadn
81 was quite close to him when l
stopped abruptly. Somehow couldn't
ton, but his eyes looked straight into
mine.
"'Do not let Dolly sail on the Ara
gon tomorrow he said in slow, clear
tones that l heard distinctly.
"And then he was gone-yes, Jack,
I know it is very conventional way
of ending up a ghost story but 1 have
to tell you just what occurred, or at
least what 1 thought occurred. One
moment he was there and the next
moment he wasn't. He did not pass
me or go out of the door.
For a few moments l felt dazed.
I was wide awake and in my right
and proper senses so far as l could
judge, and yet the whole thing seemed
incredible. Scared? No, I wasn't
conscious of being scared. 1 was
simply bewildered.
I'm my mental confusion one thought
stood out sharply-Dolly was in dan
ger of some kind, and if the warning
was really from a supernatural source
it must not be disregarded. l rushed
to the station, and having first wired to
my wife not to sail on the Aragon, l
found that 1 could connect with the
five-fifteen train for New York, 1 took
it with the comfortable consciousness
that my friends would certainly think
L had gone out Of my mind.
II arrived in New York at S o'clock
the next morning, and at once drove
to the hotel where my wife, daughter
and brother-in-law were staying. I
found them greatly mystified by my
telegram. 1 suppose my explanation
was q very lame one. l know l felt
decidedly like a fool. Gilbert laughed
at me and said l had dreamed the
whole thing. Virginia was perpleXed,
but Dolly accepted the warning un-
hesitatIngly.
"'Of course 1t was Uncle Charley
she said confidently. we will not sail
on the Aragon now
colbert had to give In to this de-
cislon with a very bad grace, and the
Aragon sailed that day minus Of three
of her intended passengers.
"Well. you've all heard of the his
toric collision between the Aragon and
the Astarte in fog, and the fearful
loss of life it involved. Gilbert didn't
laugh when the news came, 1 assure
you. Virginia and Dolly sailed a
month later on the Marseilles, and
reached the other side in safety. That's
all the story, boys-the only expert
ance of the kind ever had" concluded
Davenport.
We had many questions to ask and
several theories to advance. Jack said
Davenport had dreamed it and that
the collision of the Aragon and the
Astarte was simply striking coinci-
dence But Davenport merely smiled
at all our suggestions; and as it cleared
up just about 8, we told no more ghost
stories.-Waverley Magazine,