The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1904-12-28
A CHo ST DRY

Before the war, he began. Il had
q friend living in the neighborhooi
Parson A.. he was called, though he
was never a member of any church
The one thing that never could
reconcile TO his views was his absolute
belief that there had been cases, and
were even then, when the dead came
back upon earth and manifested their
presence to those whom they loved.
Well the parson-I speak of him III
this way reyerently and respectfully
some years before the war moved
away from here into the northwestern
part of the state He was fairly well
to do, owned a number of blacks,
treated them like the Virginia gentle
man he was and had their warm affec-
ton He owned some fine horses and
prided himself upon them, lis nice
wagons aud his excellent gravel roads
My friend began TO decline in health
after he went away. | visited him
often and attended to considerable
business for him, and at the different
times | was with him / noticed anent
his failing health
He knew it was failing and that
rapidly. and one evening he said to
me Suddenly, without amy reference
to his condition. Joe. if ! die before
you and / can-mind You If l can--I
viii come back from the shadowy
bourne and reveal to you my presence
on earth Ten days after that he was
laid away in little graveyard in the
village near where he lived That was
in the month Of March. two years be
fore the war.
In the following September l had
business in that part Of the state and
stopped at the house Of my old friend
to pass the night having advised the
family of my intention to do SO. | ar
rived about O'Clock in the evening
and not for one second during my
journey and l was two days making
it, going on horSeback--could | get ont
of nay mind my old friends declaration
that if he could lee would after death
make known 20 me his presence on
earth. 1t did not exactly make me un-
comfortable bat ] remembered it, that
was all When | arrived | was met
by old Parker. one of the servants.
who was glad to see me and took
charge of my horse. He seemed I'm
easy and said be wanted to talk TO ue
So after | had greeted the family ana
taken supper went out and found
the old fellow waiting near the stable.
The first thing be said was. Mars
Joe. does you believe in shadders?'
What do you mean by shadows
Parker" said l.
Chooses he pumped agt. and the
word gave me a cold thrill, for IL
brought back all the thoughts Of what
the paraon had said and that had EN-
Compassed me on my journey
Il ridicuIed Parker even though he
had made me feel uncostortahle
told him not to bee fool and that be
was old enough to know there never
was ghost But Parker was not to
be convinced lie had never seen one
himself, hut nearly every other darky
on the place had imagined that he had
seen the spirit Of the parson ut mid
night wandering among his wagons
about the barn After my Interview
with Parker / returaed 10 the house
There was company there taking mp
the spare rooms. and J. not being a
stranger was TO rest for the night on
lounge In the sitting room. II was
nearly midnight when l was hidden
good night and laid myself down. !
had hardly become composed when
heard the faint tinkle of a clock chime
II 1t seemed the saddest striking
OF clock / ever listened 10. kept
perfectly quiet and was getting sleepy
when / heard q strange sound. 1t
was like the turning of a wheel on the
even gravel paths that the parson al.
ways had kept in such good order. II
stopped and turned again and then be
gpn revolving very rapidly ! jumped
up. and the noise stopped instantly.
II had eaten a hearty supper and
thought ] must have fallen asleep and
had the nightmare So / lay down
again ! had just quieted nay nerves
when that wheel turned around again.
| could hear the wagon coming along
like lightning ON the gravel road. and
thought IL must have been Just in
front ~ the house. So rapidly did Il
seem 90 run. I AT once jumped 70 the
window Before could open the
shutter the souDd ceased, aud the
place WIS Eaiu as quiet as a tomb
In cold respiration 1 pushed open
the window shutter / expected to see
my deed friend driving one ~ his
wagons over though / fclt he would
not harm ule I needed ne light, for
the iustcr ~ the SePteu ser harvest
moon rivaied .a r. brightness the
nooueay snu went uut 90 the barn
There were the wagons standing Oh
the gravel wnik as Hid seen them
eatiy Ia the evening aud 'hs scene vas
orc grand picture q pese~ sad guiet
nesa. am ap0tbeo=ls If oalaue~S
dang kuow hut " lat was .osiuz my
senssw. buE { went haek 10 eewt Il
ss.n#f anal tn fHs Aneruw aHmtM lust