The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14

40 1 believe in ghosts, you ask, my
dears? Well, 1 should know some
IL thing about them. if there is any
kazzhl truth IN what folks speak of as
~ haunted rooms and such like. L
will tell you my story. and you shall judge
for yourselves whether L believe in ghosts
or no; and my story takes me back a long,
long while. into days that seem almost like
a uream when I look back to them; and yet
sometimes feel more real TO me than the
strange hurly-burly 1 see about me now, in
this great whirligig of a modern world.
I was born whilst my father was fighting
the battle Of Waterloo. AS n soldiers
daughter 1 was brought up to be fearless,
and our rowing life, moving from place TO
place 10 be near the regiment. made me
hardy and strong. / was an only child, and
my father taught me TO ride and to shoot
and TO do many things which in those days
were not usual for girls. though they have
come more into fashion since. BY the time
our revered Queen Victoria had come to the
throne. and had been crowned. / was a slip
of a girl of Internationally and was en-
gagged to be married TO a young captain in
the royal navy. who had distinguished him
self by such conspicuous gallantry that he
was going up the steps Of his profession
hand over hand. as you may say; and I was
proud beyond all words at having won the
love of that gallant heart.
All, but those were trying days for girls
whose lovers went down to the sea in ships!
When my Harold's vessel was commits
stoned for service in far-off seas, / knew
that for three years 1 could not hope to see
him: n that even the chance of a letter
would be most uncertain. There were so
many accidents which could happen to let
tiers. and the idea of a regular mail service
TO distant lands was scarcely thought Of
then. We had, perforce, TO learn patience
in those days. as you young things can
scarcely understand the word. 1t was a
terribly hard parting between Harold and
me; for, of course, we believed that no two
lovers since the world began loved each
other as we loved. But our love itself was a
bond so strong that we comforted ourselves
with the thought that it must make in some
sort a link between US.
We had both a strong conviction that
there was a great mysterious truth in
shakspeare's words: There are more things
in heaven and earth. Horatio. than are
dreamt of In our philosophy" 1 do not
think we were superstitious in the sense in
AlA( III NCAm - AtAo a1CtRNNAf ~
we did both of us believe in a world other
thar the. one we saw around us, and in
forces which governed the world, whose
laws and spheres of action remain a mys-
terry to US.
eff you were TO be in peril of death. Har-
DID," 1 said to him upon our last interview,
and your thoughts should fly to me, 1 be-
lieve that 1 should know it and feel it,
s.o,~H ~. rvbora u-0-I1 lev bofu-oa, ,,1
He held my hands fast in his and his eyes
looked earnestly into mine, as he made
answer:
Beatrice, If il should be that we meet no
more in this world-nay, look not so. sweet
heart. for we both trust in God. and your
prayers for my safety will rise up day
and night before His throne-yet if, in His
inscrutable purposes. it should be that 1
were called away. l should be in spirit with
you at the hour my of death, and 1 believe
that He would let me visit you once again,
IL 1t were only 70 say goodbye"
L often thought of those words Of ours
when he was gone. They seemed TO make
a link between us somehow. I felt as
though 1 must know in measure what was
happening 10 him. as though in the event
of unlocked for peril l should have warning.
and could plead for his safety with re-
doubled eagerness and ea~rnestness.
Thai first year of his absence was a sad
one for me: for in that period lost both
my parents. My mother had been failing
long: but my father was stin a hale man.
and died from the effects OF a chill taken
In the discharge of his military duties st the
depot where we were then stationed. 1
suppose mothers death had told upon him
more than appeared: for the sudden col
lapse of vital energy surprised us all. So
i was left alone. and had no actual home
Of my own; though having a large circle
Of relations and friends. l did not feel N.Y.
self altogether desolate.
i had heard once from Harold. at the close
Of his first year of absence. He had got
my letter telling of mothers death. and
wrote so tenderly and understandingly, but
had fallen before I heard from him. L
went and stayed a while with his mother.
and that was a very peaceful and refresh
fng time. / think we comfortcd one an
other. and we liked 10 be together when
the winter winds hOwled and shrieked
round the corners OF the house. To be
sure. the gales which ragged round these
northern shores would not touch him in
those far-of sunny seas. but. then. they
were liable 10 be swept by sudden cyclones
ana hurricanes. OF which we knew moth
ing. and In that thought lay terror aud
helpless anxiety.
= year ~passed-and no letter; another