Evening journal., 1907-12-07
An Apparition.
fonginal1


leo. fighting by the way, several ofii-
GERS were chatting in front Of a tent.
81 saw Harding today" said one OF |
them. Lieutenant Ian Paul. Il hadn't |
seen him since we were graduated at
the Point six years ago. I didn't |
know he was with this army. sup
posed he was with G0seral Taylor
We were roommates at the academy
and used to have lots OF talks after
taps Harding was full OF queer ideas.
Before we parted we had made an
agreement, common with youngster
chums, that whichever Of the two died
FIRST was to appear II possible to the
other"
81 wonder how a fellow would take
such a visitation as that" remarked
one OF the party.
Harding would take Il coolly
enough" put IN another. "He isn't
afraid Of the devil"
$50 long as he didn't believe II SUI
perhuman. But supposing him to be
convinced that II was"
paul, you might try him some time.
You'd have a fne chance, considering
your agreement with him"
"rd have to get killed first or he'd
have to think ia been Killed." added
Paul carelessly, and the subject was
dropped.
At the capture OF the City OF Mexico
Lieutenant Paul was reported killed.
He had simply got detached during
some hard fighting and was taken pris-
oner, but before he could be sent TO
the rear the tide Of battle turned, and
be was left TO his own sweet win.
Being within the Mexican lines, he
needed to watch his chance to rejoin
the American army. He was success
ful and about o in the evening appear
cd before some OF his brother officers,
much 10 their astonishment.
"This would be n good opportunity
for you to appear I'm spirit form to
Harding" suggested one OF them.
"He's sure you're dead"
$50 II would" said Paul. II believe
I'll try e."
The others. pleased at the prospect
OF some amusement, concealed Lieu
tenant Paul till midnight, when, hav-
ing chalked his face tangled his hair
and daubed a wound over his heart
with berry juice. he made ready TO ap-
pear to his friend Harding had got
up his tent and was occupying x The
tent flaps were thrown back. the light
OF a full moon streaming within the
canvas. To avoid a mishap one Of the Of.
hcers accessory TO the experiment had
during the evening gone into the tent
while Harding was not there and re-
moved Harding's pistol. replacing II
with another loaded with blank car.
tridges
An hour before midnight Harding
was lying awake thinking OF the
friends he had lost during the day
especially regretting Paul. OF whom
he was very fond. He was sinking
into drowsiness when "A zephyr slowl,
waited a cloud like a pun OF smoke
before his tent, and I'm II and partly
concealed by it was the figure OF hii
friend When the cloud drlfted on 4
left the apparition standing facing thu
moonlight II was looking straigh
ahead on vacancy. white as death
eyes hollow, hair unkempt and reI
smudge on the left breast. There wat
not the slightest movement.
Harding raised himself upon his el
bow and looked. He had long ago go
over any belief in the return o.
those who have died, IL he had eve
had any such belief but this appear
ance Of one he felt reasonably sur
was dead I'm this CHASTITY fashion stag
gered him. He felt no fear, though a.
indefnable horror began TO creep owe
him, a sort Of paralysis. He woul'
! have been relieved at the slightes
, movement, sound. anything TO hreal
the spell. II was the unexpectednes
OF the manner OF his friend keeplnl
his appointment. If indeed such It was
He had expected Paul to look at hin
70 speak to him. But here was n DC
ure turned aside, the face ghastly Il
the moonlight. as impasslve as
statue.
Harding was simply lost In n hol
rlble wonder He had no desire Z
speak to the apparition or whatever
was. He would not have known wha
10 say If he had such a desire. All IA
while something like a chill from
sepulcher was creeping over him.
any one afterward had asked him hO'
long the apparition lasted he woul
have said not less than fifteen or tweI
ty minutes by the watch. Yet up {
this point not more than ninety SCI
onds had been licked.
Then came the only change in IN
: figure that was made during its sta!
j. The dawn Of a smile appeared on th
face. Imperceptibly It broadened ii
a CHASTITY grin extended from ear
ear
Paul heard a moan from within u
tent and immediately strOde away
some Of HIS comrades who were wal
ing and told them to 90 at once I
Harding They found him cold &
death and insensihle. One sprinkle
his face. another chafed him, while
third poured brandy down his throa
Presently he revived. Paul did not :
near him till he had got the chalk o
his face and Harding had been Il
formed that he wns alive and Il
whole thing had been intended for
practical joke.
Its the way you did It that fnishe