The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-08-15
THE OLD MANS
STRANGE STORY
Weird Visitor Quiets Levity
of a Dinner Party.

| we were enjoying conee ana cigars.
We fell to talking about death and
from that to joking about our own
probable exits from the world. Sud-
denly man sitting at a neighboring
table. with his back to us, turned and
faced us. | shall never forget his face
or the expression 1t wore. 1t was the
oldest face / ever saw.
Gentlemen" he said. rising and com
| ing toward us. 'how different would
be your conduct should | announce to
you that before the clock strikes IL
tonight one of your number would
pass to another existence"
Had he really announced the fact
the effect could scarcely have been
greater. A cold chill passed over ev-
cry one of us.
Let me tell you of an incident" the
stranger continued. seating himself,
that happened just before the battle
of Buena Vista. We were expecting
to meet the enemy
"Were you there?" interrupted one
of our party.
"Was l thereT The stranger laugh
ed low, singular laugh, unlike any l
had ever heard before, laugh that
had given way to my feelings would
have set my teeth to chattering. "Yes;
l was on hand" he went on. 81 was
standing near a party of young officers
who were talking upon the very sub
ject you have been discussing. They
were all boys, nothing but boys, to
whom death looked farther off than
the starry armament. They were
Lieutenant Brice of the cavalry, Pierce
of the artillery and Skidmore of the
staff. They were making pool to be
DIVIDED between the survivors or sur
vivor after the battle. The fools didn't
believe any of them would be killed.
Were there not old generals and colo
nels in the service who had fought
battles unscathed? They forgot the
many who had fallen; they forgot that
under the doctrine of probabilities one
or more of them would be killed or at
least wounded; they forgot that death
is on every battlefield and does not like
to be laughed at.
"a shot, followed by volley. roar,
shouts, opened the fight. The three Of
ficers dashed away to their respective
posts. In ten minutes Pierce. who was
in command of couple Of field guns,
was shot in the breast. was stand
ing by him at the time. The bullet
struck him on the left side and turned
him round. The last image he saw was
| myself.
"An order was sent to the cavalry to
charge. Seeing them making ready,
Joined them and rode directly behind
Brice We were met by terrific fire
of what in those days they called
grape and canister
81 was following Brice and, seeing
him waver under bayonet thrust,
rode up behind him and called to him.
He turned his head. and at that mo-
ment Mexican officer ran him through
the heart with his sword.
Here were two OF these young gam
blers with death who were already
worsted. The third, Skidmore, receiv-
ed an order to ride from left to right
of the line of battle to carry an order.
Disdaining to go behind, he went be-
tween the opposing forces. 1t was a
hot fire he was riding through, but he
seemed to care little for 1t. Men had
gone through just such dangers before,
and so would he, His horse, wildly
frightened. was plungiDg. and. STUN
bling, 1t fell. Skidmore was thrown,
but. rising. pulled the horse to its feet
by the bride reins. mounted and was
about to ride on when l touched him
on the shoulder. A cannon ball shrek
ed by and took him with 1t, mutilat-
ed mass. Well, laughed"
'Laughedr' exclaimed every horror
stricken man.
"Yes. gentlemen Why not? Had not
these foolish fellows laughed at Death
Had they not sported with the all
powerful specter. and that on the very
verge of one of his carnivals?"
There was something so terrible In
the speakers wrath that every one OF
us-every one except Baxter the old
man of our party--shrank back.
"Who Is this Death" said Baxter
contemptuously, "of whom we must all
speak so gingerly? SThe very certain
: ty of his coming takes away from our
| teTIOT VI anu IL VIC W. hCoa hAAA'
we surely do not respect him. He
comes into families and separates hus-
band and wife, parents and children
If he does not come early he will
surely come late when we have ex-
hausted life's pleasures, comforts, at
tachments, hopes. Then we must live
on waiting for him A fig for your
Death, say"
} The stranger who had been so tllp'
pant suddenly quieted. He cast a look
at Baxter. who returned his glance
calmly and. rising from his seat, said:
Pardon me. gentlemen, for Inter
ruptinG your amusement. Death loves
to get his clutches on those who fear
him. when he selzes upon such as
YOU" looking at Baxter. lit Is like a
huntsman shooting a stag In its sleep. >
The old man who had met his match
in an old man turned and strobe out OF
the restaurant. While his going was
a relief, It was not possible for rS soor