Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-07
The Daily Story
MIKE PEILEYS FUNERAL-Bl
BY OSCAR cox.


with resignation. She went with
Kathleen TO Mrs. Kelley and told her
that the body in the hospital was
Mikes.
After awhile when they had become
quieted they took steps to have the
body brought to the house for the fu-
neral. They called in friends. who
took the burden upon themselves of
making all the preparations. An I'M
dertaker was instructed to bring the
body. and all other details were at
tended to.
The same evening the body arrived,
already in its coffin.
\ number of friends looked at Mike,
each making some remark.
HE looks very natural" said one.
He must have died peaceful DEATH
How changed" said another. I'D
scarcely know him"
And so the comments went on. Mrs.
Kelley gazed down upon the corpse.
her face blinded with tears. Nora
would not look at it, saying that she
preferred TO remember the happy coun-
tenance of her lover rs she saw it
when he looked up at her while she
was sitting at her window the last day
he ever went to work.
When the day OF the funeral came
round the mother, the sister and the
betrothed were given seats near the
coffin. while the friends Of the family
took chairs behind them. There they
awaited the opening of the funeral
ceremony.
We left Mike on his way to his work.
He was engaged in laying brick all
day, and just before knocking of the
boss drove up in buggy and said to
him:
mike. I've got a call for chimney
out in the country. The carpenter
work is all done, and they can't do any
more till the chimney is put in. I've
agreed to send a man out tonight to
go to work the first thing in the mora
ing. l want you TO 60"
Mike demurred. but the boss offered
him double pay, and he consented. A
train was leaving in half an hour.
which was barely enough time for
him to catch it. He arrived ut his
destination at IL O'Clock at night and
! found team waiting for him that car
| ried him fifteen miles into the country,
| where there was no other house than
! the one being built within a consider
I able distance.
| Mike worked several days on the
| chimney. He thought he should try to
get word to his family as to the rea-
| son for his absence. but he was too
! busy to think much about it He had
! once or twice remained on job for
! several days without going home or
sending word and did not expect to
be longer on this one. But before he
finished it he was called upon to put
in the foundation walls for house
ready to be built few miles away
and was offered double pay II he would
do 1t. He thought what a beautiful
bridal gift he could buy for Nora with
/ the extra money he was earning. He
would take the job and II Nora com
planned of his being away so long just
before the wedding he would console
her with the gift.
When Mike finished his work and
went home. as he approached the
q hearse and carriages standing before
the door, Terrified. he went in. eager
to know who was dead. There sat bis
mother and sister and bride to be in
q row before Il coffin. His mother gave
him one look and tainted. Nora drew
back from him. Those occupying the
rear seats tumbled over each other to
get through the narrow door.
Kathleen alone seemed to take In the
situation.
Mike" she cried. "ye're not dead
after all!'
Dead? Why should be deadl"
81 made a mistake Mebbe didn't
look close enough"
whats the matter with you all 2
asked Mike
BY this time Nora had recovered he
wits and flew to her lovers arms, bury
ing her face on his breast and crying:
"Oh, Mike, sure it's a miracle! w,
thought you were in your coffin"
''In my coffin? Do look like that :?
This led to comparison, and 1t wa
agreed that the dead man, though no
unlike Mike. under other circumstance
would not have been mistaken )r him
, Get 1t out at oncer' cried Mike.
In twinkling all was changed. tn
faces put off the lugubrious appearance
Of mourning and put on the happy ez
preston of wedding guests, for 1t wa
decided to hurry up the bridal prepars
tons and turn the funeral into a mai
riage. That very evening the pal
were united and went to live In til
house they had prepared for their r,
! ception.
My story shows, among other thing
the power of the Imagination. Katl
;. leen's fear that she would find Mike
dead body in coffin impressed o
q her mind that she saw him. This star
' ed chain of imaginary incidents tn,
. led to union OF errors. After all. wa
+ there anything especially remarkab
2 that. Mike being supposed dead. anotl
er person with similar name shoul
q have been mistaken for him?
=