The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-04-01
Her Husbands
Ghost
By F. A. mitchell

IL Is I0dI lDeTe are hSu WIZ N'h ~
content only when far away from all
other persons. The famous hunter
Daniel Boone was one OF these. anc
Enoch Pogram was another.
In the spring be prepared his land.
planted, tended his fields, Keeping
them free from weeds during the sum-
mer, and in the autumn, having gath
cred his crops, went forth with MS
rifle to provide meat for his winter use.
Returning one night with plentiful
supply of venison and bear meat. he
went to bed. The next morning was
clear and cool. Enoch We out 10 the
tin basin located on ben o 20 perform
his additions when he was astonisbed
to see far across the plain log cabin
with a man standing near it
Enoch was much disgruntled. If he
had been at home when that cabin
was being erected he would have tax.
en- measures to prevent its being finish
ed He was not sure that 1t had not
been built on his own land. He would
go at once to investigate. Turning. he
went into his cabin to get his rifle, for
he was not sure but there would be
trouble between him and this new
squatter, and when he came out the
other man was just emerging from his
cabin also and with gun.
Pogram started for his neighbours
cabin. and his neighbor advanced to
meet him. Pogram. who carried his
rife in his right hand below his hip.
order to have it ready in case of need.
The other also raised his weapon.
Looks as though there was goin
to be more fightin' than talkin'." NUT
tered Pogram. and he brought bis piece
to his shoulder His enemy was ready
for him. bringing his own gun to ex-
actly the same position as Pogram.
"You drop that gum" shouted Pogram
at the top of his voice.
The man held his weapon firmly to
his shoulder and seemed to be shout
ing something which Pogram did not
hear.
1--WE either got to kill him." thought
Pogram. "or he'll kill me-"
He cooked his gun. The other man
seemed to be going through a similar
motion
Pogram was nervous Whether or
not be really intended to kill his neigh
Dor he has never been certain. Prob
ably he pulled the trigger without In.
tending to do so. The neighbor evil
IDENTITY was not hit for be stood
his ground. He was not sufficiently
plain at the distance for Pogram to
discern II he had fred At any rate.
Pogram could not detect smoke issuing
from the muzzle of his rife and didn't
even hear bullet pass him.
There were no repeating rifles in
those days. and both men dropped the
butts Of their rifles at the same mo-
ment to reload 1t Was a question of
life and death with them as to which
could load the quicker, The more
haste Pogram made the more his op-
ponent hurried Both finished at the
same moment. and both fired again at
the same moment Pogram was not
hit and did not even hear ping"
They stood for a moment looking at
each other. Then II occurred to Po-
gram that they were at greater dis
lance from each other than he had
supposed he had a rife in his cabin
that he used for long distance shooting
aud went in to get it.
He had not used this latter rife for
a long while. and 1t was not where he
had expected to find it. He hunted for
it some time before hitting upon 1t. then
went out again to resume the shooting.
Meanwhile the sun had cleared the
horizon and cast some warmth and
more light over the prairie. Pogram
looked for his neighbor. but he was
not to be seen. Probably he had gone
into his cabin. But the cabin was not
there either. Pogram was astonished.
Had he been firing at a phantom7 He
shuddered. For the first time in his
life be felt lonely. He started for the
place where he had seen the cabin with
the intention of having a nearer view
If there was really anything there. He
walked several miles without finding
either house or man. Then he met
a woman.
stranger" she said, me and my
husband settled last week over thar
pointing,. Yesterday he took sick and
died this mornin'"
Pogram started. II seen his ghost n
spell ago." he said. The woman was
so distressed that she did not hear.
I'D be obleeged If you'd give me a
bit o. help. I was goin' to the cabin
whar reckon you live for some one to
do somethin' for me- I'm dead alone"
$50 am l." said Pogram.
The two went back to the woman's
cabin. and Pogram helped her to bury
her husband and In such other WAYS
as she needed
Pogram and the widow. both being
lonely, concluded to live together In
Pogram's cabin. Several years passed,
when one morning the husband went
outdoors and saw the cabin he had
seen before and the man standing be-
side II. He ran back into the house.
pale and trembling.
"What is it?" asked his wife. start.
ing.
"Yer fust man.