The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-11-09
MAN
OF MYSTERY
Travelling on Foot To Unknown
Destination. Falls dead in
Court House Yard


Perhaps one 81 the saddcst events
connected with the history Of this
city Involving the sudden passing Of
a human soul. occurred here on a
hot Angus, afternoon in 1900 On
this particular occasion a snail group
u gentlemen were sitting n the shady
yard Of the Court House. conyersing
informally on general topics. when
an aged pedestrian. tall and neatly
dressed. whom no one seemed to
know. approached and asked IN polite
accents II he nigh, sat while and
rest. as he had been walking all day.
We welcomed him and he took a
seat
lie proved to be man Of ahabic
manners and diversified knowledge,
and from the very first We were
charmed with his singular magnetism.
Altho his brow was pale. he seemed
physically robust His long white
hair and beard gave him the appear.
ance 81 an aged prophet marching
along the last lap Of LIES rugged
pathway; and a. We looked on his
kindly. serene face, which seemed 10
diffusc kind of subdued radiance.
We felt Instinctively the presence Of
a man who was following IN the foot
steps Of HIM whose pity j. infinite
and whose love undergirds the vast
world.
There could be no mistake Ger
tain lofty souls. refined and cast
forth from the abyss Of some fright
ful suffering or misfortune. al times
manifest these strange. luminous
phenomena. Here. indeed. was the
rare and tranquil beauty Of age
the reflected splcndor % profound
internal peace
In the ensuing conversation the
stranger took part with easy freedom.
commenting with intelligence on the
attractive features of the city. and
noting in particular the noble Cor
rinthean architecture Of the Temple
Of Justice IN whose shadow the little
party was sitting He had also OBJ
served. he said. some interesting
scenic bits from the highway over
which he had come. as well as some
wonderful cloud effects in the evening
sky, As he approached the city. For
some strange reason. which would be
Difficult, to explain. no one inquired
whence he had come or whittier he
was going. and when he rose TO de-
part We were little regretful. for
his presence had seemed to W a bene-
dictlon. Pointing toward the set-
ting sun, he said he was travelling |
homewari IN that direction and ven
,ured the conjecture that there was a
river he would soon have to cross. |
There was. in truth. stream in his |
pathway. but II was dark and cold.
He was never to see il with his mortal
eyes, for a. he babe US adieu and |
turned into the street ne suddenly |
lurched .clutchcd wildly in the air |
above his head ana fell heavily back
wards upon the earth. where he lay |
quite still. An unseen icy finger had
suddenly touched and forever stilled |
his heart, He heaycd gentle sigh.
but from his lips. on which a reddish
foam presently appeared no word
came. Wrapped in gloom and chill
ed in this dreadful presence. We stood
bcwildcrrd before this tragic spec
,acle, knowing full well that the
spirit Of the venerable traveller had
indeed gone home
Thus terminated this historic but
mournful incident. To-day. out there
among the silent sieepers. where the
night wind means melancholy dirge
among the cypress trees and lettered
marble, may be found his entombed
dust, a. we'll as the hidden story Of