The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-06-20
A STRANGE EXPERIENCE.
from London Society.t

from London Society1
took the rooms without much con-
sideration, for had gone to Dusseldorf
upon a miserable errand; none other,
indeed, than to consult famous oculist
there. He wanted to watch over me
for at least month, and preferred that
should have the quiet of an apartment
in private house rather than be SUBJ
ject to the noise and bus,le of hotel.
He knew the very rooms for mc-they
belonged to an artist friend of his, an
animal painter, who was away on hol-
iday, and who would be glad to get
tenant for the time being. They con-
sisted of large studio and dormitory
attached, with cupboard-like ante
room that gave by an outer door upon
the main stairs, whilst both painting
room and bed room opened by separate
doors into this tiny vestibule. Only af-
ter | had been settled in them for some
hours had | the spirit even to regard
the contents of my new abode. There
were soft couches, thick curtains, rich
tapestry, double-pi rugs, antique
mirrors, cabinets, book shelves, tables,
chairs, lamps, what-not, but save for an
easel or two slowed away in further
corner, little or nothing to indicate the
presence of a professional artist Some
pictures there were about, but with one
exception they were hung upon the
walls as part of their decoration. This
exception, however, was noticeable, and
was standing unframed on a chair,
where, had dared to have withdrawn
the blind, the rays from the high studio
window would have fallen full upon it.
Placed there in the obscure light, to-
ward six O'Clock in the autumn even
ing, this picture looked to me like the
representation of a crouching animal; a
panther, leopard, cheetah, one could
not say. could not see clearly, and it
did not interest me; / merely saw it as
saw all else, automatically, dimly. My
mind was too full of the gravity of my
condition, of my prospects, my future; 1
was very lonely, too, the more so be-
cause my man, who would otherwise
have been reading to me, had been
taken i'll in the afternoon and had been
obliged to go to bed, his room being at
the top of the house.
Thus, then, sat in the darkest corner
of the room, with nothing but my own
gloomy thoughts for company.
Gloomier and gloomier they grew as l
dwelt upon them; until, indeed, I work
ed myself into nervous fever, fever of
apprehension. Presently I was startled
by a gentle knock at the door, one single,
gentle knock. Involuntarily | cried,
Come in" but no one appeared, and
for the matter. of that 1 hal noticed no
footstep. So thought had been mis-
taken, and that the knock had been only
one OF those mysterious noises heard in
rooms, and not at all times easily to be
accounted for. But five minutes after
wards it was repeated exactly as before
-one single, gentle knock, there was no
mistake this time. 1t was not of q
knuckle against the wood, but as of
real metal knocker. Itwas plainly, un.
deniably, a knock at the studio door,
which opened into the aforesaid
little ante-room. Again I cried
out, "Come in," though again
l had heard no footstep. Yet there was
no response; and then, remembering
that | was abroad and that my words
might not be understood, uttered their
equivalent in German, though knowing
little enough of the language. Still no
result; SO / waited and listened now,
and in about five minutes once more
there came the knock, precisely like the
last. Then 1 rose hurriedly, anxiously,
and went to the door, opened it and
looked out. There was no one there:
faint as the light was and growing faint
er now every minute, was sure of that.
L stepped across to the door opening
upon the main stair. It was slightly
aJar. As did so l was seized by a GU
rlous cold sort of sensation-a sensa-
ton of goose flesh all over me, as it is
called. Opening wide this outer door
L still found no one upon the landing
not creature was about, up or down
the stair; all was silent as the grave.
Considerably puzzled and nervous.
after mjnute.I returned to nv seat in
the studio, shutting the doors behind
me- l had scarcely been seated an in
slant before that same strange chilly
feeling crept through me again, amount
ing now to shudder that would have
set nay teeth chattering had / not con-
troiled it. With itthere came, too, q vague
sense of dread and shrinkage.as it were,
within myself, quite indescribable. What
could it mean? The weather was rather
sultry and close than otherwise, and
had hitherto felt heated; now [ could |
have borne fire. Nay, would have |
lighted one had there been any prepara- |
tons for winter yet, in the elaborately |
ornamented china stove close TO my ell I
bow. AS it was, sat shiveripg at in,