The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-12-14

belief not lcss absolute than the faaaiicisn
sllsh essshiishoa the Inqaisiiion or light
lea the ares Of Smithheld. la Harpe. ib
celebrated msserialist, Is said 10 has'
fought duel with friend. who had as
serted the existence OF his own conscience
snch steptie@I fanatic was Int th'
date Of the events ! an about to relate.
was president OF a society for the suppress
sion Of superstition believed In moth
ing beyond the ken Of my Ave senses. !
vas furious enemy of dreams. omens,
presentiments. ghosts and spirits. was
not likely. therefore. TO have been misied
by superstitious creduliiy or perverse i'm
isginstion in regard 10 the circumstances.
| / was living IN bachelor lodgings in q
quiet street in the upper part Of the city.
/ went little into society. and had few
friends. I spent most Of my evenings.
consequently, in the solitude OF my room,
with no company but my books.
One autumn evening reached home At
a late hour, but feeling no desire TO sleep ]
lighted my lamp and sat down by the
table. for the purpose OF finishing vol
ume which had been reading. 1t was n
dlssertiio on favoriie subject Of mine
namely: The physical causes OF dreams
aud apparitions. the author tracing all
spectral appearance to illusions brought
about by disordered nervous functions.
was deeply interested and read ON stead
lily until long after midnight
Suddenly aud without warning. my
light iickered aud went ont. For mo-
ment the room was in intense darkness.
had drawn the curtains before the win
dows, and the fire in the CRATE had died
long before. just as was on the point Of
impatiently rising to relight my lamp; /
was nailed to my chair by o strange phe.
nomenon.
Against the opposite wall Of my room a
faint glow OF light began to appear. In
shape it was like circular patch which is
thrown by a camera upon a screen. II
continued TO increase in brilliancy until
the whole room was in glare OF light
equal to MONDAY. II was as il a circular
window had been cut in the wall admit
ting the full power Of the sun.
For an instant surprise held m dumb
and motionless; then rose. and going to
1.-The wall. placed my hand on the patch Of
light. / observed that my hand cast no
shadow, and that therefore the light could
not come from behind me. Puzzled. but
by no means alarmed, Iwent back to my
chair, calmly resolved to watch the matter
to its conclusion.
Fora moment the light remained clear
and steady; then slight mist seemed to
overspread it. Out Of this mist by slow
degrees, picture was evolved. There
was wide deep river crossed by iail-
road bridge; in the foreground could see
here and there vessel drifting idly with
the tide, for it appeared TO be still warm
day. In the distance the hills looked
blue and hazy. There were white clouds
In the sky, at a distance the smoke from
q town on the river bank rose lazily into
the air
Icould note and memorize every detail
the color OF the wooden trestle OF the
railroad bridge; the shape and number Of
the signal.boards; the peculiar arrangement
Of the telegraph wires. In fact, could
have sworn that sat before an open win
dow. looking on . material landscape Of
real sky, earth and water. noted. too,
particularly, weak spot near the center
Of the bridge. The bed OF the road seemed
to have warped and loosened. even said:
unconsciously:
There will be terrible accident at that
point some day.
While was gaping at the apparition
with sensations impossible to describe,
observed the smoke OF IA approaching
train. 1t rushed swiftly around the curve
and upon the bridge with undated speed.
Twas conscious Of afeeling Of intense
interest in it. / felt very much like per-
son witnessing drama with wrought
emotions. bresthlessly watching the act
ion which is drawing toward the tragic do
noument. II
On came the train. counted the cars
: there were 28-four OF them yelowish
color and the remainder Of deep red. /
saw upon the sides the words: Northern
New York and Csnads H. r. saw that
the engines number was II. and that the i
engineer leaning out OF the window toward !
me- was large man with red face and
heavy black beard.
As the train came upon the bridge there q
seemed TO be 0 sudden jar and stoppage.
The engine lesped into the air like
frightened horse and rolled off the bridge, 4
followed by six Of the cars. There was
In intense movement Of alarm and horror.
/ shower Of fire. and cloud OF steam
which for moment hid everything from
ny sight. #R
A moment afterward my attention was
drawn to two figures strnggl. !
ng in the water. One was girl, very q
roung and beautiful, astired in q gray =
raveling suit She hsd lost her bonnet. n
md her long fair hair was floating upon 4
he water
The other figure was that OF man. .
#hose appearance gave me . shock Of sur. b
Prise. seemed to recognize him. :
hough bis face WAS turned swsy. Atirt
ne seemed to he making preparations TO b
win TO shore. Then be seemed TO catch
light Of the young girl, for be turned. e
md swimming toward her. supported her Il
-. .ara .rrn srhila uiih AL. ..fhax Ia lnr.A =.