The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-21
A STRANGE STORY.
BY JOHN B. WILLIAMS, NJ. D

BY JOHN B. WILLIAMS, NJ. D.
What am about to relate is so extra
ordinary, so mixed up with mystery
and so fraught with terror, that ! fee
doubtful as to the propriety of maxim,
| it public.
Some three or four years ago wa
iourneying from New York to Balti
more. The train, as is very often the
case, missed the connection at Philadel
phia, and was obliged to wait in the
latter city for the next train, which left
Philadelphia at 10 o'clock at night
Having several hours before me, ! re
solved to take up my stay at the La
Pierre house, satisfied, at all events
that at that hotel should get good
dinner to console me in some measure
for the disappointment of not reaching
home as early as | expected.
The dinner hour was o'clock. In
the meantime, being much in want OF
rest, went to bed, and was awakened
by the sounding of the gong, which in
formed me that the meal was served.
Making a hasty toilet, l descended to
the dining-room, and was soon engaged
in satisfying the inner man.
After dinner adjourned to the smok-
ing room and while indulging in fra
grant Havana, amused myself by perus-
ing the various newspapers, which were
lying on the tables. | might have been
engaged in this way two hours, when
suddenly felt a fearfnl twinge of facial
neuralgia. ] had been a martyr to this
malady many years, although the inter
walls were much longer between the at
tacks than at first. Ghe best remedy l
had discovered for it was teaspoonful
of preparation known in the Pharma-
copeia as Hoffman's Anodyne. 1t was
harmless and generally very efficaeious.
| determined at once to apply to the
nearest druggist for my usual medicine
If left the hotel and entered a chem
lists shop in Chestnut street and made
known my request, at the same time
stating for what purpose used The med
icine. The druggist then stated that
he had preparation which would find
much more eticacious than Hofman's
Anodyne, and which would give me in
Simultaneous relief After he had assured
me that this preparation contained no
opium Ito which | have great horror),
/ consented 10 take it. He then
measured teaspoonful of a dark
colored liquid into wine-glass and
filled it with water. When he presented
the draught to me noticed that it was
green as grass. I swallowed it and
found it warm, pungent and of bitter
ish sweet taste It's effects were almost
1,,4 .a.atx- nj
lowed it before my pain entirely de-
parted.
thanked the druggist and left the
shop looked at my watch and found
that it was O'clock. The reader will
be pleased to remember this fact, for he
will find by and by that it is a very inn
portant one. felt so well that / deter
mined that would explore the city.
strolled out into the street and soon
became beWiIdered in maze of
thoroughfares. | knew nothing of
Philadelphia, and it was not long before
/ lost myself However, / continued to
walk up one street and d2wn another,
and sort Of pride prevented me from
asking my way. At last / found was
in the outskirts of the city. ! remem-
Der distinctly seeing river through an
opening in the houses. 1t was a cool,
pleasant night, and | rather enjoyed
being out of the noise and hustle of the
great town, and | strolled on until had
left every house behind me. | have a
distinct recollection OF examining the
country around me. It was very pecu-
fiar-snch as / had never seen before.
There was no moon. and had nothing
but the stars to guide me; these, how
ever, shone very brilliantly.
found / was standing on kind of
heath or moor / had wondered 50 far
that the lights Of the city were entirely
invisible; and vet, according to my COM
putatiOn Of time, it did not appeas to
have been more than u quarter of an
hour since I left the hotel.
A peculiar feeling crept over me; 1t
was not fear or terror, but q kind of
lsuperstitious awe, with which | yainly
endeaYOred to combat. ! seemed to be
under the influences Of some invisible
power. / felt inclined to return to the
city, but something superior to my will
made me advance continued to press
! forward. For short time there was a
kind Of struggle between my own incli-
nation and the unseen power; nv fset
were pushed forward, not IN walk, but
/ IL appeared d il / we're skimnfng along
the surface Of the ground soon saw
/ that Il was useless 10 contend further,
and resigned myself to my fate. Then
my progress became more rapid aud
/ hedges and trees fitted hy me IS if
thew were moving and / was stationary.
IL sgff ksst~p Ilftx Insr This ssn,sl ff1tiad