St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-08-14

elbow, and made sure that 7 was nos
dreaming. l leaped out of bed onto
the floor and walked over to the bu-
reau. TO my intense amazementl saw
that the mirror was lighted up with q
strange glow, and in a dim vista L
could see myself cropping about in the
vaulted chamber. | must explain to
YOU that the first sensation on awaken
ing was that what l saw was in my
minds eye, and the second sensation
after getting out of bed was an actual
seeing with the natural eye. | even
went SO far as to wipe off the surface OF
the looking-glass with my handker-
chief. but the illusion was not dispelled.
l perceived the misshapen dwarf force
his way into the entry and creep stealth
lily along until he reached the head OF
the spiral stairway. His eyes were
blazing and his every movement
seemed to remind me of what | had
read of the evil one. You can not
imagine the strange feeling of horror
and apprehension that took possession
of me as | watched this black tiend
peer over the railing as he drew from
his breast pocket a long, keen knife.
This knife he whetted on the sole OF
his boot, and then, with a diabolical
grin, he began to noiselessly descend
the stairway No words in the English
language could describe my agony at
that moment. I saw my other self, all
unconscious of danger, walking about
that dismal place, and l saw the muir
derer getting nearer and nearer. his
face getting more devilish atevery step
he took. My heart seemed to stand
still, and became. as it were, help
less spectator of what promised to be
my own execution. The negro had
then reached the foot of the stairs. and
crouching low, he waited until the
victim was within foot of him and
sprang forward. The knife was aimed
at the throat, but it missed and struck
the side of the head. This saw plain
ly in the mirror. At the same moment
felt sharp pain under the ear. As
soon as the blow was struck | saw my
other self turn and grapple with the
dwarf, who dropped his knife. The
two figures swayed backward and for
ward, sometimes right at the very edge
of the well, sometimes scraping the
walls of the apartment and again roll
ing over and over on the floor. felt
every throe that was made, and as the
struggle went on | found myself pant
ing for breath. while | leaned with my
elbows on my hands and gazed with
starting eyeballs into the glass before
me. | will not weary you with de-
tailed description of what must seem to
you the veriest nonsense. Suffice it
to say that at the end of what seemed
to be an hour of time | saw the negro
let go his hold and fall back with his
head hanging over the edge of the we'll.
What relief it was. What sense OF
fiendish joy [ experienced when | saw
the successful wrestler, myself, pick
up one skull after another and hurl
them at the PROSTATE form, and how /
recovered my breath when | saw the
figure 60 up the stairway, through the
hallway, thence to the street, and in
the direction of home. That was the
most curious sensation of all. l knew
| was at home looking into the mirror.
There could be no mistake about it.
was fully conscious of my surround
ings. There was the bed, the wash
stand and the pitcher. There were my
coat and vest on the back ola chair.
looked behind the bureau to satisfy
myself that nobody was playing trick
on me. | satisfied myself that was
alone in the room and that no one was
near me. Then | returned to the mir
ror and saw, as plainly as l see you
now, my other self walking up Fifth
street to Race, out Race to Thirteenth,
and down Thirteenth to where, if told
you, you would say fool lived. Then
the vision faded slowly out. 1 put on
my clothes and went out into the street.
-PhiladeLphiG NeUs.