The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-10

sound of the voice had died away in low
groan, when, casting my eyes on the RICH
of my bed just alongside of me toward my
feet, [ saw an object--an animal-a thing
that froze my blood. A yellow razen hon
with the head, face and perfec .sfeatures of
a man, the body that of beast, was lying
on the bed just by me. 1t was about four
feet long, well and strongly-forned, with
out any hair upon it, a bright, scaly, brassy
yellow creature, crouching, as if ready to
spring upon me- But the iace 1t was not
horrible face-not the face of spirit or
demon, but that of a man of perhaps 30 to
35 years of age, with a head of shortcut
dark hair, arched eyebrows and large.
bright, hazel eyes q looked right into them),
sandy or brown close-clipped full beard
and moustache, and a mouth-what a
mouth!-al the expression of the face lay
in that mouth. The contemptuous curl of
the upper lip that seemed to say: You
Insignificant old fellow, what eau you do in
my presencep
AS took in this figure lying crouching on
my bed, and alone in a distant part OF that
old house. l felt anything but comfortable,
and, although | was powerless to move
limb, my mind was fully active, and L COM
menced at once an analytical survey of the
situation. l withdrew my gaze from the
object to note that the fire was still burning
in the CRATE. There was tho painted wall
at the foot of the bed, and the electric light
throwing its ghostly glare into the room,
making shadows Of the waving trees upon
the wall, and 1 was then really alive and
awake, aud as | looked again that strange
thing with it's wicked smile still lay upon
my bed. Then l prayed that God our
heavenly Father would remove this sight
from my eyes, and let me know why this
apparition came before me. While | ut
tered my mental prayer the animal backed
slowly off the foot of the bed and without
sound or further movement disappeared.
Even after this unusual horrible expert
ence | did not feel Frustrated with fear CT
anxiety. | knew now that all these troubles
and this final apparition were of a super
natural character, and, gathering up my
scattered strength of mind and body,
arose from my bed, made a critical exani-
nation of the room, and found the window
sash fastened down, the door locked and
nobody hiding in the room, and the clock
then struck 8. retired again to bed without
fear, trusting in God and slept quietly until
morning.
The following day l related the whole his
tory of the affair to my son, who begged
me to leave the place and never sleep there
again. l compromised with him by taking
him around with me the next night to share
my bed, but, beyond a shaking of the bed
and dragging at the bedclothes, nothing I'M
usual appeared or happened. | left the
house for other quarters the next day.
Three years have passed since then, and l
have been very particular in keeping this
matter to myself, disclosing it, as a secret,
only to a few friends. They have assigned
various reasons for the strange manifesto
ton.
Most of them who have heard my story
connect it with sad tragedy that was en-
acted in the old house years ago, while 9TH
ers ascribei it to some tr1ckery or mental hal
lucination, but l know what l saw and
felt, and nothing but stubborn nerve
prompted me to remain as long as did.
After gave up the room a gentleman,
Mr.. s. from Effingham county, took
it. was informed, and while anxious to
learn his experience never entered the
house again, or sought out this gentleman
to ascertain how he had Jared In my haunted
bed-chamber. F. II. I.