The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-04-10
THREE QUEER VISIONS.
How the Last Proved O Terrible
Reality.

Early in the winter of 1885 I was
lodging in n large, old-fashioned house
on Spruce street, below Eleventh. In
somnia, brought on by business
troubles, had reduced me to state of
nervous collapse, and, although I did
not suspect it, was on the verge of a
serious illness. Rising one night after
vainly counting sleep for two hours, l
determined to take warm bath by
way of soporific. The hour was
quite two o'clock. Having thrown on
heavy dressing gown, | entered the
little bathroom and turned on the hot
water. While the tub filled l gazed
out at the rear of house about one
hundred yards distant ON Clinton
street. Suddenly, on the illuminated
curtain of room two or three floors
above the street, saw figures of man
and woman in silhouette. Stirred
by curiosity / watched the curtain
with its tell-tall pictures, wondering
what movements they would execute
As gazed surprise and horror seized
me, for | saw the man raise a
shadowy arm and pierce the woman's
bosom with a dagger. She threw her
arms wildly in the air, opened her
mouth as ii to emit scream and fell
to the floor whence, of course, her fig
ure cast no shadow on the curtain.
all this had occupied perhaps less than
two seconds, but in that time l en-
dured a mental torture such as had
never felt before. AS the dagger de-
scended / involuntarlly threw out my
arms as If to shield the victim and ut
tered an exclamation of mingled rage
and horror. The absolute silence of
the pantOmimic murder made it more
shocking, and for an instant felt as
Ii the darkness and loneliness of the
night had shut me in with the mur-
derer and made me a participant in
his guilt. l turned shuddering from
The window just as the shadowy crimi-
nal stopped towards the spot where
MS victim lay, and before | could cry
out | reeled and fell heavily to the
floor. My fall reused the house. and
fhlilp Holt, whose rooms were on the
same floor, carried me to bed. The
vision of that night fastened my long
threatening illness, and ten days
passed before my faculties returned
sufficiently for me to relate what I had
Seem The doctor smiled at my story
and said:
1T was pure hallucination, my
dear fellow. Such things are common
topersons in your condition"
But" said I, 1.-The thing happened
when | was broad awake, and in every
detail it was as distinct as any genuine
occurrence | ever beheld."
mot at all remarkable" was his re-
ply. you ought to be satisfied with
the knowledge that there has not been
word OF such crime in any newspa-
per. An affair of the kind could not
have been concealed for ten days.
Don't think of it any more"
Two weeks later was In my usual
health, save that my old trouble of in
somnia lowered threateningly near,
and REQUIRED with any imprudence in
eating, worry and excitement Not en-
tlrely satisfied with the doctors theory
OF my vision l went around to the
Aodging-house on Clinton street and in
4uireo Tor rooms. A snuffy old bag,
win peering' suspicious eyes, and an
air OF unaetected criminality, showed
me through the house and Offered IN
rent furnished suite. consistine Of
bedroom. parlor and bathroom. As
near as l could guess the parIor was
the room where the crime of my vision
had been committed.
who occupied these rooms laste"
inquired.
''Mr. Carr and his wife" answered
the bag, with evident unwillingness.
DO you know Mr.. Cars business?'
The tenants business amt none o
nine" she replied, sharply.
when did the Cars move out?"
about three weeks ago."
Did you see Mrs. Carr on the day
hey left the house?n
Now, what do you ask me that fori
don't watch peoples doin's in this
MUSE. The tenants is respectable
70 s'nilies and they don't like meddlin'.
), you want those rooms you can have
81, sn' out you won't stay long if you ask
W. many questions about your neigh.
eu's. Ne don't want n troublesome
sos s.sG !, people here. It's q quiet