The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-08
A STRANGE EXPERIENCE.
BIZ FANNY KENN1sH EARL.

BIZ FANNY KENNISH EARL.
| It happened when was in college, and
the subject had been brought up by little
discussion in the mental philosophy class,
where we strayed away from the lesson
proper to certain facts and theories relating
to abnormal conditions of the mind. The
trend Of thought had been toward that Dor
der land where the natural merges into the
supernatural, or at least takes on certain
mysterious characteristics Probably all
such manifestations may be explained by
natural laws, and will be better appreciated
when the suspected sixth sense reaches q
certainty of their opinion lends q delightful
mystery to their discussion.
The evening following this desu ltory lee
ture on Psychology, my chum Ellen Fay,
and myself threw aside our German gram
mars and lexicons with our lessons half pre-
pared, and in study gowns and slippers
drew our easy chairs to the CRATE to discuss
further the fascinating study in abnormal
conditions Of the mind. An hour or more
had passed in conversation, when, with the
sort of feeling that makes children creep
close to the brightest spot by the freside af-
ter recital of some thrilling ghost story
we drew little closer to the fire with q side
glance at the half-open door, and the long
corridor outside. We sat silent for Ii tile
while when Ell len said in slow, dreamy
fashion,
''Yes it is very strange
| "What is stranges" questioned sha rp-
| ".
! Ellen started
II thought you were speaking of Mr.. and
Mrs Kimball," she said, looking at me with
strangely brilliant eyes.
'Iwas thinking Of them," replied, ebut
I did not speak. I was thinking how
strange it is that so handsome a man should
have married woman so exceedingly
plain"
| Ellen turned pale.
Were you truly Mattel" she said. 81
know, now, that you did not speak; but that
thought was, somehow, presented to my
mind as clearly as if you had actually spok-
ken"
| This was bringing our psychology studies
| too near home. I shook off the little shivers
that were trembling down my spine, and
rushed to the half open door, shutting it
with bang that sent the echoes trembling
down the silent hall.
Come, Ellen. let's 60 to bed. You look
like ghost and certainly feel like one af-
ter such an unearthly evening. I believe I
prefer normal to abnormal manifestations,
myself" and hustled around with unusual
energy to make preparations for retiring
Ellen aroused herself, too, and we had
soon disposed Of ourselves for the night, as
we supposed; but we both lay restless and
wakeful, not daring to talk lest we should
revert to the fascinating subject which had
already unnerved us.
| The night was STILL soft winter night,
with full moon shining upon the spotless
snow. We loved to lie with the moonlight
streaming into the room, and knew Ell ems
strong nerves must be unusually tense when
she said fretfully:
Cant you draw the blind down, Matte,
[ can't sleep in this insufferable light"
I reached out for the cord when she sat
up in bed, her eyes shining, her hands cold
and the vibration of tremendous W. ill
power in her voice.
cts no use Matte, 1 must CO. It's the
very height of absurdity, but I can't help
it,
eco! go wheres" asked, all my sharp
ness and latent common sence aroused.
"Somebody wants me down there near the
bridge. must go, Matte, I must 60"
demonstrated in vain. did not soften
my opposition with any sympathy for her
ridiculous notion. My will was the strong
er and could usually persuade her into my
way of thinking; but to all my arguments
she made no reply. She got up and began
to Dress
II wish you would go with me, Mattie,"
she said coolly. You know am such a
coward"
I was dressing, too, as fast as my tremb-
ling fingers would let me, for am free to
confess that my nerves had completely sur
rendered.
''I'll 60, of course, if you CO." said, ''but
I'll refer the preceptress to you for explana-
ton, if the faculty get hold of this esca-
pade.'
Ellen said nothing in reply but brought
out our cloaks, overshoes and long hooded
water proofs from the closet In few mo-
ments we were creeping stealthily through
the halls, with our hoods drawn close around
our faces, and thick wells ready to put on
when we exchanged the darkness of the
corridors for the brightness of the moonlit
walk.
We made our exit through small private
door, opening into the kitchen garden, and
we were obliged to climb the high, close
fence surrounding it to get out into the
street. Muffled up as we were it was not
an easy performance, but we finally accom-
plished it.
Once upon the street we walked rapidly
but silently toward the little bridge which
Ellen spoke of, slight structure thrown
across a ravine, which few rods below,
opened upon the river.
As we reached the bridge we saw q man
coming swiftly toward us. Ellen seized my
arm with clutch that left its marx for sew
eral days, but was too excited to feel the
pain which such grasp must have occa-
stoned. We dared not turn back and could
only meet what seemed to us, at that mo-