Wichita eagle., 1889-12-21
direction, I'isaw some ons Sitting In the arm
chair, with feet to the fire and back toward

| char, with feet to the ire and back toward
! me. Ef &
Twas not afraid. Oh, no. not the least in
the world. Probablyit was one of my friend.
who had called to see me- The concierge, in.
formed by me on my going out, had told him
! would return, and given him pass key.
And instantly the circumstances of my re.
turn recurred to my mind-the cord pulled
without delay the door on the latch.
Ny friend had fallen asleep while waiting
for me-
| I saw him distinctly; an arm hanging
| down on the right, his feet crossed one over
the other, his head leaning over little to
the lett side of the chair-unmistakable evi-
| dence of slunber.
''Who is itr' / asked myself.
It was impossible to see clearly in the dim
| light. l reached out my hand to touch him
| on the shoulder? l encountered the
wood of the chair! There was no longer any
one there. The seat was empty!
Merciful heaven, what shocki
recoiled at first as IL before some terrible
danger. linen I turned suddenly, feeling
that some one was behind me.
But l am a man of considerable nerve and
l presently came to my senses I thought:
81 have had an hallucination, that is ALL"
had had an hallucination-that was an
incontestable fact. But my mind had re-
mained clear all the time, acting regularly
and logically. There was then no trouble
with tho brain. The eyes alone had been de-
ceived-the eyes had had vision, one Of
those visions which lead the simple to believe
in miracles. There was nervous affection
of the optical organs, nothing more a slight
congestion, perhaps
l Lit my candle. I noticed, on bending
toward the fire, that was trembling, and
raised myself with start, as if some one had
touched me from behind
Assuredly, was far from tranquil
/ walked about, spoke aloud, sang In Q
subdued voice.
Then double locked my chamber door and
felt somewhat treasured. At least, no one
could enter
sat down and reflected over my adventure
a long time Finally, got into bed and put
out the light.
For time all went well. I was lying
quietly on my back Then l felt desire to
look around the room, and turned over on
my side
The fire had died down, only two or three
red brands remaining, just frightening the
feet of the arm chair, and thought / again
saw the man sitting therel
hastily struck match. had deceived
myself. | no longer saw anything. How
ever, l arose and concealed the chair behind
the bed. Then l again darkened the room
and endeavored to sleep.
had not lost consciousness for more than
five minutes before / saw, in dream, and
plainly as the reality, the whole scene of the
inc + in
ton, and, having made light, remained sit
ting on the bed without even daring to try to
sleep.
Twice. however, slumber overcame me in
spite of myself, and twice again l saw the
same thing. | thought must be going mad.
When the day appeared l felt that l was
cured, and slept soundly until noon.
1t was over-wen over. had had fever,
a nightmare, know not what. l had been i'll.
But considered that had acted very fool
ishly
was very gay all that day. l dined in
restaurant; went to the theatre. Finally
started for home; but on approaching the
house a feeling of uneasiness took possession
of me- was afraid of seeing him again
not afraid of him, not afraid of his presence,
In which did not believe, but afraid of a re-
newed 1uble of my eyes, afraid of the hal
lucination.
FOR more than ar hour I wandered aim
lessly up and down the streets; then, ashamed
of my weakness, finally entered the house. l
was breathing so hard that l could with diff
Guilty mount the stairs. halted again on the
landing outside my door, for more than ten
minutes. Then, in burst Of courage, un-
locked the door and dashed forward candle
in hand, pushed the half open door with my
foot and cast a startled glance toward the
fireplace. | saw nothing.
What relief What joyI What deliv-
l went and came about the rooms
with jaunty air. But did not feel reas-
sured / turned with sudden starts; the
shadow in the corners disquieted me-
slept i'll, constantly wakened by imagiu-
ary noises But | did not see him. No. 1t
was endedl
Since that dav l am afraid-alone at night.
feel it there, near me, about me-the vision.
1t has never appeared to me again. And
what does it matter, moreover, since do not
believe in it, since | know that it is nothingi
1t harasses me, though, for l think of it
A hand hanging down on the
right, the head leaning to the left, like that
Of man asleep. Enough, in Gods |
namel l will think of it no longer! But |
what is the meaning of this obsessions Why |
this persistencys
He haunts met is folly, but SO tits. Who9 |
Hell l know that he does not exist; that is |
lothingl He exists only in my apprehension, |
n my fear, in my anguishl
But may reason with myself, upbraid my |
'elf, in vain. | can no longer remain at home |
alone, for he is there shall never see him |
again, know He will not show himself |
again, that is ended
But he is there all the same, in nv thoughts
&c remains invisible; that does not prevent
lis being there.
He is behind the doors, in the closets, I'M
Ter the bed, in every obscure corner, in every
hadow. If | turn the doors, if / open the
losets if throw tho light under the bed, if
illumine the corners, the shadows, he is no
onger there; but, then, feel that he is be-
lind me- | turn, certain. however, that l
hall not see him, that | shall never see him
gain. He is none the less behind me still
1t is foolish, but it is atrocious What
WOULD you! | can do nothing
Bat if there were two of us, feel, yes-l
eel certain that he would no longer be there
or he is there because | am alone-solely
ecsuse | am alonel-Translated for The Ar
onnut from the French of Guy de Maupas-
ant by II. c. R.