Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-04

raised myself with start, as Il some one had
touched me from behind
Assuredly, was far from tranquil
l walked about, spoke aloud, sang In a
subdued voice
Then double locked my chamber door and
felt somewhat reassured. 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 a time all went well was lying
quietly on my back. Then felt a 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 l thought / again
saw the man sitting there
| hastily struck a match had deceived
myself. l no longer anything. How
ever, arose and concealed the chair behind
the bed. Then | again darkened the room
and endeavored to sleep.
had not lot consciousness for more than
five minutes before l saw, in a dream, and
plainly as the reality, the ewhole scene of the
evening over again. / awoke in consterna-
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 was
cured, and slept soundly until noon.
1t was over-well over had had a fever,
a nightmare, know not what / had been ill.
But considered that had acted very fool
ishly.
| waS very crau all that Iav I dipad in O
restaurant; | went to the theatre. Finally
started for home; but on approaching the
house feeling of uneasiness took possession
of me. l was afraid of seeing him again
not afraid of him, not afraid of his presence,
| in which did not believe, but afraid of re-
newed trouble of my eyes, afraid of the hal
lucination.
For more than an hour wandered aim
lessly up and down the streets; then, ashamed
of my weakness, finally entered the house.
was breathing so hard that 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 startled glance toward the
| fireplace. / saw nothing.
What relief What joyi What deliv-
| erancel l went and came about the rooms
with iaunty air. But did not feel reas-
sured. l turned with sudden starts; the
shadow in the corners disquieted me.
l slept i'll, constantly wakened by imagin-
| ary noises. But did not see him No. 1t
| was ended
Since that day 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 l do not
believe in it, since / know that it is nothing
1t harasses me, though, for l think of it
increasingly. A hand hanging down on the
| right, the head leaning to.the left, like that
| of a man asleep. Enough, in Gods
namel l will think of it no longerl But
what is the meaning of this obsessiona Why
| this persistencyl
BE haunts met is folly, but sol It's Whoi
| Hel / know that he does not exist; that is
nothing! He exists only in my apprehension,
! in my fear, in my anguishl
But may reason with myself, upbraid my
! self, in vain. l can no longer remain at home
alone, for he is there. 1 shall never see him
| again, / know. He will not show himself
| again, that is ended.
But he is there all the same in my thoughts.
He remains invisible; that does not prevent
| his being there.
He is behind the doors, in the closets, un-
der the bed, in every obscure corner in every
shadow. If l tur1fthe doors, if open the
closets, If throw the light under the bed, if
illumine the corners, the shadows, he is no
longer there; but, then, feel that he is be-
hind me. l turn, certain, however, that
shall not see him, that / shall never see him
again. He is none the less behind me still.
1t is foolish, but it is atrocious. What
would you? l can do nothing
But if there were two Of US, l feel, yes-l
feel certain that he would no longer be there.
For he is there because am alone-solely
because / am alonei-Translated for The Ar
gonaut from the French of Guy de Maupas-
| SAINT by II. G. r