Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-29

from the village dotted the low background
like far off watchflres; q bell struck the
hour, and the sound came floating out Of
the distance, weird and wailing. To the
west thin red line marked the horizon,
though the day was two hours dead; while
higher up it faded into a tawny saffron
that was lost in the gloom Of the zenith.
The wind i'll the roadside trees, the dark
ness, the atmospheric phenomena and my
pwn disturbed mental condition inspired
the with q sort of horror. For an instant
thought OF retracing my steps, and then
fear vanished, and turning my back upon
the homes and lights and bells beyond the
hill, stumbled on over the dusty road
that stretched darkly before me.
My flight came to an end when stood
within the walls Of a deserted stone
church, my hands cut and bleeding from
wounds made by broken glass in forcing
an entrance. The feeble remnant of scat
tered sect had long ago given the structure
over to decay; the voice of exhortation and
of sacred song had been hushed; the pull
pit was now II white monument Of desola-
ton, while the key board of the crumbling
organ was the playground of an army Of
rats.
In the open space before the altar !
placed the pulpit desk. BY the faint light
of the night lamp traced on the bare oak
floor circle with water taken from run
ming stream that had crossed. Conform
ing closely to the instructions in the Greek
manuscript which had brought with me,
and standing within the halo of radiance
cast by the light inside the circle, i pre-
pared for the ordeal. In an unsteady voice
| repeated the first words of the incanta-
ton.
! waited an instant, but there was no re-
Spouse. Moistening my dry lips, uttered
the second call In a firmer voice.
Then a strange thing happened. The
fame Of the night lamp heightened beyond
the chimney top, remained smokeless for
an instant, and then slowly resumed its
normal height. | repeated the words, and
the flame rose and fell three times. The
sense of dread and fear deserted me. |
grew holder as the words of the Greek
prestess fell from my tongue; my pulse
beat strongly; my every faculty seemed en-
dowed with abnormal vigor, and every
drop of blood impelled from my heart was
filled with new life.
! Suddenly there came the rustling of gar
ments and the sound Of footballs just be-
You'd the circle. A whisper tloated from
the choir loft, and out of the darkness a
low, sweet melody broke from the ghostly
organ pipes Spirit fingers swept the keys
until, under the magic touch they made
! the music Of a march to whose diapason,
magnifed a thousand fold in echoes an
unseen army marshaled. A multitude of
eyes looked down upon me from the space
/ beyond the organ.
The lamp upon the pulpit desk burned
with wonderful brilliancy now. The bare
church walls had disappeared to give way
to limitless space, peopled with the ele-
mental host that / had summoned. Gray
shadows grouped themselves beyond the
circle. They were indistinct, and the ia
cial lines of the strangely hooded creations
seemed to blend with the surrounding
ether. 1t was mighty, voiceless host.
The triumphal tones OF the organ ceased
but for an instant, however, and then
sweled forth again. But there was break
in the wonderful harmony. The unseen
hands that struck the keys faltered, strug
gled vainly 10 catch the lost chord in the
majestic march, then, in an agony Of de
SPAR made discord, devilish in its eerit
wildness, and the music sank lower ant
lower until brokenly it ended in a moan.
The same dread that held me when
stood on the hillside beyond the vilag,
lights seized me now as the organ stopped
In the distance | saw between double line!
Of elementals a disk appear. From til,
dull color Of Roman gold it faded into
pale pink; then 1t took form, face wa
nodded in its uncertain light as it drew
near, and then-oh, Godl saw beyon(
the circle my counterpart, my double, m,
astral self, standing with outstretchet
arms and staring, sightless eyes, appeal
ing to me for helpl
1t was more than my brain could endure
A fearful weight was pressing on my TEN
pies. The Greek manuscript fell from III
nerveless hand ard l CROPPED blindly TO
support. l felt that was falling; spark
of ire flashed before my eyes; then all wa
dark.
The statement of the faithful nurse il
Ward of st. Catherine hospital, corrobC
rated by the resident physician, is tina
for seven weeks l struggled between lii
and death during an attack Of brain fever
At the end of that time l awakened t
consciousness to find the range of II
vision filled with faint opalescent light
| was totally blind. Three fingers Of IN
left hand had also been amputated at til
second joint, the result Of severe burr
the hospital people said. When / gre'
strong enough DR.. Weyman, the resideu
physician, read me this note;
; followed and reached you just In time.
secured both original and translation. BY I'll
time you are able to read this-if you ever do
: | shall be on the Pacific. The money is sui
ject to your order III the bank at M. lor
left hand fell partly outside the circle.
DIR. MAN
/ George n. Mccain in Pittsburg Bulletin