The Portland daily press., 1893-12-13

tom, and I thought, "Oh, WE'LL another
tenant has doubtless just gone up stairs"
Whenl leave my rooms / always lock the
| outer door | found it only latched, and
| that startled me. / supposed, however,
| that some one had brought letter for me
| during the evening.
entered. My fire was not out yet and
| family illumined the room. too.. can
| die to light at the hearth, when. glanclng
around, perceived a man seated IN my
| armchair, warming his feet, with his back
| toward me.
| was not afraid Oh, no, not IN the least.
| A very plausible idea entered my head
one of my friends had come to see me. The
| janitor, informed by me when went out,
had said that would soon be back. and
had lent his pass key. And all the eircum-
stances of my return passed through my
mind in a second-the street door opened
at once and my own door unlocked.
My friend, whose hair alone could see,
had gone to sleep before the fire while wait
ing for me, and stepped forward to wake
him. saw him perfectly now. one of his
arms hanging at his side, his head, in
clined little toward the left certainly in
Dictated sleep. asked myself, WHO is it?"
for | could not distinguish his features. I
/ put out my hand to touch his shoulder. 1t
met the wood of the chair There was no
one there. The chair was empty. Great
heavens, what q shockl
started back at first as if terrible dan
ger had appeared before me.
Then turned, feeling that some one was
behind me. Then at once an imperious ne
cessity to look again at the armchair made
me wheel around once more. And so re-
OIL Cfor rs oil
with terror, and SO completely unnerved
that could not even think.
But am self possessed man, and soon
my reason returned. II have been the vic
tim of q hallucination; that is ALL" And
Immediately began to reflect upon the
thing. Ideas come quickly at such times.
had had hallucination. That was an
undoubted fact. Now, my mind had been
all the time perfectly clear, acting regular
ly and logically. My brain was therefore
in its normal condition. My eyes alone had
been deceived. and they in turn deceived
my mind. Ny eyes had perceived vision,
one of those visions which cause ignorant
people to believe in miracles. 1t was an
optical illusion, nothing more, caused per
haps by slight CONGESTION.
lit my candle. noticed while stopping
toward the fire that was trembling, and /
rose with start, as if some one had touched
me from behind. Certainly was not at
all calm as yet.
took several steps. spoke aloud.
sang in an undertone several refrains.
Then locked the door of my room and
felt little treasured. No one could enter
now at any rate.
I sat down and pondered for some time
over my adventure. Then I went to bed
and blew out the light.
For some minutes all went we'll Then l
felt that must look around the room, and
raised myself on my elbow.
There was nothing left of the fire save
two or three glowing Goals, which showed
just the feetof the armchair, and thought
again saw the man sitting there
With a rapid movement lit a match. /
had been mistaken. saw nothing at all.
I got up, however, and hid the chair be-
hind the bed.
Then 1 made all dark again and tried to
sleep. had not lost consciousness five
minutes before, in dream, saw as wildly
as in reality all the scenes of the evening.
awoke from the fright, and having lighted
the candle / remained seated in bed, not
daring to go to sleep again. Twice, how
ever, slumber overlook me despite myself
for a few seconds. Each time I saw the
thing again. Thought had gone mad.
When day dawned, felt cured and slept
quietly till noon.
1t was all overall over. had had a
touch of fever, the nightmare-what you
will. In short, had been ILL., I thought
myself nevertheless extremely foolish.
l was very gay that day. dined at q
restaurant, went to the play, and then
started to return to my rooms. But as
approached the house strange inquietude
seized me- was afraid of seeing It again
Not afraid Of It-not afraid of Its presence,
in which did not at all believe. I was
afraid of more trouble with my eyes, afraid
of the hallucination, afraid of the terror
which would overpower me-
For more than an hour strayed about
the streets; then, at last, I felt SO much
ashamed that entered the house was
gasping for breath SO that could scarcely
ascend the stairs Iremained for 10 minutes
on the mat before my apartments; ther
suddenly had an access of courage, an in
crease of will power. l unlocked the door;
rushed in, candle in hand; kicked open
the half ajar inner door Of my room and l
cast frightened glance toward the fire
place. / saw nothing-ahl
What relief What joy! What deliver
a1ce! | walked to and fro in ecstasy But
yet l did not feel entirely treasured.
turned around suddenly sometimes; the
darkness in the corners disquieted me.
slept badly; awakened time after time
by imaginary noises. But did not see 1t.
No, 1t had disappeared forever.
From that day have been afraid when
alone at night. I feel It there near me-
around me--that vision. 1t has not ap
peared to me again. Oh, mol And what
matters this anyway, since I do not believe
in 1t, since know that 1t does not really
exist!
1t annoys me nevertheless, because
think OF 1t constantly. One hand was hang
ing at It's side Its head was inclined to
the left, like that of a man who sleeps.
But enough of this. will dream no more
of 1t.
Still what is this besetment? Why am
so persstently annoyed with 1t? Its feet
were very near the fire.
1t haunts mo-a foolish fancy, but real
one What, 1t? l know indeed that 1t
does not exist, that It has no being. 1t
lives only in my apprehension, in my fear,