Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-06
THREE MINUTES TO TWELVE
FROM THE GERMAN. BY GUSTAV BENDER

1t was q cold night in December 1 had
visited an old friend. who lived about six
miles from the city. in an Ober- Forstei; we
had been sitting together until late in the
warm. coy room. over a glass OF punch
Unfortunately one Of the buggy horses of
my friend had become lame a few DAYS
before. and had to transact important
business In the city the next morning, ]
had no other alternative but to walk home
1t was bitterly cold. and so dark that one
could hardly see the hands before the eyes
A sharp east wind howled over the gloomy
barren fields. and / was heartily glad when
the yellow gaslights of the suburbs appear
ed Under the first lamp post stopped TO
look at my watch, which was a matter OF
some difficulty, as one Of the panes of the
lamp was broken. and the fame. blown by
the wind to all directions. was liable 10 be
eXtinSuished any minute. At last l sue
ceedei in recognizing the hand. 1t showed
three minutes TO twelve.
When 1 looked UP again. i involuntarlly
started Close before me stood a man.
had not heard the least noise OF steps; #
was as II he had suddenly risen out Of the
ground. 1 looked for a moment silently in
to his face. But this moment was enough
TO press his countenance upon my memory.
a
out black coat, on which some OF the
seams were open. His face was exceedingly
lean and pale. the eyes were deep in their
cavities, and around the chin hung a gray.
unkempt beard
He lifted his shabby hat and said In q
tone whose politeness astonished me: May
l ask you for the kindness. sir. to tell me
how late II isr' I naturally was careful not
to pull out my watch again. Three min
utes before midnight" replied. He thank
ed me with the same politeness with which
he had formerly spoken. lifted his hat again
and disappeared in the darkness as noise
lessly as he had come.
Half an hour later I smiled in my coy
bed room about my causeless fear, and
week afterward I had forgotten the adven-
ture. 1 was very busy about that time and
a large contract which 1 had to nil in the
next few days for a firm in the neighboring
city NJ. occupied my whole attention.
About two months had passed when had
in the night very strange dream. after
had just returned from a business trip to
N. 1 found myself on the summit Of a
steep precipice. Far away, on the horizon
Z saw the tower OF n. looming UP. Re-
side me stood a tall. black figure Suddenly
commanding motion to tho PARKWAY city.
The dream was simple. but II was so ex-
ceedingly vivid that I could not get rid OF
the thought of 1t the following day. ''Wiu
1t come againf" murmured when i retired
on the evening. And the dream came again.
the same dream l had the night before; j
again stood on the mount and the mys-
FERROUS figure again pointed at the city
NJ
Next morning at the breakfast table I
narrated this strange dream to my wife
She was kind enough not to laugh at II,
but gave me very sensible explanation.
That you dream Of NJ, said she, lis very
natural. You Just returned from there and
moreover from a very important business
transaction. And as far as concerns the
black figure. well. OF such ghosts one
aNr nrtll Of tgraN L. rsN ~
have the same dream two nights In sue
cession," I replied. We'll this is natural
enough. You just told me that you were
thinking all day about your dream" i
drank a cup OF coffee with a feeling of re-
lief The explanation Of my wife was so
sensible. 1t was a pity that 1 could not
prevent the dream from coming I'm the
third night and more vivid than ever be-
fore. In the gesture OF the black figure
this time there was something threatening
terrible-I was bathed In cold perspiration
when 1 started up from sleep with a cry
You look like a CORPSE" exclaimed my
wife when l entered the dining room next
morning. Has anything happened to
your"
tried to smile. but fear I did not sue
coed well in the attempt. "Just think,
had the dream again last night" said
slowly.
My wife looked at me silently.
Either j will become insane or-some-
thing terrible has happened in NJ
oh, you superstitious-" she did not
conclude the sentence The maid entered
the room with the mail. We'll, there Il is.
a letter from M"
Very well. but what them Open Il
first" I opened the envelope with trem-
Hing fingers. I was sure that I must have
received an unfortunate message.
'.Well?"
"Oh. my business friend requests me to see
him about q transaction"
My wife laughed outright And there
D., 81 Ill
get of. The train leaves Ia an hour. But