The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-09
AN ASTRAL DOUBLE.

"Perhaps the house is haunted, mother"
said Walter. 'sThe rent is too low for q
house without objection"
'sWho oaresg'' laughed l. "Ghosts can't
trouble us. They always come at 70
o'clock, and I am always sound asleep
then. If you ever chance to be awake at
Shat unseemly hour, begin prac-icing and
that Will drive even ghosts away. -
Our friends called, and all were charmed
with our delightful little home. Walter
pFactsced steadily and patiently and was
getting pale and nervous. We attributed
it to his persevering work and decided to
spend the holidays in the little country vii
lage which was our real home leaving the
piano and every note in the city. We re-
turned refreshed and ready for a IA weeks
siege OF constant sOund-musical and 9TH
erwise.
We had been in town two weeks, not
long enough to overcome the effect of our
visit, nor yet to be tired of the practicing,
yet Walter was evidently getting thin and
pale again. I suggested a mild tonic, but
he did not take kindly to the idea, and
did not insist. Then one night, 1 was
awakened from a sound sleep by Walter
standing by my bedside, wide awake,
shaking from head to foot.
Mother, - he said, 81 cannot endure
this another night. -
s'What is It, my son?'s asked, thor
'Come into my room and listen. My
telling viii never convince you. -
arose, threw on my wrapper and fol-
lowed him into his room. He turned on
the light, and we sat down and waited.
Nothing unusual was heard. Walter re-
fused to tell me what he had seen or heard,
saying he preferred to see if l could expe-
rience the same thing he did. For three
nights this was repeat ted; then told Wal
ter that 1 would exchange rooms with
him, as he was getting haggard from want
of sleep or anxiety. A week passed by, and
I had heard nothing, had not been aroused
OF awakened once, and Walter was nearly
convinced that his nervousness had been
caused by the electric light shining in his
window, producing disturbing dreams We
decided to change rooms entirely and car
ried all of his furniture into my room
and mine into his, which apparently set
tied the matter. I began to joke Walter
upon his ghost being of on a vacation,
but saw this vexed him and dropped the
subject.
In March a friend came to visit me, and
I shared my room with her. We had not
seen each other for several years and lay
talking together till the clock struck l.
There, - said, mot another word, or
you will not be able to do the city tomor-
row Good night. -
The house was silent
What's that" softly said my friend.
I listened. Bump, step, stepl Bump,
step, stepl a heavy stick was set upon
stair; then one foot then another. Over
and over till the top of the stairs was
reached-through the short hall into our
room. On, heavensl
My friend shrieked, and flew out upon
the floor and turned on the gas as Walter,
white as death, came into the room.
"You have heard it at last9'
No strange person was in the room.
Nothing was disturbed. I told Walter
rather sharply to go back to bed and not
brighten US again in such manner. After
he had gone. however, I looked carefully
under the bed and into every corner, but
discovered nothing. returned to my
couch little nervous and a great deal
vexed with myself OF course my friend
and I told ghost stories the rest of the
night, and the ghost always proved to be a
cat or rat. We did not fall asleep til
nearly daylight. We awoke at 10 o'clock.
Then we laughed at our fright-knew it
was not burglar, for it made too much
noise, and a ghost would not need a cane.
1t was plainly wholly imagination
We tramped and rode and shopped all
the next day and attended the opera in the
evening, returning at IL o'clock used up
entirely" I left the light burning brightly.
At 1, precisely-bump, step, step; bump,
step, step-it came again, like an old man
elm bling the stairs with heavy cane. My
friend was sound asleep, and 1 was glad of
it. Down the hall it came and in at the door.
I was sitting up staring straight at it. but
saw nothing. Bump, step, step-acrOss
the room to a window where stood a large
armchair. I stared and stared and did
not even wink, but there was nothing in
the chair-simply nothing. I heard no
more sounds. Breathless and frightened,
I sat there till either I tainted or fell
asleep, I never shall know which. The
next thing 1 realized it was morning.
Walter and my friend were up and dressed.
They had heard nothing, and kept quiet
about what 1 had dreamed q.
Every night for two weeks this same
thing happened. My friend went home,
and L went house hunting 1t only took
me u short half day to find just what I
wanted. Then I said to Walter: ''This
house is too small, too dark, too cold, too
everything have taken house on Viii
lett place.
''Au right, - he replied, but noticed he
looked little curiously at me, though he
said nothing; neither did I.
When 1 informed my landlord of my in
tended removal, he said, THE house you
have taken is much smaller and darker
and colder than this one. -
Il don't think so,'' I replied shortly.
''By the way, Mr.. B., did anybody ever
die in this house of yours?''
"No, Mrs. Allen" he answered. 81
bought it of the man who built it. He
was an old man, John Huntington by
name, who was lame in one leg, and he
walked with a stout cane. He went TO
New Jersey to live with his daughter when
she WAS married. He didn't want to 60,
though-not bit. But he is living there
now"
moved, and often wonder if the
spirits. OF the living haunt the places which
their hearts love.=N evvs- Tribune
Very True
An excellent reproof once given by Gen
nral I2obart 4 I e To two r11nr1n hers of his