The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-01
HIS OWN IMAGE.

Louis, made the journey there from Now
York and stopped at hotel in bacl.
street AS he was being shown to his
room he was startled by most dcmoniac
yell, succeeded by the most horrd laugh.
ter, apparently from some one in II room
on the corridor they were approaching.
The servant FASTENED to explain that 1t
was gentleman who had been drinking
too much and was suffering with deliriuin
treinens. Not relisbing such neightor,
my friend hesitated about preceding far
ther; but, on the assurance OF the servant
that this was the first time shat the sick
man had made any noise, ara that be was
in charge of two friends who had volun
teered to sit up with him. Charley con
cluded to proceed
| 1t was with much misgiving that he de
posted his valise on the small table in the
room, and prepared to take possession oi
! his quarters. The wind was bowling
| mournfully around the house, and the
rain beat wildly on the window panes. He
| would have liked a fire If he could have
| afforded it, for the weather was chilly and
the room damp Hastily disrobng himself
and extinguishing the candle, he enjoyed
! the luxury of the first stretch in As hours
No one appreciates that luxury letter
than he who has been confined in the ex-
asperating limits of IA seat in u railroad
car for two nights in succession.
He fell asleep almost instantly. How
| long he remained so le could not tell; bat
some time during the night he was awak-
ened by quick, sharp noise at his bed
side, resembling the overthrow of piece
of furniture. or the bursting open of
door. Starting up in his bed he was hor
rified to see standing near him "A figure in
| 10 ,yln isha pH
hair, apparently about to spring upon him.
He at once realized the situation. The
victim of mania potu had escaped from
his watchers and obtained admission to
his room. The thought passed like light
ming through his brain, and his heart
stood still with alright. Almost as sud
denly, however, the apparition vanished.
The Disappearance affected him 10 less
seriously, for he knew not from what
quarter to expect an attack Anything
was preferable to such uncertainty, and,
momentarily expecting to encounter the
maniac, he CROPPED his way in the dark to
the table where lie had left the candle.
Never will ne forget the horror of that
situation. 1t seemed an age to him be-
fore no succeeded in obtaining n light.
When it's feeble Glimmer penetrated the
room, TO his establishment it was empty.
Aiming himself with his cane, he com
menced IA search, but without discovering
the intruder. The door was locked on the
inside and the windows secured. Thtre
was but one clCset in the room, and that
was empty.
After looking everywhere that 1t was
possible or impossible for any one to Sc
crete himself he drew a long BREATH in
the assurance that he was the only occu-
pant of the room. Could he have been
mistaken Could it have been, a dream?
At all events, there was no more sleep
for him that night. After dressing him
self he was about to go to the Office of the
hotel and apply for another room, when 1t
occurred to him that 1t would be rather
embarrassing to explain his reason for de-
mandng a change. And in the hope that 1t
was near morning, for he had no watch,
he wrapped the bedclothes around him and
sat in chair awaiting the break of day.
The candle burned to it's socket before day
dawned. Its first feeble glimmer had
hardly made its appearance when he de-
sceDded to the office and awaited his
} breakfast, with the determination of seek
ing other quarters afterward
He had decided to say nothing Of his
scare. But when the clerk, surprised at
his early appearance, inquired If he had
. | iOG Ttsttu Io uCltrullubu W
, confide in him, with the hope of obtaining
an explanation of the mystery.
The clerk, after hearing all the circum-
stances, evidently believed that it was
nothing but dream but, to satisfy my
friend, he sent to inquire if the sick man
he'd left his room during the night
tIe received the positive assurance OF
both the watchers that he had rested very
quietly and that such thing was impossi-
E BILE, as neither of them had closed his eyes.
Strong as this testimony undoubtedly
; was, it failed to shake my friends belief
: that some one had visited his room. In the
t hope of setting his mind at rest the clerk
suggested that he should sit near the door
of the breakfast room and inspect the faces
> of the guests to identify, If possible, the
a intruder.
4 The arrangement was carried out, and
after the last guest had breakfasted my
friend was forced to believe that none Of
them could have been the intruder, but
h the impression yet remained that he coult
q not have been deceived.
The clerk, surprised at his flrmness IL
his belief, determined to go up stairs ant
n make an examination of the room. This
:. was done in tho presence of my friend, whC
: accompanied him, without discovering any
= and windows, all of which he confessed
j were secured when he had examined then
after his surprise in the night. Vexed ant
: annoyed with himself for having invited
by his confession, the ill concealed amuse
ment of the clerk, he sat upon the edge o.
the bed, endeavoring to recall all the cir
cumstances of the case. While In this posi-
+ ton he slowly raised his head, when hi
:, eyes encountered what seemed to be the ap
u partition that had previously presented 1t
z, self. second glance Redeemed his cheek
j. with shame when he recognized himself II
: mirror
The explanation flashed upon him In |
moment, and with this clew to guide hin
he discovered that the noise which hat
awakened him was made by the porter o
the hotel, who overturned chair in an at
tempt to extinguish a lamp which wa
burning In the corridor. Starting in sur
prise from heavy sleep, my friend behelt
by the brief light of the lamp which shon