Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-15

to the depths below, I went slowly
down into the Egyptian darkness. My
hand rested on the rude balustrade all
the way, and when it came to the end
knew I was standing on the last step.
I am probably no more of coward
than most men, and had never been
afraid of darkness; but this was the
blacklist night I had ever been i'm
mersed in. Really there was a lesser
degree of darkness when closed my
eyes, for then the sensations of the
glowing western sky still fingered.
Standing there on the bottom step, an
unaccountable fear came over me.
Probably it has been perceived from
this history that impotence regarding
things which seem to have bearing
on the supernatural is one of my char
acteristics. To feel sensation of fear
when there is no apparent reason for
it, causes disgust at what I consider
an objectionable weakness.
So then determined to chastise my
cowardice by keeping on and explor-
ing that dark hole. would not allow
myself to beat an ignominious retreat
IL
clined me to such course.
I took the last step, and my feet
rested on what seemed to be loose
plank, which gave way a few inches
under my weight. From the feeling
of insecurity this brought to me, I
thrust out my foot to feel my way be-
fore proceeding farther.
Before I could take step forward,
however, from somewhere in that tomb
like darkness, in deep, solemn tones,
sounded voice:
Another step means death. Pause
before you take It'll"
To say that I was simply startled
would not be true. l was paralyzed
with fear. My hair bristled up, my
heart began trip-hammer action, and
the blood surged to my head in fierce
tide.
"Back, for your life!" again sounded
the voice, this time in sterner tones.
Back, for"
But stayed not to hear more. Never
had that stairway been assembled in
greater haste. I fairly tumbled up,
using my hands as well as my feet.
Pausing not to close the cook-house
door, made wild rush for my room,
intent on the one only purpose of
escaping from the unknown terror of
that horrible voice. I closed my bed
room door after I had entered, and
bolted it. Then I threw myself into
the nearest chair and covered my face
with my hands.
For some time I remained so, limp,
powerless and completely unnerved.
The night had fallen when again
looked up, and my room was shrouded
in gloom. Darkness was horrible; SO,
staggering to my feet, I fumbled about
for some matches, and in feverish haste
lit the two lamps and the candle
which were in the room. The window
was open. I closed the shutters and
bolted them. The door leading into the
parlor where my grandfather's body
had reposed in the coffin waiting for
burial, so many years ago, was also
open, and in my wrought-up imagina-
ton specters of the dead seemed to pass
before it, There was no bolt to this
door and, not feeling satisfied in having
1t simply latched, by great effort l
showed tall chest of drawers against it.
Even thus barricaded there was no
feeling of safety. There was no know
ing what fearful mystery might come
up through the floor from the walled
up cellar beneath.
The experience just passed through
was enough to brighten anyone. But
it was not that alone which caused such
complete Generalization of my nerves
and SO absolute terrorism of all my
faculties. There was something more
than the demonstration just encoun-
tered, something from within myself.
Looking back to the time now I real
ize howJtrue it is that often coming
events cast their shadows before.
After awhile began to realize more
and more that the intensity of the fear
which had swept over me was not
wholly caused by the sound of the
voice or the attendant circumstances.
secuted all idea of a supernatural orr
| gin; but, then, what was it?
The season of the year had arrived
when the farmers had about completed
| the garnering of an abundant harvest,
| and therefore feeling of content
abounded. The countryside was over
run by tramps, the members of the dus-
ty fraternity well knowing that food
was never denied hungry man by the
well-provisioned farmers. Perhaps the
| cook-house cellar was rendezvous for
q number of tramps. was SO eager to
arrive at some explanation of the event
which would have wholly materialistic
bearing that the absurdity of q man
seeking resting-place in damp foul
cellar, when a much more comfortable
| bed might be secured out at the barn
amid the hay ami straw, did not strike
me.
Then, too, the place would undoubt-
cdly lose degree of horror if light
was introduced. So. seeing that my
pistol was in my pocket, and taking the
caadle and some matches, 1 again made
for the cook house. Having resolved to
descend again into the mysterious
gloom, did not allow myself to pause
and think; that would mean perhaps a
return of my fright. Unjust plunge into
the mystery suddenly, or not at all.
1t was like taking cold-water bath;
the longer one waits the harder to make
the plunge.
Inside the cook house lit the candle
and, taking the pistol from my pocket,
approached the stairway.
About again to descend, the recollec-
ton of my first experience came to me
in all the force of it's unearthly quail