Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-03
HIS OWN SHADOW.

My friend Charles Daily is a member
of the theatrical profession. In the early
portion of his career, while yet unknown
to fame, he found the summer lapsing by
1t was not until late in October that he
received an offer to FIJI 4 vacancy that had
occurred in a st. Louis theater.
AS the position he was about to I'LL was
a subordinate one, be was obliged to seek
cheap lodgings. A chance acquaintance on
| the train recommended him to an obscure
| hotel on a back street.
Wearied with his long journey from New
York-for there were no sleeping cars in
those days-he begged to be shown imme-
diately to his room. As there was nc gas
in the hotel, a sleepy bellboy lighted a d.
minutive candle and escorted him to his
chamber.
just as they commenced the ascent Of
the second flight of stairs they were star
tied by the most horrid laughter, apparent
ly from some one in a room on the corridor
they were approaching.
The servant fastened to explain that ii
was a gentleman who had been drinking
too much and was suffering with delirium
tremens.
My friend hesitated about proceeding
farther, but on the assurance of the serV-
ant that this was the first time that tho
sick man had made any noise and that hs
was in charge Of two friends who had
volunteered to sit up with him Charley
concluded to proceed.
The wind was bowling mournfully
around the house, and the rain beat wildly
on the window panes. Hastily disrobing
himself and extinguishing the candle, he
enjoyed the luxury Of the first stretch In
48 hours.
He fell asleep almost instantly. How
long he remained SO he could not tell, but
some time during the night he was awak-
ened by a quick, sharp noise at his bedside
resembling tho overthrow of a piece Of
furniture or the bursting open Of a door.
Starting up in his bed, he wal Mortified
to see standing near him figure in white,
with glaring eyes and disheyeled hair, APP
parontly about to spring upon him. He at
once realized the situation. The victim
of ~mania-a-potu had escaped from his
watchers and obtained admission to his
room. Almost as suddenly, however, the
apparition vanished.
The disappearance affected him no less
seriously, for he knew not from what
quarter to expect al attack.
Anything was preferable to such uncer-
tainty, and momentarily expecting to en-
counter the maniac he CROPPED his way in
the dark to the table where he had left his
candle.
1t seemed an age to him before he sue
ceeded in obtaining a light. When its
feeble glimmer penetrated the room, to his
establishment 1T was empty.
Aiming himself with his cane, he com
menced a search, but without discovering
the intruder. The door was locked on the
inside and tho windows were secured.
There was but one closet in the room, and
that was empty.
Could he have been mistaken Could 1t
have been a dream9
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
! it occurred to him that 1t would be rather
embarrassing to explain his reason for &C.
manding 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 a chair awaiting the break OF
day.
The candle burned to its socket long be-
fore day dawned. Its first feeble glimmer
| had hardly made it's appearance when he
| descended to the office and waited his
breakfast, with the determination of seek
ing other quarters afterward.
q. l.-l lanlJa1 A. ,-- ,,-ALn. - It,
scare, but when the clerk, surprised at his
early appearance, inquired II he had not
rested comfortably he determined to con.
| fide in him, with the hope of obtaining an
explanation of the mystery.
The clerk evidently believed that 1t was
nothing but u dream, but he sent to in.
| quire II the sick man had left his room
during the night. Ho received the positive
assurance Of both the watchers that he
had rested very quietly and that such a
| thing was impossible, as neither of them
had closed his eyes.
In the hope of setting his mind at rest
the clerk suggested that he should sit neal
the door of the breakfast room and inspect
the faces Of the guests to identify If posi-
BILE the intruder.
/ AAAolEuniOnU was WV QAi0
after the last guest had breakfasted my
friend was forced to believe that none Of
them could have been the intruder, but the
impression yet remained that he could not
have been deceived.
Tho clerk determined to 20 up stairs
and make an examination of the room.
This was done in the presence Of my
friend, who accompanied him without dis
covering any possible means of exit.
Vexed and annoyed with himself for
having invited by his confession the III
concealed amusement Of the clerk, he sat
upon the edge Of the bed, endeavoring to
recall all the circumstances Of the case.
While in this position he slowly raised
his head, when his eyes encountered what
seemed to be the apparition that had pre-
viously presented itself. A second glance
redeemed his cheeks with shame when be
recognized himself In a mirror.
With this olew to guide him he discov'
cred that the noise which had awakened
; him was made by the porter Of the hotel.
who overturned a chair in an attempt to
extinguish a lamp which was burning In
the corridor. Starting In surprise from a
heavy sleep, my friend beheld, by the brioi
light of the lamp which shone through the
transom Of the door, his own reflection In
the glass, which disappeared, Of course,
when the light was extiDguished.
This is the veracious history Of a man
who was frightened by his W shadow