Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-20
HIS OWN SHADOW.

My friend Charles DAILY Is member
Of tho theatrical profession. In the early
portion Of his career, while yet unknown
to fame, he found the summer lapsin2 by
without having secured an engagement
1t was not until late In October that he
received an offer to I'LL c vacancy that had
occurred in u ST. Louis theater.
AS the position no was about to fill was
subordinate one, he was obliged to seek
cheap lodgings. chance acquaintance on
the train recommended him to an obscure
hotel on u back street.
Wearied with his long journey from New
York-for there were no sleeping cars In
those days-he begged to 10 shown immo-
In the hotel, q sleepy bellboy lighted dl.
minut1ve 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 room on the corridor
they were approaching.
The servant hnstened to explain that it
was q gentleman who had been drinking
too much and WAS suffering with delirium
tremens.
My friend hesitatcd about proceeding
farther, but on the assurance of tho serv-
ant that this was the first time that the
sick man had mado any noise and that he
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 pnnes. Hastily disrohins
| himself and cXtnguishing tho candle, he
| enjoyed the luxury of the first stretch In
| IS hours.
| He fell asleep almost instantly. How
| long no remained So he could not tell, but
some time during the night he was awsk
ened by u quick, sharp noise at his bedside
resembling the overthrow Of piece of
| furniture or the bursting open of door,
Starting up In his bod, he was Mortified
to SEQ standing near him figure in white,
| with glaring Dyes and dishovelcd hair, APP
parently about to spring upon him. Ho ut
once realized the situation. The victim
! OF mania-a -potu had escaped from his
| watchers aud obtained admission to his
room. Almost as suddenly, however, tho
| apparition vanished.
| The disappearance affected him no less
| seriously, for he knew not from what
quarter to expect an attack.
Anything was preferable to such uncer-
tainty, and 1nomentarily expecting to en-
counter the 1naniac he CROPPED his why in
the dark to the table whore he had left his
candle.
1t seemed an age to him before he sue
ceeded in obtaining light. When its
feeble glilnmer penetrated the room, to his
establishment 1t was empty.
Aiming himself with his cane, he com
lnenced Il search, but without discovering
the intruder. Tho door was locked on the
! inside and the windows We're secured.
! ien e closet in the room, and
There was Dt.'e-4..7s ,@sar Or
that was empty. .>instraes. Gould 1t
Could no have boon mistn gSSs.. ships.
have been q dream? IN the
AT all events, there was no more sleep
for him that night. After dressing him
self he was about to go to tho 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 &C.
mand1ng change, and in the hope that It
| wns near morning, for he had no watch
ne wrapped the bedclothes around him
| and sat in q chair awaiting the break of
| day.
The candle burned to its socket long be-
foro day dawned. Its first feeble glim1ner
had hardly 1nada its appearance when he
descended to the office and waited his
breakfast. with the determination of seek
ing other quarters afterward.
He had decided to say nothing OF his
scare but whom the clerk, surprised ut his
early appearance, inquired If he had not
rested comfortably he determined to con
tide In him, with the hope Of obtaining an
explanation of tho mystery
The clerk evidently believed that 1t was
nothing but q dream, but he sent to in
qulre ii the sick man had left his room
during the night. He received the positive
assurance OF both the watchers that he
had rested very quietly and that such II
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 near
the door of the breakfast room and inspect
the faces Of the guests to identify If posi-
BILE the intruder
The arrangement was carried out. and
after the last guest had break tasted INV
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
inc clerk determined to go up stairs
and make an examination of the room.
Ihis was done in the presence of my
friend, who accompanied him without dis
covering any possible means of exit.
Vexsd and annoyed with himself for
having invited by his confession the i'll
concealed amusement of the clerk, he sat
upon the edge Of the bed, endeayorlnR to
recall all the circumstances Of the case.
While In this position he slowly raised
his head, when his eyes encountered W hat
seemed to be the apparition that had pre-
vtously presented itself A second glance
redeemed ms checks with shame when he
recognized himself In mirror.
With this clew to guide him he discov-
cred that the noise which had awakened
MIN was made by the porter of the hotel,
who overturned chair in IN attempt to
estinguish lamp which was burning in
the corridor. Starting in surprise from
heavy sleep. my friend beheld, BY the brief
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 cxtinguished
This is the veracious history Of a man
who was frightened by his own shadow
Philadelphia Item. @
M.a How He Shot.