The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10
CHAPTER vII.-CoNCLUsIoN.
By j. o. PAGAN.


at in any way you like. make no attempt
20 explain anything. If 1t was a dream and
a delusion il was marvellous; If il was a
trick II was just as wonderful. but you can
not blot the thing out Of my mind and there
Is nothing in the heavens or under the stars
that can take away the mystery from the
living pictures that my soul at any rate
looked upon IL the Indian Eye.
CAS- I entered the cave the bag sat in a
corner with her chin resting on her crutch
She was moaning and every once in a while
she croaked out something that sounded
like 'Cibu Kalaka. Cibu Kalaka.' Pinta led
me 10 an old stump, told me to sit down,
and then added. the grandmother says
again and again look at the eye, look at
the eye"
SO looked up and saw an Indian robe
or shawl hanging on the side of the cave
liz was covered all over with Indian signs
and hieroglyphics. Pinta took hold of 1t,
drew it TO one side saying at the same
time look at the eye.
THE eye was there on the wall sure
enough. 1t was very rough, curious and
quaint, just as the Indians make their
pictures on stone or pottery. and round
about it were multitude of lines, curves
and figures such as you can see on Indian
relics.
so the eye was before me and looked
at IL.
"Pinta vanished.
Il was alone with the Hag. I became
aware that she was kindling little fires in
fat plates or dishes all around me. The
flames were Of pale blue color and under
the effect of this peculiar light the eye on
the wall assumed an appearance a good
81 steadfastIy. In fact, 1 was soon aware
that / must look at it as the fumes from the
little furnaces began to take hold of my
senses.
Il became alarmed and had been able
think 1 should have shouted and rushed out
of the cave. But the old hoop kept whin-
Ing Look at the eye 50 1 looked until L
fell into a kind of stupor. 1 recovered very
quickly however, and then my mind was
as clear and reasonable as it is at this min
ute.
Then the eye began to move and pass
along TO one side, and as it did so another
picture came slowly into view.
"A thunder storm was rolling over some
desolate stretch of country, and the clouds
hung so low they almost touched the earth.
AS looked and wondered / saw my mother
in the midst of it all, looking just as re-
membered and loved her. She seemed to
be buried in thought and totally uncon-
scious of her surroundings. She was anx-
iously contemplating a chain composed OF
different colored links of flame which she
held out before her.
"A little to one side sat the old Hag, pos
itively playing with the lightning, which
was almost incessant and painfully vivid.
AS / watched her she twisted and bent
the flashes into links and passed them to
my mother, who kept adding them TO her
dazzling chain.
But the scene quickly shifted and passed
away and then 1 saw before me young
and fair-haired girl. l thought 1 had never
in my life looked upon any one so entirely
lovabIe and charming. But strangest of al
was the fact that she was looking straight
at me with such an expression of love and
yearning that tried with all my might tC
spring to her side. But before l could
move a hand or a foot she had vanished
into the distance.
"Once more my mother appeared, but thi:
time she seemed TO be in great distress
She held the wonderful chain before her, 5u
somehow could tell that link was lack
ing to make it complete, and that the sor
ceress, who was again in the picture. re
slightest warning. the beautiful girl whom
j had seen before fitted across the stage
For second or two there was some kline
of a struggle over in the corner between
these spirits of good and evil, but yer!
quickly the coveted link was secured. anc
then my mother took the girl to her heart
and as they faded from my sight they wer'
shedding tears of joy. as for some grea
victory.
Then followed a vision in white. Their
was winding white tunnel with gleamin,
electric lights everywhere. Crowds OF PEG
pie were rushing hither and thither. Quicl
as a passing thought the scene changed
and then l saw two hands extended an
approaching each other, with something
like a cross or wheel OF shining metal be
tween them. But it all vanished like
dream. and exquisite sensation or peac
and delight came over me. i saw my owl
figure kneeling as If in prayer, and tn
beautiful fair-haired girl was at my side
y delicate shower of orange blossoms wa
falling gently over the scene, while tn
strains of exquisite music told of a weddin
march.
That was all.
Then it was the Indian Eye again, wit
nothing but its cold, stony stare. The lit
lie blue flames had burned themselves on
and 1 saw the old grandmother over in tn
corner squirming and wriggling like one il
a fit.
LAS for myself, / was wet with perspira
ton and trembling from head to foot.
arose and rushed out into the oIen air.
found little Pinta sitting in the sunshin
busy at her basket work. dexterously twin
ing and twisting the bamboo shavings as
nothing in the world had happened 10 max
anybody wonder or to interfere in any wa
with the routine of existence.
Clipper was an impetuous, high-strun
kind OF a fellow, with plenty OF sentimen
OF the right kind. He was delightful com
panion, his conversation was always inter
esting sometimes brilliant, and on this oc
casion his narrative came from him like tn
lines sf some wonderful poem that he ha
studied with delight and which he nov
poured out with much feeling into the syn
pathetic ear OF his bosom friend. At thi
point in his story he arose, took a httl
refreshment and then returned to his chail
I'VE sat at a small card table. he at on
side, at the other. Dropping his head be
tween his hands he looked me straight 1
the face Silently and wonderingly / n