Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-08-02
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The Terrible Experience That Blsnched y
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HAVE heard of persons whose
hair was whitened through ex-
cessiye fear, but, as I never saw my
self anyone so affected, 1 am disposed
to be incredulous on the subject"
The above remark was made TO DR..
Maynard, as we sat on the piazza Of
his pretty villa, discussing the differ
ent effects of terror on dissimilar tenn
peraments. Without replying to me,
the doctor turned to his wife, and
said:
Helen, will you please relate to my
old friend the incident within your
own experience? II is the most CON
vincing argument l can advance"
l looked at Mrs. Maynard in sur
prise, / had observed that her hair,
which was luxuriant, and dressed very
becomingly, was purely colorless; but,
as she was young woman, and also
a very pretty one, I surmised that it
was powdered to heighten the bril-
lianey Of her fine dark eyes.
The doctor and I had been fellow
students, but, after leaving college,
we had drifted apart; l to commence
practice in an eastern city, he TO pur-
sue his profession in a growing town
in the west. was now on a visit 10
him for the first time since his mar
riage.
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt reading my
supposition by my look Of incredulity,
smiled as she shook her snowy tresses
over her shoulders, and, seating her
self by her husbands side, related the
following interesting episode:
II was nearly two years ago since
my husband was called on one evening
70 visit a patient several miles away.
Our domestics had all gone 10 a wake
I'm the vicinity, the dead man being
q relative of one Of our serving wom-
en-. Thus I was left alone, But felt
no fear, for we never had heard of
burglars or any sort Of desperadoes
in our quiet village, then consisting Of
a few scattered houses. The windows
leading out on the piazza were open
as now, but l secured the blinds be-
fore my husbands departure, and
locked the inside doors. all except the
front one, which | left for the doc
tor 10 lock after going out, so that,
IL I should fan asleep before his re-
turn. he would enter without arousing
me. I heard the doctors rapid foot
steps on the gravel, quiekened by the
urgent tones of a messenger who
awaited him; and, after the sharp
rattle OF the carriage wheels had be-
come but an echo, I seated myself
bv the parlor astral, and very soon
became absorbed In the book 7 had
been reading before being disturbed
by the summons.
But after a time my interest sue
cumbed TO drowsiness, and ! thought
OF retiring. Then the clock in the
doctors study struck Il, so l deter
mined 20 wait a few moments more,
feeling that he would be home very
soon. closed my book, donned
robe de chambre let down my hair
and then returned TO my seat 20 pa
tieutlv wait and listen, Not the faint
est sound disturbed the stiffness OF
the night. Not a breath of air stirred
the leaves. The silence was so pro
found that it became oppressive. I
Ionred for the sharp click OF the gate
latch and the well-known step ON the
gravel walk. I did not dare TO break
the hush myself by moving or singing,
I was so oppressed with the deep still
ness. 1he human mind is a strange
torturer Of itself I began 10 coniure
mn vivid fancies about ghostly visit
ants. In the midst Of which occurred
70 me the stories I had heard from
superstitious people about thetroubled
spirifs Of those who had died sudden
". like the man whom my servants
had gone 10 wake" who had been
killed bv an accident az the sawmilI.
In the midst Of these terrifying re-
Elections. 7 was startled by stealihy
football on the piazza. ! listened be-
tween fear and hope. II might be
the doctor But no, he would NOT
tread like that: the step was too SOFT
and cautious tor anything less willy
than a cat As 7 listened again, my
ewes fixed on the window-bliud, l saw
the Stats move slowly and cautious
IL. and then the rays Of the moon dis
closed a thin. cadaverous face, and
bright. glittering eyes. Peering at me
uorror, Who was IL? or what was
itq 7 felt the cold Precipitation start
M every pore. 7 seemed 20 he frozen
in INV chair. could not move;
couId not cry out; my tongue seemed
Glued 10 the roof Of my mouth, while
the dcathlv white face pressed closer,
and the great sunken eyes wandered
I'm their gaze about the room. in a
few moments the blind closed as
roiseIesslv as it had been opened, ana
The cautions footsteps came toward
me door. "Mcrciful heavens ] criea
In n horror-stricken whisper as j
heard the key turn in the lock- the
doctor. In his haste must have ioF-
GOTTEN 20 withdraw the key.
heard the front door open, the
stem IN the hall, and helpless as
chair he