Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-12-03
standing out in drops up

perspiration standing out in drops up
on me.
For one-two-three seconds glared
this binding point of light, then-sud.
denly-it was gone. without flicker
or sign of fading. without a sound
Gone instantly as If it had never been
and left the inky gravelike darkness
of before.
Crouching in the darkness, listening
to the throbbing OF my heart, as be.
fore said, my whole nervous system
seemed to have been broken down and
unstrung. There, with bristling hair
and staring eyes, lay amid the utter
darkness. l remembered every utter.
ance, every syllable, every information
of my hostess words.
Said to appear carrying lamp,
with little glowing flame; she gives
three warnings before-hush. Don't
tell him girls. for worlds,"
Then the clock took 1t up. Don't
tell him. don't tell him, don't tell him,
girls. for worlds" 1t echoed away in
Its high metallic rhythm.
Would that had never overheard
the story. or that / had heard more.
The suspense, the uncertainty, was
awful.
She gives three warnings before
before what? Oh, heavens! three warn.
ings before what? The trees outside
rustled mournfully once more.
Would that heaven might grant me
courage to get ont OF bed and grope
my way to the matches on the dress.
ing-table. But was afraid, afraid!
Suddenly out Of the darkness in the
same direction glared again the daz.
cling point of light. glared unflinching.
~, unfiickering, into my dilated, star
ing eyes.
i started up in bed again and tried
to brace myself to an extreme effort.
turned aside the clothes and pre-
pared to leap straight for the gleam-
Ing eyes. Hardly had my first foot
touched the floor when the light was
gone. mysteriously, suddenly, as be-
fore 1t came. sank back into the
warm shelter of the bed.
Gives three warnings-gives three
warnings" extensively beat the clock
in the words of the hostess.
Was this the second or third warn
ing! Did the first awake me? | ask
ed myself, crouching in a paroxysm
of terror which increased every sec
ond in the deathlike darkness and
stiffness around
IL the third, what was I,waiting for
now?-for what? She gives three warn.
ings before-before--oh, heavens!
that awful unknown. recalled clear
ly an inquest l had attended of man
found dead from fear in haunted
house in fashionable part of London.
What was l waiting for?
l listened once more to the wind
rustling outside, and then leaped.
Throwing back the clothes, leaped
out into the darkness and stumbled
across the dark room toward the
dressing table and the matches.
Though at the dressing table itself
and the matchbox almost in my hand,
suddenly the wall in front became al.
most imperceptibly Illuminated with
dull misty light, and saw very family
the outlines of my own shadow.
1t came from behind IN the direction
of the window; as turned saw for
q second the glazing spot of light.
Then it was gone.
1t was the third warning.
The door was closed. opened it
and fed out into the passage down the
stairs to where knew Bob slept
Into his room burst and shook him
by the shoulder.
The lights-the ghostly lights in
my room was all could utter. Bob
looked up sleepily. almost without
opening his eyes.
"Lights?" he snid Chalk Cliff
misunderstanding lisht-through
trees-go back-bed!"
And went, uncertain whether re-
lieved or annoyed at the explanation
of lighthouse and looking glass.
Bob apparently kept my adventure
to himself, that is, except-well, the
next morning Isabel with a roguish
little smile on her dimpled cheeks,
asked me If would walk over with
her to see the Chalk Cliff Lighthouse.
l went and made the best of the
opportunity.
l now bless that lighthouse New
York News.