The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-16

was not of this world. but an euiana- ton from the Spirit Land; ny aar @ lvse up, my teeth chatter4ed- For q ,ions time stood petrified with rear ~ ,As. .c run. As you know, was very swiIs runner. and that night I ran as l never ran before. But 1t was all In vain; yusy
 behind me I could hear @ tns n pa.tef os that ot
 mad race! At last I reached home, un.
 locked the door with rapidity,, ana
 rushed in.~ Before I could close It the
 figure had glided in also; l @ bounded un.
 a time, burst open the door and slammed
 1t behind me. But quick as was my
 movement. the vision slipped in and took
 it's seat upon q lounge, and there tnroufn sunEi
 ing at me My blood was congeaied with
 fear. I sat upon the side of the bed ana
 glared at the phantom all niEne as
 though petrified. could not take my
 eyes away. I was fascianted. overcome: [ could not move. could not speak. could
 not cry out Of all suffering, this ah-
 ject fear. this indescribable terror. which
 only those who are brought face to face
 is W the most horrible. I suffered . thous-
 and deaths. Eternity does not appear
 longer to the damned In hell than did
 that night appear to me. Finally, when
 countless ages seemed to @ nave s,a rosier .,tes
 the increasing light the phantom gradu-
 aIlv faded away like the morning mist
 before the rays of the rising sun. That day was naturally agitated, very yh ner.
 night Approached, I was afraid to re- main alone. I felt that the phantom could not pursue me out into the world. That evening there was ball at Elks me, and she consented. The assembiage was large and gay. the music good. and the ballroom presented a scene or great animation and beauty. I entered into tns dance with great enthusiasm, determined to forget, to detract my mind from It's gloomy foi ebodings.
 About midnight was waltzing with Janette. when suddenly I heard peninq me the pattering of feet. I looked. l was overcome with fear. there in the middle of the ballroom l stood trembling in every limb, and gazing wildly upon this strange phantom which no one else me, the music stopped. there close be- side me, stood Mamie. looking at me with her wide-open eyes in which ! seemed to see the light or darkness Of the tomb.
 How long stood there I know not. At last there came over me an insane lnl- pulse to seize this torment and crush this hallucination. if such i. could be- started after 1t. Before my wild, dis room. ran after 1t, 1t ran before me. Round the room chased 1t. begging the guests to help me catch it. But 1t was useless. However fast ran. there IL hear the batter of her naked feet upon | the waxed floor. Finally, my friends | seized and overpowered me. put me Into l a carriage, and drove me home. All the l way I could hear behind the carriage | the patterlng of her feet. Reaching my | room she came In and sat down, that | night passing like the preceding, In un- | utterable agony. The next day my | al 1uIra ra1 tt, nh 0vh me a strong dose of opium. went to | sleep under the influence of the drug. About midnight l woke up in awful az Dny, and sitting there with her eyes passed like the two preceding. but in- stead of becoming accustomed to the spectre, I felt that l was growing every day more utterly unnerved. For several lfter about a week the physicians agreed that I was insane, and I was removed 70 the Asylum. I knew that I was not. put I made no resistance; did not care arriving here, you can judge by what you have seen. Every night the spector appears, first in one part of the room. hen in another. and We sit gazing at ,ne another until morning."
 He was silent for some time after this .ecital The sun was declining toward he West, the great building cast its broad shadow far across the lawn. 'elt that could not spend another nleht here, that I must have an opportunity o collect my shattered nerves. and all eging reasons of business, prepared 70 depart. He made no resistance. My | buggy was brought around. and with leavy heart drove slowly to town. That light slept little but toward day. break I fell into heavy sIumber. l vas awakened by a knock at my door. md sitting up in bed I heard the land- ady call out: They have telephoned rom the Insane Asylum for you to come 1t once" l hurried into my clothes md ran to the livery stable. T told
 hem to bring out their fastest horse. a beautiful oay was brought and a saddle and bridie thrown upon
 him l leapsd upon nm aI.- ga e hip, severe blow with the whip. he started
 at rapAd gate. I rode him at full