Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-11-29

table ratified the busy metallic "tic'
OF small travelling clock, which, to
my distorted senses, seemed to echo
refrain, shrill threatening voice
from which | shrank in terror, pulling
the bed clothes we'll over my ears.
Suddenly through the darkness out
of the other side of the room away
from the window in the direction of
the dressing table, cleaned light.
A glowing speck of light, which in
the utter darkness seemed of dazzling
brightness, glared at me across the
room like a blazing angry eye 1t
was about the size of an ordinary
candle flame, but ten times as intense
in brightness. Strange to say it
spread little or no reflected or diffused
light about the room, but cleaned
dazzlingly with it's diabolical stare.
Shaking with unknown terror l sat
up again in bed, clutching convulsively
at the bedclothes, hearing my heart
throbbing like an engine. and the cold
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 a 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, S l 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. | remembered every utter
ance, every syllable, every intonation
of my hostess words.
Said to appear carrying a lamp,
with a little glowing flame; she given
three warnings before-hush! Don't
tell him girls, for worlds!"
Then the clock took it 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 I had never overheard
the story, or that l had heard more.
The suspense, the uncertainty, was
awful
She gives three warnings before
before what? Oh, heavens! three warm
ings before what? The trees outside
rustled mournfully once moro.
Would that heaven might grant me
courage to get out 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 unf1inching-
ly. unflickering, into my dilated, star
ing eyes
| 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 it 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? l ask
ed myself, crouching in paroXysm
of terror which increased every Sec
ond in the deathlike darkness and
| stiffness around,
If the third, what was l waiting for
now FOR what? She gives three warn
ings fore-before-oh, heavens!
that awful unknown! recalled clear
ly an inquest had attended of man
| found dead from fear in a haunted
house in fashionable part of London
What was | waiting for?
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 a
dull misty light, and saw very family
the outlines of my own shadow.
It came from behind in the direction
of the window; as | turned | saw for
second the glaring spot of light
Then it was gone.
1t was the third warning.
The door was closed. l opened 1t
and fled 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 I could utter. Bob
looked up sleepily, almost without
opening his eyes. ..,
"Iights?" he said. Chalk Gin
Lighthouse-revolvin light-througn
trees-go back-bed!"
And l 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 roguisn
little smile on her dimpled cheeks
asked me if would walk over with
l. Clim LIGHTHOUSE