The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-01-30

clining chair, was buried in
thought | had Just dropped
In for a brief visit and his action was
not meant TO be disrespcctful TO me.
was aware of the pccuiarities OF my
friends character, and knew that hC
had unconsciously fallen into n brown
study. But il was for a few moments
only Suddenly arOusing himself as
though he had then discovered my
presence in the room, he remarked In
a quiet drawl:
perience which befell me while cross
ing the Cuff
replied that had not had the pleas.
ure of hearing his story, and assured
him that | was waiting for him to
open up. As / have intimatcd, my
friend had some peculiaritics which
would give n stranger the impression
that he was queer" But those who
had his friendship knew that no saner
being lived and no more loyal friend
ever walked the earth. So, before be-
ginning the narrative, he turned down
the lamp until the room was clothed
in a funereal gloom, at the same time
remarkng, Darkness makes the best
accompaniment OF what ! am about
10 relate
"Soms years ago" he said, when he
mad resumed his seat IL had occasion
10 make u trip from New York to
Galveston, Texas, by way of the Gulf
80 nhs iI,
business and partly pleasure, | sailed
on one of the steamers OF line which
plies regularly between the two ports.
For some reason | was given what
was called the bridal stateroom, which
contained fine wide berth u mirror.
n writing desk in one corner, n chair
and hooks for hanging clothes on. II
was nicely decorated and had every
appearance of what | call luxurious
comfort. | congratulated myself upon
my quarters, but, as you shall see,
was premature with my congratula-
tOns.
'The weather was delightfully."- fair
until we were near the Gulf, and
nothing unusual had occurred. Then
the Captain noticed dlsquictlng signs
upon the horizon which warned him
that severe storm was approaching.
The sea began TO roll heavily, while
the ship lurChcd in Il manner that was
Sufficient TO give scasiCkness to even
the most veteran sailor When dark
ness envcloped the sea and all thereon
a fierce Gulf storm had developed.
with every indication that ii would
continue through the night.
while the raging of the elements
beggared description, the sight being
one that awed me and which | never
expect TO witness again, we had no
fear as the steamer was staunch
throughout. Her engines were new
and powerful, and her skipper was
long vcrscd in the moods of the water
on which We were sailing. But the
storm grew into gale. The wind
blew with hurricane force. perfect
sheet of rain fell for hours, while the
huge waves swept the decks with ever
increasing violence. l believe | was
the only person aboard that revelled
forces, and SO much did / enjoy the
unusual experience that / did not turn
In until nearly midnight.
During the night, how soon after
i had fallen asleep | do not know. !
awokc. An uncanny feeling took pos
session of me, while my attention was
rivctted to the bottom of the berth
where a transparent light seemed to
glow. Gradually the bust. clad in
some light drapery, and face of one of
the most beautiful women have seen
emerged with startling distinctness.
i studied the apparltion for few
minutes, and when my brain was able
TO work / reasoned that whatever Il
was ii could not harm me. (Iou know
j do not believe in ghosts or in any
thing suggestive OF the supernatural
i therefore rose i'm my berth and
reached toward the foot as if TO touch
the form, but it suddenly disappeared
and left the stateroom in utter dark
ness. l thought that would see il no
more and again attempted TO sleep.
II must have been doing for half
hour when l heard three slow. sharp
faps underneath me. | was immoli-
ately all awake. and noticed that the
transparent light was reappearing at
the foot OF my berth. The same beau.
tiful face confronted my gaze. A
calm look pervaded tho features: I'm
fact. the calm seemed TO be that of
death. Nothing more than the bust
form appeared, and IL apparently rest.
cd on the wooden end OF the berth
While l was surveying the scene. i'm
agining all kinds OF plausible and Inn
possible explanations for it. the three
raps which l had previously heard
were repeated. Then the transparent
figure gradually disappeared. followed
by another three raps, the sound OF
which always coming from underneath
me-
well. had become decidedly in.
terested in the nocturnal disturbances.
rs / had given up all hope Of rny
sleep that night. The gale had In.