Middletown transcript., 1905-11-18

a mattress foot or two from the window.
AS gazed upon it, transfxei with
amazement, noticed beam Of sunlight
streaming through the window aud rest
ing directly upon the spot from which
the flame and smoke we're now rapidly
rising. Quickly extinguishing the blaze
placed my hand in line OF the sunbeam
and received almost instantly stinging,
painful burn and moment later the
sunlight disappeared.
An examination OF the window showed
me that one Of its panes Contained cur
ious defect, in the shape Of large bubble
Of glass. It's form and size were such as
to make Of it powerful burning glass.
By one Of those strange accidents OF
fate its position happened to be such as
to catch the only ray Of sunshine that
ever entered the window. This occurred
but once year-on this particular day,
tile 2lst Of June, when the sun gains it's
most northern limit in the skies,-and it
was only on this date each year that the
sun reached point that enabled it for a
single moment to clear the edge Of an
adjoining chimney and slime into this
window.
Despite his apparent Indifference to the
matter, / determined to acquaint Col.
was already aware Of tile phenomenon l
would have the satisfaction OF letting him
know that | shared his secret. If it
proved news to him it would crafty me
to inform him that, in spite Of his un-
willingness to help me. had found for
him source OF danger that must sooner
or later result i'm the destruction OF his
property.
/ was little prepared, however, for the
answer / received to my letter. As the
Colonel is now dead there can be no OBJ
lection to my publishing it, and as tile
letter is most remarkable one, appel d
it hereto:
"My dear sir Your letter brings me
the most joyful intelligence | have ever
received. For the last ten years my life
has been haunted with horrible, sick
ening fear. Though | am accounted
man of strength and cold Indifference, |
am mental coward-a cringing slave to
On the 2lst Of June, many
years ago, committed a cruel wrong. It
is known to no one but myself and it
shall be buried with me. From the day
OF its commission | was stricken with re-
morse and sAperstitious dread Of retri-
button. No one can imagine the terror
/ suffered when realized that year after
year my house rnysteriously took fire on
the anniversary OF that dread day. was
too overwhelmed with conviction that
it was supernatural manifestation of
fate, to attempt any reasonable explana-
ton. abandoned myself wholly to the
haunting terror it inspired. | did not
even seek to escape from it. My only
lay in the fact that it did not
seem to attract attention. Nevertheless,
| lived from year to year in morbid dread
that it would be noticed and that ! would
be called upon for an explanation.
be in the house at the time of the annual
recurrence OF this uncanny visitation
not only for fear that it would reveal my
crime, but in the prayerfnl hope that the
house might be consumed aifda Tits bfft+g
about fulfllment of the ever-threaten-
ing punishment.
| am stricken now with an incurable
malady. The doctors give me until Octo-
Der to live. But | shall die content in
The knowledge you have impaired to me.
You cannot. know what relief it is to
my soul. | dare not tell you what, in
my superstitious cowardice, imagined
This mysterious fate to be- 1t was horri-
BILE, agonizing. Had / but tile courage
of child ] should myself have solved
The mystery years ago and spared my life
The horror it has endured.
pray that you will accept the accom-
panying draft for ten Thousand dollars in |
token Of my heartfelt gratitude"