The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-05
THE EVENING STORY
My other SELF.

occurred IN Paris where we had taken
her for the benefit of her health.
Cleaned from her diary the following.
which give in extracts written by
herself:
February 20.-I am a woman of an
extremely sensitive organization. 1t is
impossible for any one to be near me
and think of any matter without the
same thought communicating itself 70
me. 1 have noticed this repeatedly
when Edith is with me.
May S.-My health is breaking
down, and the doctors recommend a
trip abroad. Father has business IN
Paris for the bank, so we are going
directly there We sail the 4th OF
June.
'sJune 14.-Here we are in Paris.
The ocean voyage revived me, and
am much better. Paris in June IS de-
lighfful-so gay. so inspiring. ! am
sure 1 shall recover. We are ioogsu
in the Rue E. We are told that sew
eral centuries ago one of the kings OF
France used 1t as a residence for one
of his favorites. On this account l
else. The prof1igacy, crime, chicanery,
practiced by the court at that time was
frightful and sowed the seed of the
revolution. Gabrielle D'Estre was
poisoned in such a house Just DeIore
Henry " was about to make her
queen of France. 1 seem to- breathe
an atmosphere of crime.
June 25.--I have had a shock. This
evening, just between daylight and
dusk, on coming in from drive IN the
Bots de Boulogne I was mounting the
broad, massive staircase, and as /
reached the landing something induced
me to turn my head and look at the
wall. There, standing with head turn
ed and hand on the banister, was my
self. The figure was looking straight at
me. Father came up soon after ana
found me lying on the landing uncon-s
scious. a
sWhen came to myself was on my
bed and no one present except ser
want. Having time to think, I decided
to say nothing about my vision They
are worried about me, and to tell them
would only give them more trouble.
would like to leave this house, put
Paris is crowded with visitors, and we
could not now find other suitable rooms.
Besides, I would be as liable to TINS
vision anywhere else.
July IL have seen it again. This
time 1 was going down the staircase II
was broad day outside, but the heaVy
curtains before the window on the
landing excluded the light, and all with
in was dim. The time I did not faint,
but moved on slowly to the steps, keep
ing my eyes fixed on my other SELF, lts
eyes fixed on me. Resting my hand on
the banister, for was unsteady, look-
ed down to be sure of the step, then put
my foot on it. When / looked again
for my counterpart 1t had vanished.
Edith was coming up to help me down
to the carriage, and fell into her arms.
II am sure this vision in my spiritual
body and have fancy that my discern
ment of it is the beginning of the enc
AS the physical body weakens 1 am
more and more a spirit. That others DO
rot have the same experience is because
others have not the same dencate per-
ceptions. feel that shall see it once
more before the end-that is, before i
shall be IT.
"Father is very much worried about
me and would be more so II he knew
all. He wishes me to go to Switzerland,
but he is detained here by his business
and canont go himself. He suggests
that Edith and / go without him. But
two girls cannot travel alone IN Inns
country; at least 1 would not wish TO
do so, especially In my conoitioh VI
health.
July 1O-When / went downstairs
this morning the curtains at the nan
window were drawn and permitted
strong light on the landing. lookeu a.
the wall, dreading to see my other self.
but there was nothing but the bare sur
face. Edith saw my frightened glance
and asked me the cause, but wouid
not tell her. Why should I? She would
only think me fit for retreat, ana
very likely I should lose my liberty.
July 16-Father has finished his bust
ness and we are to start for Geneva
| tomorrow. 1t will avail nothing to me.
| Something tells me that I shall see the
warming again before we leave, and all
| for me will then soon be over.
| ssMidnight-I have seen it again.
This is the last entry in the diary On
| J,iIy 16> we came in from a drive, and my
| sister went upstairs before me. sup
| nosed father was with her, but ne was
4 not when reached the landing notceQ
| that the wall to the left was not as L
| had seen il always before. There was an
! onening. through which l could look INTO
| another house or part of a house. Thoush
| surprised I was too much taken up with
| INV sister to stop to examine it and went
| on IN to her room. 1 found her on the bed
| unconscious She remained in TINS condl-
| lion for several days, when she died
/ Before her death J. noticed again the dlf-
! ference in the wall. but was IN no eondl-
| ton of mind to take any interest IN IT.
| before leaving Paris ] looked over the
| diary and learned the story that nave
| given in these extracts. Father reported
| The matter to the keeper of the lodging
| house who took to the landing, touch
| ed a spring. a panel slid back and exposed
| a mirror Then he touched another spring
| and the mirror slid aside, leaving an en-
| trance to another part of the house. HOW
| long this device for a hasty egress had
| heeT there no one knew. 1t had been dis
covered some twenty years before and was
| now only occasionally used. And this, in
Convection with my sisters highly organ
Isl nhvsioi,e. was the cause of her death.
~ f. A. MITCHELL.