, 1907-10-10
THE MAN AN
the GHOST
BY 3. s. LEM n.

could not see. The room was dark.
1t was nighttime and he had been
dreaming.
The Ghost stood close beside his
bed and gazed at him steadily.
well. | am here said the Ghost.
The man aroused himself. Prop
ping his head on n hand, he gazed
hard through the %blackness. He could
see nothing so he laughed.
"And, who are you? 1t IS custom
airy for strangers to have introduc-
tons before they converse" And he
laughed again.
you have seen me before" said
the Ghost. you need not pretend
that we are strangers"
But / do not know you" said the
man. 1--WE must observe the conven-
tionalities, whatever we do" n he
laughed again, rather idiotically as he
afterwards admitted to himself.
when you are as old and as tired
as / am you will not worry about com
ventionalities,' said the Ghost.
Il want to know how long you are
going to keep me toi1ing. Don't you
think / have earned my release? Don't
you think | have served my timer
The man sat upright in bed. He
was wide-awake now and the pupils
of his eyes were dilated. A feeling of
horror and terror-almost of panic
was stealing over HIM.
What do you mean?" he gasped.
"Who are you? From whence came
you?"
sVN, lr@uy -, a,,r 1nour y,ho 7
am" said the Ghost. You cannot
pretend that you have never seen or
heard of me before"
Bat I do not pretend" said the
man, his panic rising higher as his
breath came in gasps and his heart
beat audibly. "Tell me, for Gods sake,
who are you and whence you came"
Very well. Listen, then, poor fool.
! will tell you. Out of the nethermost
regions of oblivion / came and the
darkness will swallow me again. But
for you | might lave enjoyed the sun
light forever. | might have known
what 1t was to expand with the buds
and to sing with the birds. ] might
have known all joy, all hope, all
beauty. But o o maudlin, a
dering idiot, Supplied by you egotism,
drunken with YOU excuses, have o +.
demned me to eternal darkness, eter.
nal oblivion"
The mans breathing could nov be
heard across the room.
But who, who are you?" he almost
shouted.
Every well. Since you cannot hear
or see. or understand. l will tell o
| am the Spirit of your Youth. l am
the Ghost of Your Ideals. And | de-
mand my. release. / have beer faith
full, loyal, aye, even loving. ] have
never deserted you for an instant. But
you AVE abandoned me. Why then
keep me in captivity? Let me go. |
beg of thee, Release me! 7 have
served my time, | have a right to free
dom"
The Ghosts voice broke. The Man
sat upright in bed.
What do you mean?" he gasped.
"You speak in riddles. I DO not under
stand"
"Ah, now you have released me-!
Now / am free. Farewell"
The Ghosts voice sounded faint and
ldI-ulStiINs ne man : pdillN
upon him %sevenfold increased.
You are leaving?" he cried.
Yes, | am going, never to return.
Your confession that you no longer
understand any reference to the spirit
of your youth. the ghost of your ideals,
absolves me from all responsibility.
Go your way, l shall go mine"
Blu stay! Please stay! ! did not
understand. Now | know. Come back.
come back"
The man rose from his bed and
stretched out his arms imploringly.
81 cannot let you go. Please, please,
come back! Dear Ghost. come back.
! cannot live without you"
But the light of a passing car shone
into the room and the man could see
nothing except the objects familiar
to his daily Vision And he threw him
self sobbing. ACE downward upon the
bed.