The Prescott daily news., 1910-01-11

phenomenon takes place in the neigh borhood of this little plant-burnt by the sun and hard like parchment. q will tell you my other occasion for fear. It happened last winter in forest in the north of France. Night fell on us two hours earlier than usual. The sky looked black and angry. Il i had a peasant for my guide; he walked beside me along little path under the grooming swinging pines. You could almost see the clouds of wind, breaking and tearing everything in their way, wild, hopeless clouds which rushed ahead of us with rage. Once in awhile tremendous gale seemed about to tear the forest up, and it bent with groans of suffering. 1 was penetrated by the cold notwithstand- ing my heavy clothing and quick walking. We were to dine and sleep at the house of one of the foresters. 1 was going there to hunt. My guide once in awhile looked up and nut tered Bad weather Then he told me of the people with whom we were to sojourn. The father had murdered a wood chopper two years previous and since then he was morose. as though haunted with the remembrance of 1t. His two married sons lived with him. We still had some distance to go, the darkness was profound, l could see | nothing In front of me, and the branches of the trees knocking against each other, filled the night with un- earthly sound. Finally I perceived light. and soon my companion Knocked at a door.
 Piercing cries coming from with in responded to our knock. Then half-smothered voice of man asked: Who Is it?' My guide gave his name. l ana we entered-then we witnessed a strange sight. An old whitehaired man, with the wild eye of a maniac. loaded gun in his hand, awaited our entrance in the kitchen, while two immense fellows armed with axes kept watch by the door. could see in the dark the kneeling figures of | two women, their faces hidden against | the wall. They gave no explanation. | The old man put his gun down. and | ordered the women to prepare my room. As they did not move; he ad dressed me abruptly:
 You see. monsieur, killed my man this very night two years ago. East year he returned here and called me. l await him again tonight he added Tn manner that made me smile: We are little bit upset.
 T did my best to quiet them, glad that happened that night and would be able to witness the superstitious fear of these people. I told them story after story. Near the fire place lay an old, half-blind dog Outside the mad tempest ragged, shaking the little house. looked out of small peep hole, near the door, and saw by the sudden glare of the lightning the trees bending in two Notwithstand- ing my efforts to keep cool, felt my cowed the others. Whenever l stopped talking they sat up, listening breathlessly.
 Wary of watching, their stupid fears, l was about to bid them good night and retire for sleep. when the old man made leap from his chair. seized his gun. suffering in a, hn1ken voice:
 ] There he is-there he is. Il hear him
 The women fell on their knees and buried their heads in their hands, and the sons took up their axes, The dog awoke. sat up, prickedl up his ears, stretched his neck, and leu forth a long, continued. uncanny howl We ali turned our eyes on him. He re- mained motionless, as though eontem- plating vision. His hair stood on end foam came to his mouth and he uttered the most terrifying yells con ceivable. He seemed to SC. something invisible. The old man, liNid with ter TOT, whispered;
 He knows the scenA He knows it-he was there when killed him.'
 The wretched women began to groan In the same hiaa0us fashion as the dog.
 "l felt cold precipitation break out
 all over my body, and shivers ran up and down my spine. The sound of
 the wind. the sight of this mad. howl ing dog and frantic people was really narrowing
 For an hour the dog kept up his
 noise without fntermission, he
 moaned and cried al if in agony. Fear,
 the most overpowering fear. took DOS session of me. Fear of what? lknow