Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-03-02
An lnterposition
By SARAH c. RIKER
Copyright 1910. by American Press
Association.

There are people who sheer at the
efforts of societies for psychical re-
search. don't
There are persons who are always
having either dreams that contain rev.
Citations or see apparitions or are con-
scious Of something about to happen
that does happen. ! have no conf
dence in these people II believed In
them it would argue that in their
makeup there is something especially
amenable to some hidden law. But
my own experience disproves this. !
have had a manifestations know OF
no better name for it-of more conse-
ouence than any Of these OF which l
have heard. yet have had but one In
all my life.
And this experience Of mine. having
come but once to me. in addition to
indicating that my being Is not un-
usually susceptible to such Influences.
points to the fact that Others, either
living or dead. do interfere at times In
the current Of our lives.
Bot 1t Is not my intention to deliver
a lecture. propose to tell a story. I
am a bachelor. live at club. associ-
ate almost entirely with men and have
no thought Of marriage. and ! may
state here that never expect to be
married. do expect, however. In an
other existence to be psychically unit.
ed with one who will be to me my
other self.
l was travelling and had been travel
ing for several days with but few and
rather short stops. The season was
summer, the time of day evening. My
conveyance was railroad train.
was sitting by an open window, look
ing out upon the fields flying by to
the music Of the car wheels dropping
from the end of one rail and jumping
on to another. A fayorite occupation
Of mine on a train has always been to
imagine some one swimming along be-
side the train through the fields OF
grain that often line the track. On
this occasion we were passing nu-
merous such fields, and my image Of
fancy was swimming along Justify.
But as the twilight faded and objects
were lost to view. lulled by the rattle
of the train, dropped asleep.
When ! awakened a train was be-
side the one was on. moving In the
same direction and going at the same
rate of speed. Indeed. so exactly alike
was the velocity of the two trains that
l could see no gain or loss whatever
to the train beside me. The window
sashes Of both trains were raised. and
l could see the people OF the other
train, some reading. some lounging.
some talking together.
But my attention was fixed on lady
who sat at the window opposite me.
Her sash was up as well as mine. SO
that there was no obstacle. either
transparent or opaque, between US.
The distance between her and me
suppose was about three feet. She
was looking at me with an expression
on her face. especially in her eyes,
and have never seen since. but can't
describe 1t. While looked she spoke
to me.
Leave the train at the next station
and follow me-" she said.
She put out her hand, but before !
could grasp It the two trains separat.
ed. and In another moment the one in
which the lady sat seemed to enter a
tunnel, while mine went on In the
open.
So wildly impressed was I that
when few minutes later we slowed
up took my grip and when the train
stopped at station / stepped out
After moments delay 1t went on and
left me standing on the platform in a
very singular mental condition.
"Will another train be alopg soonY
! asked Of station man.
From the west?'
"No; from the east"
"No train from the east for four
hours"
I was puzzled. 1 had been coming
eastward.
rs this track double beyond the sta.
toni" l asked presently.
mo double track on this line"
"What?"
Single track from here both ways
all the way to the terminals"
An uncanny feeling came over me
! had seen train on a track beside
me, talked with q woman on that train
and had obeyed her instructions. As
soon as could recover myself l walk
ed in half dazed condition into the
station and sat down. remember
nothing but clicking of a telegraph
instrument How long l sat there |
don't know, but when / came TO my
usual consciousness it was at hearing
the telegraph operator cry out to a man
outside:
Great heavens. No. % has been
wrecked on the bridge abovel Bridge
let the whole train down, with terri.
BILE loss of lifep