The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-12-24
MISS MYRTLE'S STORY
BY FLORA DELL

les j 6ATe ned one strange e1pe-
riezee,P Miss Myrtle smiled reuinis-
eentIy, as the girls pleaded for story.
-Xyrz, . school ehum OF nine, wrote
Tor ne TO Tisi, her az her hotel home
IN the west, and tired with ny social
duties. accepted On the journey I
pictured her n the ordinary country
town hotel: antique accommodations,
tat, bald-headed proprietor. cold baths
from a water pitcher, and sundry 9TH
sr unpleasant features.
Imagine NY amazenent on ny ar
rival, after Myra's cordial reception,
AZ being received in an exchange al
most luxurious in appointment, sup
lplenented By the nost up-to-dste
sleeping apartments. private baths.
push buttons and all modern convent
ences. retired early the first night
In order to secure long rest, and be
prepared for the pleasure OF the next
day. | drew long sigh Of comfort
as | nestled down between the cool,
clean sheets and prepared for night
Eof sound sleep. l think had just lost
teonsciogsness when | avoke with the
sensation that some one was IN the
room. / was not naturally nervous,
but the feeling that now had me In
It's grip was one OF distinct fear When
fairly awake I bounded out Of bed.
snapped on the electric light and made
q hurried survey Of the room. With
the full return to consciousness / be-
came aware OF a soft sound. Ike deep,
regular breathing. a strange, elusive
sound, seeming at one minute behind
me and the next to come from the
center Of the room. Completely BAT.
fed in my efforts TO locate Il, began
to think was the victim OF some prac-
ticaI joke, or else suffering from
an unusual attack o. indigestion. De-
Gliding that the latter was not prob
able, went back TO bed, determined
to finish my rest; but even with an
effort to drown the sound By burying
my head Ia the sheets, / could still
hear the regular movements, some
times low and soft. and again seeming
~ labored and right over the bed, as
my feyered imagination clothed It in
various impossible shapes.
Il cannot tell bow long l lay nerv.
ously Eakeful, when | suddenly saw
Eoft ray Of light on the window
frame, and the sweet twitter of bird
on tree outside my window ap-
praised me Of the approach Of dawn.
and with other welcome indications OF
approaching morning l lost the sound
: and my fear Of it and drifted into a
heavy sleep.
THE next day l decided to say
nothing about my experience, as #
might bring ridicule upon me, and l
passed pleasant day with the deci-
sion firmly rooted OF banishing the
whole affair from my mind. retired
after a jolly evening, ready to laugh
at my experience OF the previous
night.
Whether the subject refused to be
dismissed and my mind dWelt IN
consciously upon 1t in my slumbers,
do not know, but about midnight
found myself once more sitting up
right in the bed, clutching the bed
clothing tightly and listening to the
same deep, regular breathing Of the
night before.
Once more / brought the electric
light into play; once more made
determined detour OF the room, when
suddenly-was it my imagination, or
had the breathing really assumed
different tone? 1t seemed to be COM
ing in gasps-like the last labored
breath OF life-it seemed close at my
back. I made one leap toward the
door-the gasping sounded in my ears.
With a spasmodic grip l turned the
handle and slipped into the wide hall.
Myra's room was down the corridor,
and few toward it, but had gone but
short distance when a hand gripped
my shoulder, and / fell in an un-
conscious heap-at Myras feet.
When I came to | was on her bed
and she was bathing my face with
refreshing lotion. / remember muir
muring, What was it?' and then l
sank, partly from exhaustion, partly
from sweet sense OF security, into
sound sleep, from which l did not
awaken until morning"
Miss Myrtle ceased speaking, and
for few moments there was an in.
tense silence. At last the girls asked
In chorus: Aren't you going to tell
US what it was?"
oh" said Miss Myrtle, and little
smile crinkled the corners OF her
mouth, and an amused twinkle shone
In her brown eyes. There was another
short silence, and then she said:
Have you ever heard Of water
motor? She laughed softly Il never
had then, but | decided that even If
| had been brought up in a city,
there were a few things yet to be
learned"