Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-06-21
The Red Spot
on the Water
A Story of the Borderland
OF Immortality
BY 7. A. Mitchell

aud the like Is over We read Of the
Lorclei of the Rhine and peruse such
poems rs Keats LA Belle Dame Sans
Merci" uhe beautiful woman without
mercy or llcine's water fay, not he.
cause we believe either the woman
or the fairy 10 have existed. but be
cause of the sensations aroused by the
weird pictures drawn.
Nevertheless there Is a class of peo-
pie among us who are not disposed 10
break down tue barriers between the
natural or the supernatural. And have
we not societies for psychical research.
composed Of earnest and many Of
them extremely intelligent persons.
who make IL their business TO gather
information about supernatural APP.
pearances.
nor unconvinced as to the feasibility
Of such Investigations, though | have
had an experience calculated To throw
me on the affirmative side. That ex-
pericncc viii give just MS II occurred
or rather. ms II communicated itself
through my senses. leaving each read
or to make for himself or herself an
explanation to tit the case.
During the spring | worked hard In
order to get ahead with my office
duties that might enjoy vacation
during the summer Nevertheless
when left home about the LIST OF
July ! never felt better In my life.
health is an important factor In com
ing 10 an explanation OF such happen.
ings as the one that came 10 me. II IL
well known fact that persons suffer
Ing from bodily Ills are more apt to
see ghosts than persons In good health.
The scene Of my outing was ON the
cons; OF New Hampshire | stayed
NJ hotel where there were great
many young ladies and but few young
men ] thought AT first that would
be In clover. but since knew no one
to introduce me was obliged 10 see
them going about In each others com.
pany. ignoring me completely.
was told aftcrward that there was
scarcely any Of them but would have
been glad 10 meet n manageable man.
and ! considered myself fair speci-
men Of a bachelor. Why should
have been 50 completely ostracized
don't know. am of opinion that II
was the spirit OF clique SO strong in
these girls that II oyerpowercd their
natural disposition 10 mate.
After trying in vain to break
through the shell that kept me away
from them | undertook TO amusc my.
self In other ways. was fond Of
boating and spent n part Of my time
on the water. took long walks
did not battle. for the water was too
cold.
\ few miles up the shore from my
hotel was n Elm a hundred feet high
A path led around its edge fenced by
a rail over which one could look down.
Immediately below was Hat rock
surface against which the waves roll
ed. then DETECTED. pushed on IN an
other direction. surged IN through a
cleft. then cut again. All day long
this process continued. ana rs watch.
ed II ! could not but wonder why.
And why was ! there looking down
upon II: All was query. no answer.
Nevertheless the place was fascinat-
ing 10 me. and went there often. one
evening. when nj twilight the great
globe of the moon was rising ont of
the water. | thought would like 10
90 10 the ciff ana see II ms IL would
appear under the different light The
young ladies Of the hotel were walk
Ing In couples and platoons. with their
arms around each others waist. back
aud forth On the piazza. and rs they
saw me start on. evidently for n moon
light walk. thought | could detect
usefulness in the faces Of some who
saw me depart II any of them would
have liked 10 he my companion she
was obliged 10 restrain her desire. for
she had not been Introduced. and even
II she had did not belong 90 the set
OF her associates and she would have
been shocked ut herself TO become in
Innate with any other
The distance 10 the cliff was about
three miles. and when had travcrsed
| II approached the rail cautiously. put
hand ON It, then stood looking over
The moon was exactly In position 10
east It's rays into the recess In the
rocks below. slowly n wave. resem
bling for all the world II leyathnn
Of the sea. would susgishly lumber In.
roll against the rock. seem astonished
AT having been stepped. swim over 10
perpendicular surface on the other
side. glance and move on into the cleft
But what Is that rcd spot on the wa
ter beside the rock: Is IL an afghan. Il
shawl or some other wrap that has
fallen from the elm. or has il been
washed in from some boat ont on the
ocean: So intent on IL was | that
leaned over rs far as | dare Ia yet
better view Of II. When y wave pass
ing the place where IL floatel was IN
shadow the red Spol was not visible:
then when the moon struck full upon
i II II was like blood.
WINS suddenly conscious nf the preS.