The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-02-27
The Power Of Mind
Over Matter
By MARGARET c. DEvEAUx

At eighteen ! was u delicate girl In
the DOCTORS care for some nervous at
lection the nature Of which seemed to
puzzle him. During this time I visited
a friend of mine who lived In q city.
On my arrival l was shown to my
room, the two rear windows of which
looked down into a back yard, but there
was a side window which looked d.
rectly into another side window Of the
next house, the interval between being
but a few yards. My friend threw open
all these windows and left me to make
my toilet.
As soon as she had gone I went frst
to the rear windows and looked out,
then to the side window. There, star
ing, looking at me. was my counterpart
indeed. myself. I started, and she
started. Then, covering my face with
my hands, l turned away and buried
my head In the pillows on the bed.
How long I remained there i cannot
tell. 1t was probably but a few min
utes. but 1t seemed a long while. l
was sure that my ervou affection had
produced the apparition. had e
myself once before in a dream, from
which l awoke with a violent heart
beat, but I had not considered that a
matter Of moment. But now l had ap-
peared to myself in broad daylight. l
had before me the frightful prospect Of
passing into. insanity.
Not for the world would l have my
hosts learn of my inf1rmity. Some per-
Sons must tell Of all their aches and
pains and ~forebodings If only for sym
patty; I concealed mine. AS soon as
I had pulled myself together I arose
and without looking at the window
where l had seer myself went down.
stairs without having changed my dress.
l told my friend that ! was a poor
sleeper and hoped that in the morning
l would not be awakened by too much
light pouring into my room. She said
at once that she must put me into an
other chamber. since the 4 l occupied
faced the rising sun. This was exactly
what l wanted. and I slept that night
in an apartment facing the west.
l intended to make an excuse to go
away the next day: but. seeing no
further signs Of myself. l was persuad-
ed to remain. My friends, who knew
that l was in poor health. were ex-
tremely kind to me. and nowhere else
could I find rest ard comfort as ! could
with them. AS I grew stronger a de-
sire came to me to look out Of the
window where I had een my double
and perhaps I would see her again.
But SO great was my dread that dared
: moi 20 into the room to make the trial.
l made several attempts to conquer
my fears, but they were failures.
My hosts had lived many years In
the locality and knew several Of their
neighbOrs. all Of whom owned their
own houses. l was invited to diff erent
social gatherings among them and
shortly before l left the place was
asked to dine next door. in the very
house where I had seen myself stand
ing at the window. I scarcely dared
accept the invitation. and yet how could
l refuse. for those who had invited me
were very dear friends of my hosts?
tried to think Of some excuse that
would not be considered such. but tried
in vain. When Informed of the invi-
tation l pretended not to hear. and it
was accepted for me. with other guests
Of my hosts. since we were all invited
together.
As the time drew near l thought l
should make pretense Of feeling unable
to 60. but within me was q. secret de-
sire to see If the %apparition would.
come to me there. Between this dread
and desire I hesitated till it was time
to dress for the evening, then went up
to my room in such a state Of indeci-
sion that when it was announced that
it was time to be OF l was but half
dressed. Mechanically l Z completed my
toilet and. going downstairs. suffered
myself to be led out passively.
The room into which we ladies were
| shown to leave our wraps was on the
opposite side of the house from that
which stood beside the home Of my
hosts. This was a relief to me. There
was no reason for me to dread the
| spot where I had seen myself; but.
then, a nervous person is not amena-
BILE to reason, and l was in a condi-
ton of nervous weakness not far from
a general breakdown.
With the exception of myself. there
was a very homogeneous party. and
even / after a glass or two Of wine
was sufficiently braced to enjoy my
self. The dinner passed OF SO pleas
antly and felt SO stimulated by tho
wine I drank that I began to have .
desire to visit that part of the house
In which I had seen my counterpart.
When We went upstairs for our wraps
l ran up ahead Of the others and fol-
lowed the hall In the DIRECTION Of the
place Of the apparition. After turn;
Ing at an angle ]. came to q door which
I Onened and walked into a bedroom.