The Washburn leader., 1914-04-10
A Wireless
Message From
The Dead
By F. A. mitchell

We are moving so fast in scientific
discoveries that, lost in wonder at
what we know, we have no time to
consider what our attained knowledge
is likely to develop in future. For
instance, we know that an electric
current may be transmitted without
any other medium than the atmOs-
phere. We also know that functions Of
the body, il not electric, are force
something like electricity.
When l was boy was constantly
finding myself saying something to a
companion who would say. why, l
was just about to say that myself!"
At the time considered this coin
cidence. Now believe it to be a
power I possessed in receiving the
mental impressions Of others by a
sort of wireless process. studied
medicine and became doctor. Then
during hospital work I broke down
and, though it was between winter
and spring. was obliged TO go to the
country to recoup.
stopped Mt a house that looked
down valley. and the view, was un-
interrupted. fused to sit on the porch
wrapped in rugs and enjoy the view
in the sunshine. About mile dis
tant was house that bore evidence
of having been built in colonial times.
1t was not by any means farmhouse.
butasomething quite handsome. TaD
architecture was that peculiar style
involving porch with pillars.
One night l was awakened by the
sound of wheels stopping right under
my window and thought heard some
one call "D0ctor!' l raised the sash
and put my head out through the win
dow. A man in wagon asked me II
l was a doctor. and said 1 was.
whereupon he begged ME to come with
him at once. dressed myself unwill-
ingly, went downstairs and got into
the wagon with him. asked him to
tell me about the nature Of the case
was expected to treat. but could get
nothing out of him. He seemed entire
ly absorbed in some powerful emo
tion.
We were but few minutes in reach
ing our destination. drawing up before
a house with pillars from the porch to
the roof. l inferred that had come
to the house about which had so
often dreamed. The door was opened
by a woman in short petticoat full
at the hips. q kerchief across her
bosom and dainty cap on her head.
She looked very much troubled.
"Come upstairs" she said.
l followed her up a winding stair
case. and the woman opened door
with glass knob. entered the sick
room to see a young woman lying on
a bed with four high posts surmount-
ed by a canopy. On one side of her
was man holding one OF her hands:
on the other side was a young girl
holding the other. These two looked
at me with that mute appea! a doctor
is SO often obliged to meet.
As I drew near the bed the girl with
the invalid pulled down the bedcl0thes.
and saw at once from blood stains
and temporary bandages that my pa
tient had been wounded. l was not Il
surgeon. but felt obliged to perform a
surgeons part. examined the wound
and saw that it was near the heart, so
near that i wondered that the wound
ed woman lived. There was nothing
that could do for her except bind up
the wound in more professional man.
ner and await results
Presently saw her gasp. and be-
tween gasps she said to the man be-
side her: .
"You are convinced of the unjustness
Of your suspicions?"
Eyes. yes; forgive me-"
II forgive you. Goodby."
She fell back dead.
Amid wall Of those present re-
tired from the rooLS: Notwithstand-
ing the tragical circumstances. l could
not but notice the costume of those
in the house. What singular per-
sons!' said to myself. MOT content
with living in. a colonial house, they
adopt the colonial costume This
was especially marked in their collars.
which, were like those had seen in
pictures Of Americas early settlers.
was ushered out by the woman who
received me and driven back to my
home. where went to bed, remaining
half, awake. half asleep. for the rest
Of the night.
Now. there was something uncanny
about my visit. and hesitated to talk
about It to those in the house, asked
II any 0f>the family had heard a wag-
on stop before the house during the
night. but no one had heard any such
sound. This induced me to maintain
q reserve about my visit. Presently
! ventured to ask who lived In the
house with pillars and was told that
NO one lived there It had l,een un-
occupied for many years. The last
tenant had vacated some thirty years
before. asked II anything peculiar
had taken place there. but no one had
heard Of anything unusual. But be-
fore returning to the city heard
from a very old resident Of the region
theret was legend that long before
the Revolution murder had been
committed there. A lnnn In q ft OF