The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-15
A Warning
BY ESTHER VANDEvEER

There are people who sneer 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 confidence
in these people If believed in them
it would argue that in their makeup
there is something especially amenable
to some hidden law. But my own expe-
rience disproves this. l have had a
manifestations know of no better
name for it-of more consequence than
any of these Of which I 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 I'M
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.
But it is not my intention to deliver
a lecture. l propose to tell story. /
am bachelor live at club, associ-
ate almost entirely with men and have
no thought of marriage, and l may
state here that l never expect to be
married. / do expect, however, In an
other existence to be psychically united
with one who will be to me my other
self.
| 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 a 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 favorite 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 numer-
GUS such fields. and my image of fancy
was swimming along Justify. But as
the twilight faded and objects were
lost to view dropped asleep, lulled by
the rattle of the train.
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
| could see no gain or loss whatever
to the train beside me. The window
sashes of both trains were raised. and
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, that
never saw in any one before and
have never seen since, but | can't de-
scribe it. 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 that when
a few minutes later we slowed up l
took my grip and when the train stop
ped at a station I stepped out After
moments delay it went on and left
me standing on the platform In very
singular mental condition.
VIII another train be along soonr'
[ asked of a station man.
From the westY'
mo; from the east"
NO train from the east for four
hours"
was puzzled / had deem coming
westward.
rs this track double beyond the sta
tion?" | asked presently.
mo double track on this line"
"WhatT
Single track from here both ways
all the way to the terminals.
An uncanny feeling came over me. /
had seen a train on a track beside me.
talked with a woman on that train
and had obeyed her instructions. AS
soon as | could recover myself / walk
ed In a half dazed condition into the
sta ton and sat down | rnmemhar