The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-16
A Warning
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER

Ihere are people who sneer at the
efforts of societies for psychical re-
search. | don't.
Ihere are persons who are always
having either dreams that contain rev.
cations or see apparitions or are con-
sclous or something about to happen
that does happen. have no confidence
In these people. II I believed in them
II would argue that in their makeup
there is something especially amenable
10 some hidden law. But my own expe-
rience disproves this. have had a
manifestations know of no better
name for it-of more consequence than
any of these Of which l 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
/ thC VI OuT lives.
But it is not my intention to deliver
a lecture. propose to tell story
am bachelor. live at club. associ-
ate almost entirely with men and have
| no thought of marriage, and | may
state here that | 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 wit. but few and
rather short stops. The season was
summer, the time of day evening. My
conveyance was 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 n 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 We're raised, and
| could see the people OF the other
train, some reading, some lounging,
some talking together.
But my attention was fixed on a lady
; 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
I 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 I
could grasp it the two trains separat-
ed. and In another moment the one in
which the lady sat seemed to enter
tunnel, while mine went on In the
open.
So wildly impressed was that when
few minutes later we slowed up
took my grip and when the train stop
ped at station | stepped out. After
moments delay it went on and left
me standing on the platform In very
singular mental condition.
"Will another train be along soonT
| I asked of station man.
| From the west|
mo; from the east"
NO train from the east for four
hours"
was puzzled l had been coming
J westward.
rs this track double beyond the sta
tom" | asked presently.
NO double track on this line"
"What?"
Single track from here both ways
all the way to the terminals"
An uncanny feeling came over me.
had seen a train on track beside me.
talked with a woman on that train
and had obeEed her instructions. As
soon as could recover myself walk
cd in a half dazed condition into the
station and sat down. / remember
nothing but clicking Of a telegraph
instrument How long l sat there
don't know, but when came to my
usual consciousness 1t was at hearing
the telegraph operator cry out to man
outside:
"Great heavens! No. % has been
wrecked on the bridge above. Bridge
let the whole train down, with terri
bic loss of life,
Here was more to intensity that feel
ing of awe that had taken possession
.b,,top, xrnmaD on n phan-