The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-10-08

the library was burning cheerfully.
The wind had a clear sweep at the
windows. To a slightly exhilarated
perception the circumstances were al
luringly comfortable.
l found a good book, but lost the in
clination TO go to my room. ! sat down
in a comfortable chair, having turned
off all the lights except that Of the
reading lamp. The library was large,
and when the reading lamp alone was
lighted there were deep shadows and
the room was largely in darkness.
read for a while and then fell
asleep. / had no intention Of doing
that, but drowsiness came irresistibly
and / was gone before l could force
myself to go 70 bed.
1t was two o'clock when | awoke.
The wind had died down. | felt rest
less and uneasy, not being accustomed
to falling asleep in this fashion. The
sensation Of waking up and having
perceptions struggle TO establish not
only location but identity was unpleas-
ant.
started then for bed but
stopped at the main door of the house
on my way. ! went to look to the fas-
Jennings and found that Jed, whose
duty it was to close the house, had for
gotten to lock and bar the door.
1t was this incident Of seeing the
chain hanging down and Of going to
the door that suggested a cure for my
unpleasant restlessness after the nap
in the library. l opened the door and
vent outside for q walk.
The moon in its last quarter was
rising in a cloud-flled sky. There was
light one instant and then dark. / ex-
pected the dogs TO Join me, but none
came.
A challenge arose within me-tO 90
down by the way toward the haunted
pool. 1t was the moral taunt Of a sug-
gested cowardice. / thought Of the
place and of all l had been told Of it
and the instructive apprehension, per-
ceptible as | stood on the steps to the
entrance, provoked the challenge.
1t seemed imperative. 1t would have
been a moral retreat to go back into
the house, as would have beer sensible,
lock the door and go to bed. That
seemed like backing down in the face
Of an inviting danger. These chal-
lengeS are incOnSequential, but they
g important to character.
/ did not have the real moral cour
age, which was to turn my back on the
invitation and go indoors. went down
the steps to prove to myself my conf
dence In myself-thereby ~disprOving
Ii.
AS l neared the pool, the moon went
behind q cloud. l came to q clump Of
bushes. The moon came from behind
its cover. There was a gentle flood
Of returning light. l "a in, or rather
behind, a screen Of trees and brush.
The pool was fifty feet away.
At the edge Of the pool q man was
revealed in the moonlight. He leaned
on a stick.
The moon went behind another
cloud, and the figure on the bank be-
came indistlnct. 1t almost disappeared.
l stood still, with apprehensive shud-
ders working up and down my spine.
The phenomenon was outrageous and
unbelievable. The moonlight flashed
u again for an instant. l saw the
figure again but persuaded or tried to
persuade myself that l did not see 1t,
to say to myself that it was a bush
twisted into extravagant shape by my
Imagination.
The moon went under q great dark
cloud. made a moral and physical
retreat. I did not run That would
have been an honest confession and
cal and walked, but my moral defeat
was complete.
There was a man at the haunted
pool.
/ had seem him and something had
| deferred me from speaking to him,
there.
A really violent change came into
our lives. A suggestion that Mr.. Sid
ney go to the South for the winter was
acted upon, and within a month / was
separated from the place and people
so important in my affections. Doc
tor Brownell had been called to Hart
ley house by Mr.. Sidney's d%iscOurag-
ing condition. Our invalid had over
taxed himself the evening he displayed
such activity in his room. such IN
| usual strength and agility. The fol-
lowing morning he was almost in col
lapse. l was alarmed and t%elephoned
Doctor Brownell. who came out at
once.
you will see his will pull him
through" he said. IF Il were not for
that, l should be alarmed. He s very
low"
! Il blame myself for permitting the
unusual exertion." l said. my judg-
ment was deluded, think, by my hap
piness at seeing him SO strong. He
really seemed strong. 1t did not seem
fictitious or unnatural"
Doctor Brownell said that the phe-
nomenon was not new in his expert
ence with Mr.. Sidney's case.