The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-08-26
CHAPTER v,

t1cle in the ghost story I am ration
a1istic. But as the legend of the pond
took shape, my Imagination began to
give substance to it's shadows.
Yet the place was genial and cordial.
Mr.. Sldney's joviality was the dom
lnant note in the house. An aging sick
man might naturally have been testy.
He might have been impatient, have
had Whims and crOchets. He might
have been irascible in his demands
upon and acceptance of service. But
Mr. Sidney was always cordial and
considerate. A great deal of the time
he spent in bed. When he was not in
| bed, he sat in great chair, and very
~often yellow Persian cat rested on
! his knees. 1t was a difficult if not
| dangerous matter for any one else than
! Mr.. Sidney to touch the cat, named
| Algol.
'"The Winking Demon said Mr.
Sidney, lingering the cats ruff as it
lay on his lap, and purred. knew just
enough of the star Algol and it's vari-
ability to understand the whimsicality
of an old mans naming cat for the
winking sun. Algol in Mr.. Sidney's
lap blinked at me, and the old mans
genius for understanding and CLASH
fcatfon seemed ulcanny.
MIR. Sidney's room was of great size.
1t had two ireplaces and a large cove
Of windows bullying toward the west.
At the smaller Of the two f1replaces
he had his breakfast. Either at the
large fireplace or in the outward bulge
Of windows, he had his dinner.
In spite of the Persian cat Mr.. Sid
ney had three canaries in the room.
AlgOl respected them after a fashion
that l thought uncertain. l have seen
q canary sitting on the cats head, but
l thought it was a decided case of mis-
placed confidence. AlgOI wanted that
canary and would continue to want it.
He was deferred from natural action
in the matter by his affection for the
strange but kindly master who want
ed cats and canaries to live together in
a:nity.
know / never fully grasped Mr..
Silney's scheme of life, but I thought
that he found existence ironic. His
graciOusness and his cheerfulneSS, /
thought. represented the garlands Of
his conquest of morbidity. His per-
sonal charm was extraordinary. Every
one in the house felt it. But an aston
fishing thing about Mr.. Sidney was an
occasional emotion which, as it mani
tested itself in his expressions
that was the only fashion / saw it for
q long tfme-was one of savage hate.
1t was only by coming on him when
he was not expecting me that l saw
this. I remember that the first time
I saw the expression on his face l was
dumfounded. That l was nor expected
in his room was entirely without inten-
tion on my part. People who were &C
custOmed to being with him walked
into the room without ceremony. His
bedroom and bath were to one side.
His living-rOom he insisted should be
open without fOrmality.
On the occasion speak of I had come
in quietly, but it was without intention
to surprise my patient. He was sitting
in his large chair with AlgOl on his
knees. His eyes were closed, and on
his face was an expression Of malevol-
ence that was almost demoniac. It
was so startling that the sight of it
stopped me in my step and made me
feel more than uneasy, almost afraid
Mr.. Sidney was quiet, except that with
one hand he strOked AlgOl about the
head and ears. The caress was al
most imDerceptible in motion, but AL
gOi was purring SO loudly that the
sound filed the otherwise quiet room.
The INTERCHANGEABLE malignancy,
hatred, concentrated essence of ferOc- |
f0a houn
stopped anyone. To one who had af- |
lection for him as l had, it was alb |
hOrrent to see him so. It was a con-
fessiOn of something | did not want |
to know.
1 was in fear that he might hear me |
and, opening his eyes, find that had |
discovered him. | was embarrassed |
and uncertain what to do. It was |
silly predicament, as I saw afterward. |
My part was quite simple. I should |
have paid no attention to any such |
as the expression on
mans face and have acted perfectly |
naturally.
The common-senss thing-and con-
slider myself fairly sensible-was ap- |
parent afterward. 1t indicates the as |
shock of the thing that was |
unable to act sensibly. What was the |
expression. in an amiable, charming
mans face, to knock a sensible person
out of all his senses? Here was
doing man merely toying with a cats
ears, and the very sight of what was
in his face, made me numb.
I cannot understand it now, the ter
rifying sensation being one which dis
as the recollection of the
emotions faded. What I did was to
back toward the door, open it as quiet
ly as I could, back out, and then re-
enter the room nOisily.
Mr.. Sidney was looking at me smil-