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| The Terror Of The Dark |
All spirit mediums will tell you that
materialization and manifestations of that character cannot take place in the
light; it prevents their occurrence. So, after all, as I said, isn’t there some
reasonable ground for one’s fear at such times?” I said nothing but gazed into
the fire. After all, were not his arguments somewhat impressive? “But,”
continued my friend, “it is not altogether because of these speculative reasons
that I fear the dark; it is because of a terrible experience I once had, and
which has left me terror-struck, ever since, whenever I am left without light
even for an instant. I will tell you the story, and let you judge for yourself.
“It was several years ago; in an old house we rented at that time, and from
which we removed soon after the event I am about to relate. I was afraid of the
dark, even then, and always left a nightlight burning by the side of my bed
when I went to sleep. One night I woke up, feeling the springs of the bed on
which I was lying vibrate in a peculiar manner, impossible to describe.
“Looking
up, I saw, standing by the side of my bed, a young man, dressed in rags, having
a face ghastly white, and showing every indication of dissipation. He was
regarding me intently. “I shall never forget the shock I received on beholding
that figure; not only because of the unexpected appearance; but because of the
fact that I could perceive the opposite wall and furniture through the body. I
knew at once that I beheld a spirit, and my blood ran cold at the thought. What
I had dreaded all my life was at last fulfilled! “My next thought was ‘I am so
glad the night light is burning. What should I do if I were in darkness?’ As
though the form read my thoughts, and was intent on torturing me to the limit
of endurance, it leaned over, and the next instant had snuffed the candle! The
phantom and I were alone in the black darkness!
“Words
cannot describe my feelings at that instant. The blood froze in my veins and
the tongue clave to the roof of my mouth. I tried to speak, but could not. I
only held out one hand as if to ward off the awful presence by pressing it
away. “The next instant I felt the bedclothes gently turned down on the
further side of the bed and partly pulled off me. The springs of the bed were
depressed, and I knew that the fearsome visitor was crawling into bed! It would
lie down by my side; perhaps touch 5 me; perhaps—who could tell? The agony of
mind I experienced in those few moments I shall never forget! My only wonder is
that my reason did not give way! “Then a curious thing happened. Even in the
state of mind, as I was in then, I could perceive that the bed was gradually
rising up again into its normal position. The weight upon it was growing less
and less. Finally, it was again level, and I felt the bedclothes carefully
replaced over me. The phantom had withdrawn!
“For hours I lay awake, not
daring to move. After what seemed a century, the first faint shafts of light
fell across the room, betokening the welcome morn. Finally, a glorious day broke.
Glorious light! Hateful darkness! Cannot you see why I hate it so?” But,
fortunately, this evil and horrible side of Ghostland are not universal. Ghosts
do not always present themselves as so formidable and gruesome! Some of them
prove helpful; others seem to wish to right a wrong; some even seem to have a
sense of humor! So there are all sorts of ghosts, just as there are all sorts
of people; and the variety is just as great in one case as in the other.
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