The Argosy — page 56: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

On the Supernatural. A3 always ready to study the wishes of others rather than his own: and who carried sunshine with him wherever he went. A short time after the receipt of the letter, I had just stepped into bed one night, and was in the act of lying down, when I heard the low, distinct, steady step as of a large man advancing towards my door, and stop on the mat outside. As we were the only lodgers, and there was no man whatever in the house, and I knew that everybody was in bed, I felt rather alarmed ; for the door, contrary to my usual custom, was not locked. I sat up for a minute or two, quite still, my eyes fixed on the door handle, expecting every moment to see it turn, and someone walk in; but there was no further sound outside. I got out of bed, opened the door, and looked out. Nothing, however, was to be seen but the darkness of the passage; and the stillness of death seemed to reign throughout the house. Closing the door more quickly than I had opened it, and taking care this time to lock it, I again retired to bed, but only to be kept awake until daylight by a succession of the most unaccountable noises it is possible to conceive; noises so significant that each seemed to articulate its own special message, in a way which none can understand but those who have gone through similar ex- periences. I had never passed such a night, with the exception of those two nights in Wimpole Street; and trust I may never pass such another. In the morning the circumstances were entered in my diary ; and when a letter, announcing the death of my brother-in-law, reached me, I referred to them. I was startled to find that he died the very same night ; and, as far as could be judged, allowing forthe difference of time, at the very hour when IJ had heard the steps approaching my door. The following was told me by his widow, three or four years afterwards. Like many who have lived much abroad, my sister 1s a great advo- cate for open doors and plenty of fresh air, and consequently always sleeps with her bedroom door wide open. Her only little daughter slept in a cot beside her mother’s bed ; and one night—or rather morning, for it was almost two o’clock a.m. —my sister was aroused by hearing a man enter her room, and walk straight to the dressing-table. It was quite dark, and as she never burns a light she was unable to see anything. Greatly alarmed, thinking it was a burglar and anxious to hear a sound, even of the child’s voice, she said, scarcely above a whisper, not knowing whether the little thing was awake or not: ‘ Will Florrie come into mamma’s bed ?” . | Instantly, and without uttering a word, the child bounded into her mother’s bed, where she lay trembling in her arms, much alarmed CoOmiclooolkks (SO)