Ferndale Union High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Ferndale, CA)

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slightly, giving her whole visage a leering expression, where before she had been almost beautiful. The rest of that first day was spent in idle conversa- tion, that being the extent of my duties besides little odd jobs, such as answer- ing letters. During the afternoon, I caught Miss johanda's eyes resting upon me with a hideous gleam which she skilfully hid when she knew I saw her. Both ladies retired early that first evening and I went to my room, but not to sleep. An uneasiness possessed me and, for the first time in my life, I locked my door and looked under my bed and into the closet. I lay down and waited for sleep to overtake me, but this was useless. I was wide awake -waiting-waiting! For what? I know not how long I had lain thus when I heard a muffled cough, or possibly a laugh, in the corridor outside of my door. I heard the padded footsteps of a person on the carpet. Frozen with terror, I grasped the bed clothes and again waited. Only terrible silence met my strained listening. Oh, if I could but have screamed, have done some- thing! But the room seemed pervaded by tiny demoniacal spirits forbidding such an act on my part. In the morning, tired and fully determined to leave, I went down to breakfast. Everyone was so pleasant and my walk before luncheon showed me such a beautiful valley, that I decided to stay. The sec- ond night, I heard the same sounds, but this time I distinctly heard some ob- ject dragging behind the midnight prowler. I turned on the light, gripped my fear, and determinedly advanced to the door and swung it open. Was I mistaken or did the door across the hall close as I did so? I looked and saw darkness 5 and heard-stillness! I closed my door hastily and returned to my bed. That night again I did not sleep. I stayed through the third day, fully decided to remain and conquer my fears. The women were unusually kind, though often, as on the first day, I noticed that queer look in Miss Johanda's eyes. Of what Was she thinking that caused that gleam? Vtfas it concerning me? I was soon to find out! The third night, I listened for the same sound but heard nothing. To- ward midnight, I decided to go down stairs and get a glass of water as the night was stiflingly hot. I walked down the long hallway, the carpet dead- ening my tread, and began to descend the staircase. When I reached the sharp turn, I noticed a light in the living room. That was peculiar, as I dis- tinctly remembered Miss Iohanda and Miss Betty having retired at the same time that I did. Looking more closely, I saw Miss Johanda sitting almost in the center of the room, sewing feverishly upon a soft white garment. Some- thing held me spellbound. I saw her rise and lift the garment before her. Then I heard her emit a laugh which rose in a shrill, half wild, mocking note, then died away. I turned and flew back to my room, relocked my door and forgot my thirst in my terror. The fourth day passed like a dream. A premonition of evil seemed to hover over me. Every noise caused me to start. My nerves, usually strong as steel, failed me. That evening, I kept postponing the hour to retire. Fi- nally, after several vain attempts on Miss Johandais part to have me do so, 26

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THE MANIAC. ' My children, I am going to tell you of an experience which occurred when I was but a young girl. I have told you many times that your grand parents were poor and had twelve children. It fell to each of us to earn our living when we were very young. VVhen I was sixteen, my mother was stricken with paralysis and it became plain that I must find a means of live- lihood. One day while looking over the advertisements in a Western newspa- per, I ran across one worded something like this: VVANTED A young girl, preferably between the ages of I6 and 18, good looking, blue eyed, and fair haired, to act as companion to two elderly ladies who are willing to pay well. Here was my chance! I had often heard visitors speak of my good looks and I was fair haired and blue eyed. I immediately informed my fam- ily of my intentions and left for the West within a week of my decision, after receiving an agreeable letter from the two women. A The town in which they lived was little different from my home town. The large house occupied by these two Was situated amongst a grove of elm trees. I was admitted into the house by a middle-aged woman, who proved to be Ellen, the servant. She grasped my bags, without greeting, and mo- tioned me to follow her. I noticed that I had entered a long hall, devoid of furniture and heavily carpeted, and noticed that at the last turn one could get a close view of the living room. I was led down a long carpeted hallway running the full length of the house, on the second floor. The only door which was ajar along this hallway, proved to be open into my room, which was a cheerless affair resembling the rooms in hospitals. As Ellen was help- ing me unpack my suitcase, she talked willingly and uninterruptedly. Goodness knows why Miss johanda-that's the oldest one, you know- wanted a young and good looking girl here, more or less a light haired one. Miss Betty didn't like it at all, but, as usual, didn't get a chance to help .de- cide. I guess johanda was looking for someone like Miss Annie, who died many years ago. She was a sister, you know. Miss Annie was cremated and that made Miss Johanda insane for a time and she's been queer ever since. Hard telling what she'll do at timesf' By the time I had finished unpacking, I was prepared to meet any pe- culiarity of these two sisters. Ellen led me to a room on the lower floor, which was cozy enough to feel like home. Then I noticed a tall woman ad- vancing toward me, who regarded me With dark eyes that held a wild gleam which frightened me beyond belief. This wild mocking light quickly disap- peared and in its place was a twinkle of welcome. Her smile died as she pre- sented me to her sister, Miss Betty, a lovely little lady with white hair, and in its place was a rigid contraction of the mouth, which pulled at its corners 25

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I was forced to bid the two sisters good night. As I went along the dim hall- way to my room, I cast many glances over my shoulder. The peculiarity of the whole situtaion was the fact that I fell asleep immediately. I aWoke about midnight to hear a faint tapping at my door. My senses refused to grasp the significance of this, though I was fully aware of a faint, sweet odor pei'- meating my room. After waiting for a second, I realized that some 'one wished admittance. I arose, feeling uncertain whether to be afraid or not. I opened the door and beheld Miss johanda standing in the hallway smiling softly at me. Strange that I felt no fear then! She had no light and that from my room was too dim to reveal anything unusual about her appearance. She spoke softly, teasingly. Please, Dorothy, come with me and help me figure out a problem I must solve or I can't rest this eveningf' I consented immediately because she seemed sincere. I followed her across the hall-to that mysterious door which I then realized that I feared. Miss Iohanda walked in first and through the aperture I noticed a red light. I entered rather hesitatingly, and became conscious of a peculiar odor. Then I was stricken dumb by the horrible sight which confronted me. The room before me was long and low, hung with heavy black velvet draperies. The red light added a queer diabolical effect to the somberness of the apartment. But that which filled me most with horror was the source of the glaring red light. Upon a platform built in the center of the room was a fire made of dried rose petals causing that sweet odor. About the fire were glistening white bones and skulls, possibly of animals, maybe of humans. Beside this platform was a black draped couch upon which was the white gar- ment I had seen two evenings before. I turned horror stricken to face Miss -Iohanda. She was standing by my side clothed in red-hideous red which formed a devilish contrast to her pallid face, glaring eyes, and glistening black hair. I saw her fingers moving in- sanely, and then I knew that I Was alone with a maniac, intent upon destroy- ing me. You ask why I didn't call for help? I couldn't! I was frozen with fear. The maniac tore at her hair and then flew at me. She grasped me by the shoulders, laughing gleefully, screaming at me. p I'll kill you! You who resemble Annie so closely! I'll kill you as they did her! You'll burn, do you hear? None shall know, because this same flame which destroys you shall consume this house and its occupantsf' Then she threw the white garment about me-my shroud! I was dragged-dragged forward-then I fainted. I awoke two weeks later after a period of unconsciousness. I was in- formed that Ellen and Betty had been suspicious of Johandais actions for some time and that on that particular night had felt the same premonition of evil that I had. They had broken the lock of the door and rescued me. Miss johanda. stricken into frenzy by disappointment, had cast herself into the flames before she could be saved. So passed a maniac. ESTI-IER 'WOLFE '23. 27