Junction City High School - Junco Ed Yearbook (Junction City, OR)

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U 8H 1: 't 'tou ' a . W: I: gm. I ' M'W .1 k ' lrr, .N' :h-f a I' 1.5L V t .1. 3i ,4 f i a VW 'a hat .Xs 3if'ta is o 'i Q', h'i Hhm .,,. I a it 4', i 5;; 'b r'h ' seemed to have deserted me. I could not tear my gaze from the horrible spectacle which confronted meaa horrible, ghost-like fig- ure, robed from head to foot in deathly white garments, which touched and mingled with the snow, with its eyes and long, bony fingers raised heavenward. The dog, poor fellow, was as badly frightened as I Was. He would circle about the ghostly spectacle, giving vent all the while to the most piercing howls; then he would advance quickly as though he were going to take hold of the horrible white garments; but instead of doing this, he would back off and repeat the same maneuvers as before. At first the creature did not move; but presently a slight tremor as of intense pain passed through its entire frame. The bony hngers began to work and tremble; the eyes were suddenly low- ered from their upward gaze, and the awful white garments began to wave and rustle as though a strong Wind were disturbing them. Suddenly there was wafted on the night air a strain of music --music so perfect and sweet I had never heard before or since- and I do not expect to hear its equal until I reach that place where angels greet us, with smiling faces, and the music of harps played by saints fills the air with sweetest melody. As the music ceased, the ghostly fingers stopped their working; the eyes were once more raised on high, and with a blood-curdling cry the hgure sank and disappeared. I came to myself with a start. My muscles were stiff and I shook from head to foot as with a chill. My first thought was to cry out, but I checked this impulse with fear of its frightening mother. Then a great dread of being alone came over me and I rushed through the door, and, hastily locking it, ran up the short Hight of stairs. Mother lay sleeping as peacefully as when I had left her. As I was overpowered with what I had seen, I elambored into bed, where I lay, hardly daring to breathe lest I should see that awful Vision again. Finally sleep, that merciful consoler, took me into her keeping. V When I awoke it was broad daylight. I glanced out of the window at the snow-covered hills; and the scene of the night be- fore again came to my mindis eye with such a Vividness that I was 65 I en-v famw-,s-,..rAr -A t C

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Elie g?tmngwt Experimrp nf My Eifp By Jewel Hays, i15 I well remember that bitter cold evening when the snow fell thick and fast in that little Blue mountains. Mother and I were alone, my having gone to a distant sheep camp to remain over night. We went to bed very early, but to my surprise sleep would not come to I seemed to be in dread of soniethings-an in late December, valley west of the father and brother close my tired eyelids. inexplicable something which amused every sense and drove sleep away. I did not speak of this peculiar fear. however. as mother was of a nervous disposition and I thought she might be frightened. At last, when it was about ten o'clock. I think, I fell into a light slumber. I had not slept long before I was awakened by the whine of our dog. I listened-every sense on the alert. 1 could hear the, dog growl fiercely for a few moments. then he would raise his voice to the most pitiful howl one ever heard. I lay listening for perhaps Efteen minutes, then, thinking he was lonely because of fathers absence, I slipped quietly out of bed so I should not awaken mother, and crept down the stairs to try and console the poor fellow if I could. I unlocked the front door as noiselessly as possible and peered out. The snow had ceased falling; the moon had filled the heavens with her silvery light; the myriad stars shone forth with a glow of splendor; not a cloud marred the beauty of the clear blue sky. The snow lay like a death-white blanket over hill and valley: and as the rays of the moon caught and refieeted its glow, it gleamed and sparkled as though the angels had sprinkled the earth with dia- ymonds. Everything was white, excepting over on a distant hill a .few fir trees cast an ominous shadow down into a little glen to mingle with a few more shadows which were lurkingr there. The mght was perfeet-a poet could not imagine one more perfect. When I first looked out I could see neither the dog nor any- thing that might disturb him; but as I turned my eyes toward the place where the 01d pump stood. a si ght met my gaze that froze me to the Hoor I stood upon. i Every sense excepting that of sight 64 r

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forced to cover my face with my hands. I could not keep off the terrible chill of horror and my body shook from head to foot. My mother, seeing my strange actions, rushed to my Slde, and, throwing my arms around her neck, I sobbed out the whole'of my nightls experience. She tried to comfort me, tellmg me it was only a dream. The first thing I did upon going down stairs was to Open the front door and look out. Exactly where I had seen, or imagined I saw, the spectral figure, was a great deep hole in the soft snow, and all about this were the prints of the dog's feet going in a circle just as I had seen our dog do last night. I glanced down to see if I could See the prints of my feet in the snow which had drifted onto the porch. Yes, they were there, and lying directly before me was my handHerchief, which my nerveless hands had refused to hold. I called my mother and showed her these proofs. She was forced to acknowledge that I had surely been clown stairs, but the story of the ghost and music she positively refused to believe. When father came he also refused to believe my strange tale, telling me it was only a dream I had dreamed, which had left such an impression on my mind that I took it for a reality. But let it be a dream or a reality, it will alWays live in my mind as the strang- est experience of my life. amv.i m; w