Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1920)
I A n Astral Lion Hunt By Parke Whitney 1 i IWIN'T expect anybody to be Here I hi story of mine. Yon will ay that I am a dope fiend, or am ln- i ana or am a dreamer, but I tu you It happened It actually happened -and It prove to me that It la possible for a man to live In hla phyalcal body end still lire out of It aa It were rlalt old-time association and place, and ercn remote countries and citmea. Let me tell you my strange and tin canny experience. I came to the city from a small village in Missouri to work at my trade. Answering an ad vertisement of rooms for rent, I brought up at 1418 Welnwrtght avenue, and obtained a pheasant, light room cm the seoond floor. My landlady was agreeable and affable, and I felt at home and contented from the start. The first night I was here I was re taining from the bathroom after har ms taken a bath, and t noticed a tall, dart oomplaxioned fellow peering at me from an opposite door to my own. I got one look at him. Re was obvi ously a Hindu, and he had a rather pleasant face, hut hla eyes were small and beadlike, and haunting. I felt their uncanny influence all that night. I would awaken suddenly, and aee those strange, black eyes looking Into mine, and I would see the man's smile as he showed hla pearl white teeth. 1 knew that this was foolish, and I chlded myself for my uncalled-for fears. The next morning I waa dressing when there was a knock at my door. It was Sunday morning, and X had arisen later than usual. Answering the summons, I faced the Hindu who stood there smiling at me and Just as t had seen him all night in my rest lees sleep. "My dear friend." he said. "I wonder If you are Interested In the psychic. Is the oooultr He waited for my answer. "Why. somewhat," I replied ; "but I am from Missouri I I hare read little along that line." "Will you come Into my room then?" the stranger asked. "We will talk It over. I hare some Information that might be a pleasure to yon!" He spoke In a gentle votes and aoft tones. "Why. yes," I said, "after break fast." "But I should greatly prefer that you come before you hare eaten." the man replied "now. .You know the soul Is more occult spiritual when the body la Inactive. The work of di gestion beclouds the spiritual vision, the Intuitions!" I dont know why I did It, but I fol lowed the Hindu Into his room. It was spacious and warm, but the curtains ware pulled down and It waa rather dark.' "Bs seated." he said. And I obeyed. Then my Hindu friend began to talk In that soft, soothing, almost rhythm ical voice of hla. "Thou art a pil grim." he began, "a pilgrim! Thou art not a body with a soul, but a soul having a body! Thou art two bodies the physical and the astral! Thou canst go withersoever thou carest to go! And remain here here in this room! Now now thou art'ln the vil lage of thy birth thou art " I felt myself swooning, losing con sciousness. My flesh cold and It twitched, and I waa sinking, sinking! I tried to pull myself together, out of the depths of mental semi-consciousness, but It waa ussleas. I was com pletely In the power of my Hindu companion. Suddenly I was walking down the old familiar streets of Belfast! I hadn't been there since boyhood! I saw the houses and the streets Just as they bad been In the days long past. I strolled through them and recognized certain houses and homes that I hadn't thought of for thirty yearsl I met old residents whom I had known, and I even tried to speak to them, and It ssemed to me that I did spesk, but never once did anyone bear ma or recognise my presence! Suddenly I heard the voice of the Hindu. It sounVled distant and faint. "And now let us well, you will ac company me, dear sir, upon a Journey that will furnish you with adventure and It will be to a. new place and clime!" I seemed to' swoon even more com pletely, and my head was bursting. Two or three times I pinched toy fresh to see If I were dreaming or were ac tually alive! -t tried desperately to arouse myself, stand up, or speak, but I was helpless I seemed floating as In etherlal space! At times I 'rapid feel my consciousness returning, and then again I could fsel It drift away from ma, sinking as It undoubtedly did. Into the subjeetlvel Again I was taking a Journey! I was traversing the upper spaces of clouds and air! There seemed to be no distance at all no distance that I couldn't traverse In an Instant! I was a disembodied spirit! ! was separat ed, free from the fetters of the phys ical! I was living another life, and yet I seemed still to be myself, that Is, the same Individual as I was In my normal existence! Suddenly I found myself on the large estate of a wealthy Hindu. I was In India! Looking about me I could see objects and peculiarities that I had never seen before or knew exist ed! There were deep woods In the dis- tanoa, and long road that lad Into them. I was startled to see my Hin du friend dose by my side, and ho was smiling, that asms smile that had haunted das the sight before! I was all aa real as life It was real! One of the slaves of the owner of the estate brought out a bit powerful ele phant! He waa a handsome fellow, I thought My friend, or my host, for that was what hs really was, com manded ma to climb upon the ele phants back. "We will go Hon hunt ing I" he said, briefly, and smiling. I obeyed meekly. And my host climbed on with met We both had rifles, a different kind and calibre I bad ever seen before. His slaves were with us, and aa we started down the road there was a shout from the' com pany that echoed back to us from the woods! W were going we were started on a Hon hunt! We hadnt gotten far Into the thick woods when suddenly we beheld a lion crouching to spring at ual I can see that fellow now, and the cold sweat stands out on my forehead whenever I think of html And I waa frightened then, terribly frightened. I Instinctively hid my head behind my Hindu friend who was riding In front of me. He sat up erect and aimed bis rifle at the lion and fired. But the shot which wounded him did not disable but only made him angry and wild and desperate. Be crouched, he aprang di rectly fr us I Instantly the faithful elephant lifted his trunk and swung it high and grasped as both around our waists, as though w ware aura pig mies, and deposited as safely under his belly, while he crouched low, and the Hon passed over him and us in his mad attack! Then, my Hindu compan ion and I shot ths fleeing lion, and the elephant stood upon bis feet and lifted us safely to our seats 1 Again I heard the distant red oh of the Hindu. I seemed to be returning from a long Journey! I was flying through space! I breathed heavily, and gasped. Opening my eyes I saw him smile smile Just ss be had done so often before and be spoke quietly "You have visited my old home in India! You have accompanied me up on one of the Hon hunts of my youth! Henceforth yon are my friend my friend!" o Fine! "Did anybody comment on the way you bandied your new car?" "One man made a brief remark. 'Fifty dollars and costs." " a 1 Heal Pleasure. "Did your wife enjoy the book I sent her to read?" "Did she? Had the tins of her life. Cried herself sick over It" OH. look what rre dona, Hilda!- cried Carmen Phillips, aa her friend came along. "Just look at my shoal Of all things to happen. I dhnght my foot In be tween the ran and a plank here, and now one of the French heels on my brand new shoes Is stack fast there, and I cant move It an Inch. I am without a heel. What shall I do? You don't need to laugh, Hilda Martin, be cause ft Isn't funny at all." "No, of coarse it lent fanny for you. bat if you could see how really funny you look Jumping on one toot PTi bet you would laugh, too. Let me aee If I can mors it" she said, stoop ing down and taking hold of as much heel as was In sight She tugged and pulled, this way and that but the heel was stubborn and would not budge. "I can't get it Carmen." ahe panted. "I guess It's there for good- Too bad, but I've used every bit of strength I've got. The four-thirty train Is due In 15 minutestoo. Listen, let's go down to Mr. FSpaulding's blacksmith shop, and see if he won't come up and help us." "Bright Idea. Hilda. IT1 stay here, and you run down and aak him." "Not much., You'll come along, too, and ask Mm yourself. Well have to hurry, though, because we haven't much time." So the girls started at a fast walk. Carman limping. When they reached the shop. Carman ex plained her trouble. Mr. Opauldlnjt smiled, and started back to the rail road crossing with the girla. to help them oat of their predicament In the meanwhile, young Howard Roberts, an artist who was spending a few weeks with hla uncle, Carl Roberts, was wandering around, look ing at the mountains with their beau tiful autumn colon, trying to decide which of them woald make the pret tiest painting. As he waa crossing the railroad tracks, hs stubbed his toe, and upon looking to see what he had hit had discovered It to be a heel. He stooped down, and after a couple of vigorous Jerks succeeded In extricat ing it. ,He examined It carefully and smiled,. "I wonder what little Miss owned this. Ill Just slip it Into my pocket, and when I meet a lady with out a heel I'll take this out and try it on her shoe. Maybe 111 And the right one, who know.', " he smiled. When Mr. Spauldlng and the girla were nearly to the crossing, the girls hurried ahead. "It Is right there ahead, Mr. Spauldlng," Carmen told him. "Right In here; why, let's see," he said, looking around. "It was right The Grateful Youth By JoeTfa Johnson here, wasn't It Hilda?" Both girls were looking at the exact place where the heel should have been, and Mr. S Paulding's eyes were carefully search ing up and down both sides of the track. "Where did you say It was?" he asked. "Why. It waa right here," Hil da said, pointing to the spot "That's where it was." "Yes, it was right there, Mr. Spauldlng." Carmen said so berly. "Butbut" "But It doesn't seem to be there now, does It?" Mr. Spauldlng added. "No, It doesn't, and I can't under stand It," Carmen said, frowning. "What do you suppose, Hilda, has the train come yet?" "I haven't heard It, but what could hare happened to your heel. Carmen? Can't I believe my own eyes ? I am pos itive that your heel waa In that iden tical spot," touching the rail with her toe, "Yes. I know it was there." sobbed Carmen. "I wouldn't care so so much, only I can t have any more shoes for a long" time. They're so ex pensive, mother says I'll I'll have to make these last until " Just then the whistle of the 4:30 train came sharp and piercing to their ears, and a min ute later they watched It thunder past. "I'm awfully sorry about your heel, my girl," Mr. Spauldlng said, patting Carmen on the shoulder. "But let's not feel bad about It Maybe you can have another pair of shoes, after all. Come on down to the shop and I'll make you a heel." Carmen smiled through her tears and thanked him, and be started back to his shop. Just then Hilda's little brother. Ray, came to call Hilda. Ha said that she had company, and her mother wanted her to come right home, so shs called good-by and left Carmen standing on the crossing thinking. She stood there a minute, and then went slowly limping away. A short distance up the track she turned off Into an old pasture aad sat down on a moss-covered log beneath a great maple that was showering dawn Its, beautifully tinted leaves all around her. She put her head down on her arms and had a good cry. "Oh, dear, now my nice new shoes are spoiled. No one can make a heel to look like that one. and and I did so want to go to the dance tomorrow evening, but" and once mors her bead went down and ahe had another cry. She did not know that on a little knoll a couple of rods away, Harold Roberts, the young artist was sitting. And she did not know that he had seen and heard everything, either. At first, when he had seen her sit down there, he had thought only of the beautiful picture she was making, but when he had heard sobs and had caught broken sentences of what aha waa saying, his sympathy waa aroused and he longed to comfort her. Then he remembered the heel he had 'in hla pocket and glancing down at her feet noticed that one of her shoes was without a heel. Without a moment's hesitation-be rose to his feet and walked slowly down to where she was sitting; "There, there, little girl, what's the matter?" he said, softly. Carmen raised her head star tled. "Why-er-er," he stammered. "What do you want?" "I overheard you say that you had lost a heel," he said, sitting down be side her. "I have one In my pocket that will tit, perhaps," and he drew the little French heel from his pocket. Carmen recognised It Instantly as her lost heel, and eagerly took It from hja Angers. "Oh, It's my French heel!" she exclaimed. "Oh, goody! goody! Where In the world did you And it?" Howard Roberts then told her bow be had stubbed his toe on It at the crossing, and had picked It up aad put It in hla pocket Then Carman re lated the whole story to him and they had a good laugh. Howard accom panied her home, and together they retold the story to her mother. When he left the house be had a new desire In his heart It was to know Carmen better; and needless to say, as days and weeks progressed, he did. He did not go back to the city as soon aa hs had planned. In fact, he stayed with bis uncle all winter, but whan he did return he took Carmen with him; and always, in his heart be was grateful to the one who invented the French heel. o 'o rs Sees HI Duty. "Ton ought to have pity for your fallen fellow-man " "Taint my fault he's fallen; I al ways put plenty of ashes on the pave ment" 0 ' "I could sit here forever and gase into your eyes," said the impassioned suitor. "Henrietta." called the young lady's father from bis easy chair in the ad Joining room "Yes, father 7" Tell the young man our le this house expires In 1920." MOLLIS stood by the little white gats casing down the road, grass-grown and tree-shaded. The last rays of Urn son were fast the fleecy pink and gold to soft violet , aad In ths marsh not far distant the frogs were giving one of their spring concerts. The nature- lortag soul of Motile enjoyed all these things, and yet withal there wss a deep tinge of loneliness. Shs was Just about to return to the house when the figure of a small boy nomlng up the road holding1 a small flag and whistling "Yankee Doodle" at tracted her attention. As he came nearer she saw that he belonged to the new family only moved recently Into (he big bouse on the hill. The strong fueling of loneliness and her desire for human companionship caused her to smile and say: "Hello. laddie! What's your name?' "Richard Wlnthrop Hetheatngton, Jr.," was the response. "How old are you, Richard? " she went on. Richard looked at her with a proud air. "I'm seven, most eight. How old are you?" I Moille was stunned by the sudden change In this procedure of cross-examination. But her eyes twinkled as she said, "Guess?" The boy with the long name looked at her critically and answered: "Oh! about 40. I should think." The girl gasped. "Why!" she said Indignantly. I'm qnly half of that." She watched hlni "carefully calculating. "WeU, to Is pretty old, lsnt It?" "Yes, I suppose It seems so to seven," answered Mollie meekly. Pres ently she asked: "Where have you been, Richard, with your flag?" - The boy's face brightened as fie an swered, "Oh! down to the station to see some of the soldier boys coming home. My uncle will be coming any day now." He paused a moment for breath and then continued: "Why didn't you go down? Haven't you got any sweetheart?" Mollie s smile was rather sad as she said whimsically. "No, I haven't, Richard. I guess you will have to find me one." e . "All right, I'll try," answered the lad promptly, and then saluting, be shouldered his flag and continued up the road whistling a martial air. Moi lle watched him out of sight. She knew he considered himself a whole band leading a company of returning Jteroes. Two days later with all the fever of spring cleaning in her blood. Mollie donned her biggest apron and with scrubbing brush and broom made an v attack on the past winter's germs and dust. Up on the step-ladder In her bright little kitchen she was scouring paint with her ustial vigor hen a voice from the open doorway startled her so that i he nearly fell from her perch. , "Excuse me! I hope I haven't frightened you. but I knocked and couldn't seem to make anyone hear." Mollie, clambering down as quickly as possible, saw a young officer In ollre-drab uniform, overseas cap In one hand and battered suitcase in the other. He was bronzed from exposure and rather careworn, but even at that Mollie decided he was very good to look at There was a moment's pause and then he continued: "Could you direct me to the Heth rrington's? I seem to have lost my way." "Oh!" Mollie exclaimed, ''You must be Richard Wlnthrop Hetherlngton, Jr.'s uncle." Then she stopped and blushed scarlet. "That sure la my number." laughed tlie young fellow. "My homo Is In Michigan, but I thought I would stay here for a short rest before going on. You' must be acquainted with my young nephew.'' "I just met him the other evening," said Mollie, and she smiled remlnts cently. "They live In that big white house on the hill." Still John Hetherlngton lingered. "I could come down some evening while I am here and tell you some great stories about the war If yon would like to hear them," he said, finally. Moille rlasper her hands. "Oh, I w Ish you would ! I don't know anyone who baa been 'over there, and I have wanted so much to hear It directly from someone who was In the big bat tles." After this, John, finding no new excuso to linger, picked up bin suit case and departed. The weekfc flew rapidly by. As John Hetherlngton explained to his relative, i he peace and beauty of the New Eng land hills were far better for his health than the rush and bustle ef the busy West. It apparently took him a good many evenings to tell all his ad ventures "over tbero" to Mollie. It also quite often occupied his Sundays. One evening late In August the two aat rather silently In the rose-covered porch of Mould's little cottage. Bat It was a silence that contained all speech. The moon had risen in all her glory over the distant purple bJUs. As John looked up the road he saw his young nephew approaching, whistling ss usual. When be reached the white gate he stopped and hung over It to gaze at the pair on the porch. "Well, little scout where are yon going?" asked John as a general open ing to the conversation. The boy looked gravely at his uncle. "I'm going down to the store to get some nails for dad. He said he asked you to get them, but the place would be closed before you ever reached there, because yon wouldn't eyer be able to get paat Mollie Vi house." There was a moment of embarrassed silence, and then John, to relieve the tension, asked; "And what did yam say to that, Dickie?" "Oh," answered the lad, slowly looking from one to the other, "I told him lhat I guessed' It was all right 'cause Mollie asked me to get her a sweetheart and T thought you'd do." Having delivered himself of this piece of eloquence, Richard Wlnthrop Heth erlngton. Jr., resumed his Journey storeward. The moon very kindly went behind a cloud at this Juncture and John turned MolUe's scarlet face toward htm. "Win I do, little sweetheart?- he asked in a low voice. And Mollis looked In the eyes aha had learned to lore so dearly, whisp ering a low "yes," as shs hid her blush -4ng face on John's broad shoulder. , Q ., y la Washington. "A department chief wants to rent that old building tor his bureau. Ha says he will ssk only tl6,000 tor re pairs." i "That's what they all say," snorted Senator Spug. "FIrteen thousand dol lars will just about pay for sweeping It out." Bertie and Alice were sitting alone together In the moonlight uttering ten der nonsense. . "And," said the girl bravely, "If pov erty comes, we will face It together.'' "Ah, dearest," he replied, "the mere sight of your face would scars the wolf away 1 " And ever since he has been wonder ing why she returned his ring. SOMETHING happened today, Carl, but dont you scold, dear," Inez begged, gazing up at her husband with anxious eyes. "I was careless of course I waa care less. I know that but don't be cross, please. I'll go without butter for a whole month to pay for it" He looked up at her quizleajly. Just i little amused, for he had not been lung married. He knew It would be a sacnBci for Ines to go without butter, be d- arly loved it. and ate a great dea1. "What have you done now?" he asked, thinking it could be nothing more than a little waste of feed. That was to be expected of a young houae k eeper. "Why " she stammered, for she really feared him. but you wont scold, will you. sure?" "Scold? Do 1 ever scold Tell me what you hare don ." HI voice was insistent. Did he ever teold Why. a harp 'rum hint 'was the greatest ter- . ' her life. Perhaps be did not call 11 scolding; they might have been only words of good advice, but to her. accustomed only to her lather pet ting, .they meant much more. She hes itated, not feeling quite sure of him. "Tsll me," he repeated, a little mor" sternly, yet unconscious tf the fact. "What are yon afraid of? It can't be anything very bad." He had lived alone, doing bis own will, baring his own way, and did not know that he had become a little exacting; that hla sensitive wife was beginning to feel restraint "But it Is very bad." she trembled. "It's Just deadful but don't scold I've lost my umbrella!" "Lost your umbrella. Inez? That five-dollar umbrella I gave you?" HI voice was really stern now. "Oh. Carl! Somebody stole I', I know they did. You see, I Just laid It down In the store I turned round to look at something, and when I turned" to take It up It wasn'i there," she end ed with a sob. "Of course It wasn t there! Didn't you know any better than to lay it down?' He flung the words at ber. "Yes. 'of course I did!" She was cry ing now. "I didn't exactly lay It down, you know. I Just stood H up sgainst the counter and I -was right there Oh, why can't folks be honest? .A, Trifle Careless Rv Elsie Endicott en "That isn't the way of the world," he sneered. "It's gone and you'll have to go without now, or use that old cotton one In the hall. You're welcome to that." He left her and went down to the office, not meaning to be cross or unkind. Ths wss their first real quarrel, and the poor little wife est mournfully thinking It over, hating herself for ber carelessness, feeling worse that ahe had offended Carl and brought down hi reproach, than that she must carry the old cotton umbrella, or even that he must go without butter. Inez ate her meal day after day, re ligiously refusing butter, even on hot biscuits. She watched her husband wltb repentant eyes as be contentedly ate his share of the golden morsel. He never said a word, did not even seem to notice her sacrifice. Had h forgot ten? Would he never forgive her? Ha looked at sis wife from over the corner of the morning paper, but said nothing. How long would she hold out he wondered. He waa learning something about women. As he walk ed down to the office be thought. Did he scold after all? Was be harsh and unreasonable? Why was his wife afraid of him? She really did seem afraid sometimes. He could not bear that He did not see why she could be afraid of him. or why shd did not laugh as merrily as she always had done. He did not know woman's heart All thla time an unconscious change had been going on within himself. He was beginning to see himself as be really was, to reallze'that now he was married he must look at life in a new way. must view things from two angles Instead of one, from hla wife's stand point as well as his own. Inez must be happy; what could he do to mke her so? For a weak there waa a little feeling of unrest and restraint in the borne. They talked stiffly, without the usual freedom. Such a tittle thing It takes to make so much difference! Then one day Carl came home early, whistling In the old boyish way, a broad smile on his handsome face. He leaped up the steps, three at a time. "Here's an umbrella for you Sis!" he beamed, as he flourished It before her. '.'Sis" was the pet name he had given ber, but he had not used it for the past week. Now It came to his Hps quite naturally. Inez flushed to hear It with a feeling that a load had been taken from her. Wltb a happy smile her husband handed her the new umbrella a beau -tlful silk one, much handsomer than the lost one, wltb a silver handle on w Men her name was engraved. "Ob!" ah exclaimed, rapturously, Is It for me, Carl?" Her eyas glist ened and the dimples came back. "Of course It's tor you, dear! Do you think I'd carry a thing like that?" he laughed, In the old happy way. She threw her arms about his neck and hugged him tin he was obliged to cry for quarter". "Oh, I'm so glad! "ahe cred. "It's a perfect beauty! I'll nev er loa tblla, you may be sure. I'll tie It o me It I can't do any better. And you forgire me, Carl?" she aft!) a little doubtful. "Ob, that's all right," hs answered carelessly. "I'm glad you like It Come, let's have supper; I'm as hun gry ss a bear. By the way, never mind the butter. You're really growing quite pale and thin without It. Every body makes mistakes sometimes; no doubt I do myself." The Verdict "Do you think It Is right for a wife to go through ber husband's pockets?" "I don't kqow about Its being right, but I do know If all husbands are like mine, It Is a waste of time." 0 Self-Intflfait "I heard a man say yesterday that this is perfectly ideal weather we havj been baring." "What Is be? An Idiot?" "No; plumber." ' Catty Ad rice, Bella My hair Is so long and thick I have the greatest difficulty In ar ranging It on my head. Nell. Then why don't you ?ke it off and Ax It? 0 Deep Plumbing. ' "Look here! How much Is this Job going to cost?" "I forgot Just what ye soaked m fer removln' me appendix. Qoc. but I'll look It up.-