The Deserted House | Page 8

I did not conceal the slightest
incident from him, and I implored him to save me from the terrible fate
which seemed to threaten me. He listened to me quietly, but I read
astonishment in his glance. Then he said: "The danger is not as near as
you believe, and I think that I may say that it can be easily prevented.
You are undergoing an unusual psychical disturbance, beyond a doubt.
But the fact that you understand that some evil principle seems to be
trying to influence you, gives you a weapon by which you can combat
it. Leave your little mirror here with me, and force yourself to take up
with some work which will afford scope for all your mental energy. Do
not go to the avenue; work all day, from early to late, then take a long
walk, and spend your evenings in the company of your friends. Eat
heartily, and drink heavy, nourishing wines. You see I am endeavoring
to combat your fixed idea of the face in the window of the deserted
house and in the mirror, by diverting your mind to other things, and by
strengthening your body. You yourself must help me in this."

I was very reluctant to part with my mirror. The physician, who had
already taken it, seemed to notice my hesitation. He breathed upon the
glass and holding it up to me, he asked: "Do you see anything?"
"Nothing at all," I answered, for so it was.
"Now breathe on the glass yourself," said the physician, laying the
mirror in my hands.
I did as he requested. There was the vision even more clearly than ever
before.
"There she is!" I cried aloud.
The physician looked into the glass, and then said: "I cannot see
anything. But I will confess to you that when I looked into this glass, a
queer shiver overcame me, passing away almost at once. Now do it
once more."
I breathed upon the glass again and the physician laid his hand upon the
back of my neck. The face appeared again, and the physician, looking
into the mirror over my shoulder, turned pale. Then he took the little
glass from my hands, looked at it attentively, and locked it into his desk,
returning to me after a few moments' silent thought.
"Follow my instructions strictly," he said. "I must confess to you that I
do not yet understand those moments of your vision. But I hope to be
able to tell you more about it very soon."
Difficult as it was to me, I forced myself to live absolutely according to
the doctor's orders. I soon felt the benefit of the steady work and the
nourishing diet, and yet I was not free from those terrible attacks,
which would come either at noon, or, more intensely still, at midnight.
Even in the midst of a merry company, in the enjoyment of wine and
song, glowing daggers seemed to pierce my heart, and all the strength
of my intellect was powerless to resist their might over me. I was
obliged to retire, and could not return to my friends until I had
recovered from my condition of lethargy. It was in one of these attacks,

an unusually strong one, that such an irresistible, mad longing for the
picture of my dreams came over me, that I hurried out into the street
and ran toward the mysterious house. While still at a distance from it, I
seemed to see lights shining out through the fast-closed blinds, but
when I came nearer I saw that all was dark. Crazy with my desire I
rushed to the door; it fell back before the pressure of my hand. I stood
in the dimly lighted vestibule, enveloped in a heavy, close atmosphere.
My heart beat in strange fear and impatience. Then suddenly a long,
sharp tone, as from a woman's throat, shrilled through the house. I
know not how it happened that I found myself suddenly in a great hall
brilliantly lighted and furnished in old-fashioned magnificence of
golden chairs and strange Japanese ornaments. Strongly perfumed
incense arose in blue clouds about me. "Welcome--welcome, sweet
bridegroom! the hour has come, our bridal hour!" I heard these words
in a woman's voice, and as little as I can tell, how I came into the room,
just so little do I know how it happened that suddenly a tall, youthful
figure, richly dressed, seemed to arise from the blue mists. With the
repeated shrill cry: "Welcome, sweet bridegroom!" she came toward
me with outstretched arms--and a yellow face, distorted with age and
madness, stared into mine! I fell back in terror, but the fiery, piercing
glance of her eyes, like the eves of a snake, seemed to hold me
spellbound. I did not