The Phantom Fork At The Window
It occurred not far from Feilding. It isn’t make-believe, nor was it a dream. For about an hour I actually experienced almost every sensation of fear and horror that a woman could know. Looking back on it now, I still shudder at the memory of the most horrible happening I have ever been through. | But was it a "happening"? At any. rate I know of no other word to describe it. The night was hot, and brilliant with moonlight. It was also high summer. My book wasn’t very interesting so I put it aside, switched off the light, and, getting up leaned out of my window to enjoy the silver radiance that flooded the world, The window blind was one of those old fashioned light yellow Holland fabrics once so well known. I pulled it down jumped back to bed, and was settling comfortably, when I saw The Thing. I’m not "fey," I did not dream it. I was wide awake, I saw it! Clearly silhouetted on the window shade was an eerie figure, holding a hay fork, which, as I stared in growing horror seemed to be waved menacingly at me. The face was that of a very old woman, beastly and cruel, and her loose lips seemed to jeer and jibber as she swayed back and forth with her deadly pronged weapon. No One There Seeking an explanation I dashed from the room to see who was playing such a foul joke on me. The house stood alone and no one was near. Nor was there tree or shrub or anything at all that could thrown the shadow I had seen, I’ve never been brave, but have a sort of "cornered rat" courage; and, with some kind of fatalistic determination I cringed back to my room and faced the window. The horror was still on the blind! As I watched, the hay fork seemed to jab at me with an extra vicious lunge, I remember giving one yell of womanly terror that brought my parents rushing in, and then, I suppose, I fainted. And now the sequel: next day my father was very dangerously stabbed with a hay fork in the hands of a careless harvester. Can vou explain it? ( bi anyone explain this?
ESTELLEA
(Taumarunui) |
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19410207.2.33.1.5
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 85, 7 February 1941, Page 15
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384The Phantom Fork At The Window New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 85, 7 February 1941, Page 15
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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