The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-09
!, . The Wagoner,,, .
s'srssAmueL wAaRES. = L. p. ]

SUCH SunuSeiy Msp'Soga StiSubtssauScSi
that he could scarcely persuade himself
thai they, were real he was bin
self awake. He was so weak lha,a he
could hardly prop himself up on his el-
bows ia d bed, laid upon the floor Of d
small room, apparently a cellar, which
was lighted by a little lamp burning in
4 niche Of the wall, and the ruddy glow
Of "A small wood fire. He looked round
himssor an instant with a ronfused be.
wildered stare, and then fell back on
his bed, exhausted with The effort Of
sitting upright. lie did not KIN Nv tina,
he had lain there fur upwardiof fort
night, during which time he had suffer
sj all the aaoniesand paroxisms OF a vi.
olent b. ain fever, 'Sithe Ut having recei-
we'd any medical assistance! II was for
tuna,e that he was, during ali the time,
tied hand and foot; for he might have
destroyed both bimselt AMI those
around him. He had been bled sever.
al times in the temples by a few Ieech
ss applied BY the old won,an who at,
tended him; and this, added to "A low
spare diet, were tie only means adopt
ed 10 snatch poor unolf.nding indi-
vidual from Il crueland premature death!
His n,isterious cap,ors, indeed. could
not, even il they had fell so disposed,
summon ia medical assistance without
risk,ng fatally their own safety, ! BY dis.
covering their almost unparalleled
a,roci.s. But they woul'i have rrjplc.
nothing 50 much as his death IN.
der disease: for that, they supposed.
would have rid. them from a world of
suspense and trouble --and intinity Of
peril. Twice did one Of The compl"t.
ier, urge upon his priacipal the dark
Z and bloody proposition Of numbering
their prisoner as he slept; but wes an
swereL, that Fowler's deaih was not
required only his absence from Eng
land. Nevertheless one instance will
show the fearful jeopardy in winch
Fowler had been placed: he awoke
once at Midnight, and found himself
alone. the pinioning cords loose abput
his arms, and IA keen-edgedA butcher
knife lying close by his right hani!
He WA. lying one afternoon in the
darkness and solitude to which he WAS
now painfully accustomed, watching
the dull flicker Of the lamp. and the
cracking ofthe embers his fire. He
was too weak to be able to rise from
his bed His thoughts were vanly pon
dering, for the tious.nIth time. over
the unaccuuntable situation in which
he was placed. lie could not conceive
any more than at the moment o! his
seizure, the reasons of ii: he was n poor.
ignorant, unotfending man, who had
never injured or quarrelled with any
one; and what, then, coul) be the
meaning OF what had been done to him?
Was il true, or only.a recollection Of
deIerium, that he had heard temilr
declare her belief that he intended TO
murder herl III were true, how could
she come to form such preposterous
opinion! fi, were false, what. in the
name al heaven, could he the aim and
s'ope Of all this plotting He tried to
think over every action Of his life for
years past; wether he had incurred
the i'll will o!any Of his companions or
acquaintance. who, 10 be revenged on
him, had taken these mrans Of running
him, by persuading a lady tha, he had
threatened her life. But. again, it tnat
were so. why was he not lawfully ar
sested, examined openly in court OF
Justice, and atonce acquitted or COnvic.
1edf What could the person, or per-
sons, in whose custody he was, want
to do with him, or require him to do?
What concern had they with his fam.
" and mode of lifei II his death we're
their object, why was he still living, af.
aer they had so many opportunities Of
sasily and secretly killing himi All
these conflicting conjec,ures served
only 10 bring on, him deeper doubt
and darkness; and in the extremity Of
his misery, he closed his eyes, and fer,
vsntly besought the protection Of Prov
idence. While thus piousIy engaged.
the door OF his prison was opened, and
4he old woman who had attended him
entered She did not speak, as indeed,
she rarely did, but proceeded To tie the
bandugs over his eyes, by which he
knew that he was going 10 receive n
v:.,S5f,o,s,5 HE r. tn run N force and s,,re