The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-03-09


enrobed in ihunder-see"
| Ileaped from the ground /; I gazed q
him.
He threw of his hat wildly, and il fel
lar down in the abyss. He flung of hi
coat and threw il away.
"Syinor," said !, in hopes that mild tone,
might make him calm" Signor, the winds
obey you. Let US co."
$50! Where! Is moi this my home
Il mol this my palace! Saw you. not my
servanisl You are my gues,!'
"Will you not 81, down and tell me
about your home ~ said I. shuddcring.
| No, there are secreist that can never be
spoken. Can you unde,siand them : Whs
are you, a mortal, that you dare 10 ask ~
walked slowly towards the narrow pas
sage Of land, the bridge. Blu, he saw me
and stood upon It. could not 20.
Scan all this be pleasantly % thought l.
An awful thought passed through me (which
froze my hearts blood
Pleasantly! There he stood, my wild
companion, his eyes blazing, fxcd piercingly
on mo, his hands clenched, his mouth foam.
ing: every sinew in bis body worked up
He stood, screaming. laughing! o, God
was alone with maniac I!
"You 60 with mo-"
Where !"
"There; have como to carry yon to my
home" He pointed with cold snaky smile
down towards the unfathomsble abyss
whence ascended the terrible column oi
inky and sufocating smoke.
-..o,l h:.x. e.. a. -. .x...1 .Io,n
of fascination in his classy stare which fore.
ed me, compelled me to gaze. There was q
cold smile upon his lips, which were all
bloodless, and disclosed, rs they parted. bis
mouth and tightly shut teeth.
There 10 my home-thero and come
to take you with me, Ha! ha how hap
py you will be. Come !"
Still gazed while my heart throbbed
with slow and terrible pulsations.
He advanced one step towards me.
looked all aroand. The spell was brok.
en- which enchanted my gaze. looked all
around at the blue sky above, at tho scorch-
ing earth beneath. There was no hope
Oh! could but leap the space which sep.
nrated me from the main cliff! Could
bu, do il-but ! could not There was no
hope
"What do you not answer % he cried,
suddenly lashcd Into fury by my silence, and
stamped his foot in frenzy upon the rock
f" Do you not answer! Then must carry
you with mo !"
The maniac sprang toward me
With all my energies reused into frantic
action; with evory sinew braccd and mus.
Gle contracted planted my foot backward
against small angular rock which projected
above the loose, sandy soil, and endeavored
no meet the shock. With wild scream,
which arose thrilingly into tho mir, his eye,
all bloodshot, his mouth foaming, on b,
came. lie struck me /: his arms surrounded
me in fearful embrace his hot breath
zane burning upon my cheek. stood firm
for despair and all the bitterness OF death
had given no place to fear and timidity, bu,
had bestowed upon me the coolness Of one
in nm ordinary situation. threw my len
arm henenth his. my right passed over his
neck and around upon his back, thus seek
ing to press him to tho earth.
1t was moment of horror, such as no
mortal tongue can tell. A struggle with n
maniac 10 be on snail surface of rock,
whilo three thousand feet beneath lay the
aby IS of untold horrors At this hour my
heart beats more lorcibly even as I think up
on the time.
Thus we stood, breast to breast, face to
face, the mailman and Tho with his arms
encircling me, seeking to save myself
He pressed mo toward the edge of tho cliff
He plunged his feet deep into tho ground,
he laughed mockingly, and screamed; as he
tried TO destroy me. But against the rock
my feet were firmly braccd. and held him
tightly, and sought to hurl him from me !
as we'll might the hungry tiger DO hurled
from his prey.
Oh the agony Of that struggle! know
not how long It vas, but to me, It seemed
like many hours. The wild eyes Of the
mailman glared ut mine all the time, and /
foun II impossible to look away. His fear.
ful face all white. all ghasly, was upturned
towards me ,as he shouted with his fiendish.
mocking laughter
10, Heaven! o, horror Can this, will
this endure forever !" cried /. in the agony
of my fear. The maniac howled with deri
sive shouts. felt that was growing weak.
or. But he was maniac and would he
grow weaker alsol A thousand thoughts
fed through me.
Suddenly the mnniac gave one fearful
plunge. IL was with the strength ofa giant
that he seized me. He ruised me from my
feet. The rock, the saving rock, had lost
til was gone. threw my hands high
into the mir, and my scream oftcrror ascend.
ed in unison with the nanisc's mocking
yell.
I" Down down ! to the bottomless pit !!
To the home Of Gre and birthstone to the
endless horrors of burning lakes |" he
screamed as no gave bound forward to the
edge OF the Cliff
Inspired by sudden gift Of superhuman
strength by partial possession Of even
madman's power. caught him by the
throat, and even on the very edge, even
when in sight OF the abyss. I sprang back !;
bore him back bore him to the ground.
Falling heavily upon him. ] held his throat
still in ierc" prasp, while his. own arms
werc wound tightly around my neck. and
his legs around mine. I felt tho hot breath
from his open mouth, A. my cheek lsy press
ed acainst his face. heard them crate
harshly, and drew my head violently away,
as he sought 10 seize me with bis teeth.
In our frantic struggles on the ground, wo
rolled wildly about, and the dust from sui.
phur and from pumice stone ascended around
us in suff,cating clouds. l. was half insane.
I was struggling for life. / caught up q
handful OF the 6ne choking dust and rubbed
il violently over his open mouth. Il went
into his nostrils and lungs. He gave jerk
forward in agony Amid the clouds OF dust
arnund could not SEQ where we wers. he
held my hair as he sprunc n moment after,
and fcariul force was slraiuing there An
other moment and I rose wild and high