Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-23

with iron, through which the daylight
shone, as if through the ribs of a skele-
ton, and every night-would you believe
it-every night there came a fearful
shape and sat there, mOcking and bow
ing at me in the moonbeams! That was
hell, indeed. One night, when l could
bear it no longer, 1 rushed upn the
shape, and fought and struggled with it,
and dashed it up against the hard walls.
And then the keepers came and tore
me from it, and bound me down with
cords upon my bed. 1 heard them say
to another that had tried to destroy
myself; but l knew better. 1t was the
shape 1 tried to kill. Only they could
not see it. Yet there it still sat, mock
ing, mocking, mocking, all the long night
through; and they watching in my room,
and they so blind that they could not
perceive i'll l do not know how lon g
this fury of mine lasted, but l think it
must have been weary time. At last,
one night, awoke from troubled sleep,
and lol the shape was gone! All! then
1 wept for JOY that 1 was free from it,
and then l was proud-very proud-for
it was gone, and l had conquered it al
lastt Well time went on, and l solved
1 would escape. How do you suppose
1 went to work? Why Ipretended to be
cured of MY madness. Every day the
doctor came to see me. But not me
alone; could hear him going to every
room along the corridor, and so l knew
when he was coming long before he got
to my door. 1 must deceive him,
knew, as well as anybody else. Oh, il
was a hard task, l did it. The worst of
my madness was that l could not help
! thinking of the oldest things, and when
L talked my tongue would utter them
However, schooled myself TO talk TO
him. l practiced in a calm, low voice
studied what to say-accustomed my
self TO rise and bow, as il he were enter
ing the room. l did not speak much,
| but was reasonable in conversation. ]
used TO say that 1 felt better--was tired
of confinement; and hoped shortly 10 be
permitted to return home, and sometimes
Chat suas a clever thought asked anxi-
ously after my wife. One day she came
to see me. You cannot think what an
effort her visit cost me. She looked SC
pale, and timid, and pretty, that day!-
And l forced myself to sit down by her;
to say 10 her all the things had learned
to say to the doctor, to take her hand in
mine, at the same time longing to kill her.
Bat I did not--no, even kissed her cheek
at parting, though waning to yell aloud
with rage while bending over her. Don'I
know whether they suspected me still,
but was not released for all my pains
Determined TO be i'll; knew the doctor
would find me out if it was only preten-
ded; therefore starved myself Ha! ha!
wasn't that fine? This is how it was
done. Every day, instead of ealing the
food they brought to me; half of it was
put under loose board, and half left
Each day more and more was left, SC
thatii should seem as if my appetite grew
constantly worse. And then l got ill
only ate a moIsel now and then, to keeu
me from dying. The suffering was fear
ful, but my part was well played. and
the doctors eye met one as quiet as his
own. AT last he ordered my removal tC
another part of the house. He said thai
fresh air was necessary to my recovery.
And then didn't laugh, even though Sc
very i'll, to think how he had been out.
witted. My new room was pleasant, ant
looked over gar len. At the end of iht
garden was railway, and this was my
chance to escape. All! what Joy to bt
flying along behind that eager engine
flying away, away, and never stopping
Money was necessary TO do this, bu
where was it to come from? You vii
see presently. Did mot mean to die, yor
know; ate more and got better; it is no
every one, let me tell you, that is brave
enough to endure starvation. MadmeI
are no towards! Well. they used TO le
me walk in the garden after a while, bu
the keeper always beside me. By-and
by the doctor began TO speak of my re
lease as a thing that might be in time
and then-then, although the end wa
almost within my grasp, an irresistabl,
power urged me 10 escape, and not wal
for their tame deliverance. Day anC
night waited and watched to do it.
The opportunity came soon. On,
morning while walking with the keeper
in the garden, who should come cut bu
the doctor, and what should he do, tn,
senseless fool, but order the keeper to g
in. Oh, how my heart leaped and dane
ed within me when he said il. But
kept very still and calm, listening to th'
mans footsteps on the gravel walk till h,
was quite gone. The railway crossed
the bottom, and towards this spot vi
went carelessly, as if by accident.
"This beautiful day will do US good
Mr.. B." be said to me, in a smooth, de
ceitful voice: