Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-05-02
81 gutsrsstins stsrr.
Al RAILWAY PANIC.

one OF our large American cars Two
persons only in a carriage on rail-
road are not frequently found in this
country. In England the case is diff
fsrent. The writer begins her story
with this apt quotation:
"If this were played upon a stage.
now, I could condemn IL as an improb-
able fiction. Trslfh Night.
"Do you think | look like a mad
mani"
was falling into train Of pleasant
thought when these words, uttered in
a clear, steady voice by my opposite
fell upon my ear. | started
and looked him in the face. lie was
a small. saIlow, intelligent-looking
man. muflled from head to foot In a
superb Spanish cloak lined with sables.
His tone OF voice was perfectly COM
posed and matter-of-fact.
Indeed. sir" l replied, with some
surprise. "no such idea occurred to
me-"
"But I am mad, thought" he re-
iorted Ia the same quiet, confidential
way.
| was in no humor for leviIy Just
then, and as this was so evidently an
astsmpt at practical joking. | made a
brief reply to that effect. and looked
out Of the window. Il was an express
train. going at the rate Of Fifty miles
an hour: every moment bore me fur
ther from one who was inexpressibly
dear TO me. and / felt that never
wished for silence and solitude mVre
than at that moment. The worst Of
il was that. II this man had mede up
his mind TO talk. lcould nothelp hear
ing him, and there was no one else
for him to address. since we were
alone together In the carriage.
"Yes." he continued, II really am
mad. ! have just escaped-just es-
caped-not an hour ago. Shall tell
you how / did it?'
/ continued TO look out at the land
scape flying past, and feigned not to
hear him.
II was not always mad; o, dear,
mol I do not exactly remember now
what il was that drove me TO Il, but |
think II was something connected with
Lord Palmerston and the ace Of clubs.
No-yes-0. yesl the ace OF clubs had
certainly something 10 do with it,
However. that is OF no consequence
now. had fine house, and gar
dens. and horses, and servants. and a
wife-ahal such pretty, gentle, low
ing little wife! And | loved her. too
nobody knows how loved heron
ly wanted to murder her. Iloyed
her so that / wanted to murder herl
Wasn't that rare joke. eh?"
Ibegan by this time to feel serious
ly uncomfortable. II was getting
slowly dusk. and my companions face,
composed as it was, wore an odd ex-
preston that / did not quite Ike.
"Pray, sir" said. with Affected
carelessness, ''let us change the sub
ject. II you insist on converting with
me, we may as well choose more
agreeable theme
Agreeable Why. could anything
be more agreeable? Well. l will con-
tinuc II was a long time before they
found Il out. ibid it so we'll; but knew
Il well enough. for | used to see IA.
ces everywhere. In the furniture, up
in the trees, In the bushes; and knew
they could not really be there, aud that
l was mad at last: for had always
expected IL, ny. ever since / was boy
at SCHOOL, Somehow they did find I
out. though. in spite ofall my caution
and I was so cautious. so cautiousl--
They found II out, and one day tive
men came and seized me in my gar
denny own garden! and took me 4
the mad-housel o. IL was a dreary
place, that mad-housel They shu
me up by myself in q bare. cold room
with never FIRE to wa, m me, though
IL was bitter winter. The window
were barred across with iron. through
which the daylight shone. asif through
the ribs Of a skeleton; aud every nigh
would you believe it?--eyory nigh
there came fearful shape and sa
there, mocking and moving at me Il
the mocnbeamsl That was hell in
deed One night, when | could bea
il no longer. rushed upon the shape
and fought and struggled with IL, an
dashed Il up against the hard walls
and then the keepers came and tor
me from IL, and bouud me down wit
cords upon my bed. heard then
say 10 one another that | had to dc
ssroy myself: but I knew better;
was the shape | struggled with
was the shape tried TO kill 0nl
they could not see Il. Yet there
still sat, mocking, mocking, all th
long night through; and they waIchin
Ia my room, and yet 50 blind that the
could not perceive III | do not kno'
how long this fury Of mine lasted. bu
! think Il must have been n wear
time. AT last. one night. wolS
: from n troubled sleep. and loi IN
shape was gonel Al then wcpt fe
Joy that | was free from IL. and then
was proud. very proud. Tor Il va
gone, and | had conquered Il at las
Well. time went on, and 1 resolved
would escape. How do you suppos
| wen. 70 work. Why, | prolendc
10 be cured Of my madness. Ever
day the doctor came 20 sec mo. Bt
not me alone, | could hear him goln
70 every room all along the oerrido
and 10 1 anew when he was eomln
long before he got 10 my door. imul
deceive him. | knew, as well ea g,
efybody else. O. IL was hard tasl
bat ! did il The worst OF my mat
mesa was. that | could not help thlnl
Ing Of tho oddest thIaes, and when
talked my tongue would after then
However. | sehooled myself 10 talk
him. pfaeileed speaking In ealn
How voice. stadIed what 1 should "a,
| | accustomed myself 10 rise and bow
II = i. . -. a