Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-04-07


with agony.
just then Hammond entered my room
at the head of the household. AS soon
as he beheld my face-which, 1 suppose,
must have been terrible sight to look at
he fastened forward. crying.
GOOD Heaven, Harry what has hap
pened?"
Hammond Hammond I" l cried,
''come here. Oh this is aw ful have
been attacked in bed by something or 9TH
er. which l have hold of; but can't see it
II can't see it "
Hammond. doubtless struck by the un.
feigRed horror expressed in my counte-
nance, made one or two steps forward with
an anxious yet puzzled expression. A very
audible litter burst from tie remainder of
my visitors. This suppressed laughter
made me furious To laugh al human
being in my postlion L was the wors
species of cruelty. -Nog, l can UNDER
stand why the appearance Of "A man sllus
Cling violently. i, would seem. with an al
ry nothing ami calling for assls anca
/ against vision. should have appeared ii
diculous. TAen, SO great was my rage
against he mocking crowd that had the
power would have stricken them dead
where they stood.
/ Hammond! Hammond" | cried agaiR.
despairingly "for Gods sake come to me-
| can hold ths-the Thing but short
while longer. 1t is overpowering me-
Help me. Help me!''
Harry whispered Hammond, ap-
preaching me. "you have been smoking
too much opium to night
i swear TO you. Hammond, that this is
no vision answered, in the same low
tone. Don't you see how it shakes my
} / whole frame with ks struggles? If you
, don't believe me convince yourself. Fee
r it-touch IT,
t Hammond advanced and laid his hand
in the place l indicated. A wild cry Of
t horror burst from him. He had felt it!
| In a mome7t he had discovered some
where in my room long piece Of cord,
and was the next instant winding it, and
knotting it around the unseen being that
clasped in my arms.
: Harry he said, in horse, agitated
} voice, for. though he preserved his pres
ence or mind, ne WIS deeply moved, -IIar-
, ry, it's all safe now. Yoa may let go. old
: fellow. if you're tired. The Thing cam
move
was utterly exhausted. and gladly loos
: ed my hold.
, Hammond stood holding the ends of the
cord that bound the Invisible, twisted
round his hands, before him, self support
' ng, as it were, he beheld rope laced and
interlaced, and stretching tightly around a
vacant space. never saw a man look SC
S thoroughly stricken with awe. Neverthe
e less his face expressed all the courage anC
determination which know him to pos
sess. His lips, although white, were Sc
: firmly. and one could perceive at glance
that, although stricken with fear, he was
, not daunted.
The confusion that ensued among the
guests Of the hoase, who were witnesses
of this extraordinary scene between Ham
moad and myself--who beheld the panto-
) mine of binding this struggling Something
who beheld me ai,nost sinking from
s. physical exhaustion when my task Of Jail,
er was over--the confusion and terror thai
took possession OF the by ISLANDERS. when
: they saw all this, was beyond description.
Many of the weaker ones fed from the
apartment. The few who remained be.
hind clustered near the door, and could
not be induced to approach Hammond an d
, his Charge. Still incredulity broke out
through their terror. They had not the
courage to satisfy themselves. and yet they
: doubted. 1t was in vaia that ! begged Of
some of the men to come near and con-
vince themselves by touch Of the existence
of a living being in that room which was
} invisible. They were incredulous. but
, did not dare to undeceive themselves
How could q living. breathing body be
!, invisible? they asked. My reply was this.
gave sign to Hammond. and both OF
us--conquering our fearfnl repugnance to
touching the invisible creature--lifted it
from the ground, ulanacled as it was, and
took it to nay bed. Its weight was about
that of a boy of fourteen.
i Now my friends I said. as Hammond
and myself held the creature suspended
over the bed, 4 can give you self-evident
proof that here is solid. ponderable body
which. nevertheless, you cannot see. Be
good enough to watch the surface Of the
bed atteutively..' z s'
] was astonished at my own courage in