Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-04-07
PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, THURSDAY, APRIL !, 1859

little blue point of light glimmered on the
top of the tube. 1 composed myself to rest
once more. bs Ia - baa sasHe
The room was in total darkness. The
atom of gas that still remained lighted did
not illuminate distance of three inches
around the burner. / desperately drew
my hands asross my eyes as If to shut
out even the darkness, and tried to think
of nothing. 1t was in vain. The con-
founded themes touched on by Hammond
in the garden kept obtruding themselves
on my brain. l battled against them. L
erected ramparts of would be blankness of
intellect to keep them out While l was
lying still as corpse, hoping that by a
perfect physical inaction would hasten
mental repose, an awful incident, occurred.
A Something dropped, as it seemed. from
the coiing, plumb upon my chest, and the
next instantI felt two bopy hands encir-
cling my throat, endeavoring to choke me.
| am no coward, and am possessed of con-
siderable physical strength. The sudden
ness of the attack instead of stunning nae
strang every nerve to its highest tension.
My body scied from instinct, before my
brain had time to realize the terror Of my
position In ali instant wound Two mus
cular arms around the creature. and squeez-
ed it. with all the strength OF despair
against nv chest In few moments the
bony hand that had fastened around my
loosened their hold, and / was free to
breathe once more. Then commenced a
struggle Of awful intensity. Immersed
in profound darkness. totally ignorant Of
the nature of the Thing by which was SO
suddenly attacked. finding my grasp slip
ping every moment by reason, it seemed
to me. of the entire nakedness of my as
sailant, bitten with sharp teeth in the
shoulder. neck. and chest, having every
moment to protect my throat against pair
of sinewy. agile hands. which my utmost
efforts could not con6ne-these were a
combination of circumstances to combat
which itrequired all the strength and skill
and courage that Possessed.
! AT last, after silant. deadly, exhaust.
ing struggle. got my assailant under by
series Of incredible efforts of strength.
Once pinned, with my knee on what made
out to be its chest. knew that was the
victor. l rested for moment to breathe.
| heard the creature beneath me painting in
the darkness, and felt the violent throbbing
of a heart. 1t was apparently as much ex-
hausted as was, that was one comfort.--
AT this moment remembered that l usu-
} ally placed under my pillow. before going
to bed, a large. yellow silk pocket-hand-
kerchief, for use during the night. fel;
for it instantly; it was there. In few
} moments more l had, after a fashion, pin
, ned the creatures arms.
. now felt tolerably secure There was
nothing more to be done but TO turn on the
gas, and, having first seen what my mid
J night asssilant was like, arouse the house
hold. ! will confess to being actuated by
a certain pride in not giving the alarm be-
fore; l wished to make the capture alone
and unaided.
Never loosing my hold for an instant.
/ slipped from the bed to the floor, dragging
my captive with me. I had but few
. steps to make to reach the Gas burner;
these l made with the greatest caution,
holding the creature IN a grip like vice.
At last got within arm 's-length of the
tiny spsck Of blue Eight. which told me
where the gss-burner lay. Quick as light
ming | released my grasp with one Land
and let en- the full flood of light. Then /
turned to look at my captive.
canaot attempt to give any definition
Of my sensations the instant 1 turned the
gas. | supposed ! must have shrleked
; with terror. for in less than minute af-
J lerward my room was crowded with in
! mates of the honse. / shudder now as |
| think Of that awful mement. ISAAC moth
ing! Yes; had one arm 6rmly clasped
round breathing. painting, corporal shape
my other hand grippsd with all its strength
throat as warm. and apparently as flesh
ly as my own; and yet, with this living
substance in my grasp. with its body press
ed agai1st my own, and all in the bright
glare of a large Je: of gas, absolutely be-
held nothing! Not even an outline--a va
por! ab asosenaa .saee.d s siasa
l do rot even at this hour, realize the
situation in which found myself l can
not recall the astounding fact thoroughly.
Imagination in vain tries to compass. the
awful paradox. ASA
j It breathed. / felt its warm breath up
on my check. 1t struggled feicely. 1t
had hands. They clutcbed me. Its skin
was smooth. just like my own. There it
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