The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-08-31
The Dead Arm.


raised himsdlf to a sitting posture in the
bed, with much labor, and raising his
withered right arm with the other, clutch
ed it as if he would wiring it from its
socket, as a traitorous member of his
body.
"That arm did it," ard he gIared
vengefully upon it and shook it fercely.
"Did what 2"
"Did murder. Put me here to live q
buried life for ten long years. Oh! how
long they have been. | have counted
them hour after hour in my cell. How
long can live at the most ?'
Three hours-perhaps four"
Too long to live, but sufficient time
in which to tell you my story. If you be-
iieve it, it will be more than Judge or jury
have done. Would you deceive when on
your death bed -
My marriage to the girl | had long
loved, and who loved me with love far
exceeding my most sanguine hopes, is the
point, SO far as regards the nice appica-
bility Of the past events to the present
certainties, at which my narrative COM
mences. Dating from the day of that
marriage, there begins succession Of mis-
fortunes, that, insignificant at their birth,
were gradually moulded together by ex-
traneous contingencies, until thew culmi-
mated in an act foul and terrible, if medi-
tated or intended, that made me brand
ed teon.
MY wife and never qusrreled. We
loved and reveIenced each other too much
to trampie upon what The other consider
Ell sacred. To be sure in mere levity and
exultation of spirits we performed acts
that, to persons unacquainted with us and
our circumstances, might seem seasoned
with earnestness. To such misunderstand-
Jugs, by a third person, may be attributed
the origin Of reports that we, my wife and
|, lived an unhappy-a life Of turmoi-of
blows. Many around us held such an
opinion, but from ignorance of the nature
of our lives.
"But |, descending rapidly to the grave,
10 declare that we never, by word or
deed, transcended the bounds of our great
love for each other; or transgressed those
hours that sould preserve the person of
the wife from blow or contumely. If it
were possible 10 exist without Earring dis
cord, to turn the sweet sympathies into a
bitter hatred, ours was that existence
Yet it ayailed me not in the dalk day that
came upon my household: but rather af-
| torded opportunities by which 10 strength
en- an rpparent outlines.
Jessie, said | to my wife one eve
ming, edo you stand on one side of tie
room while | take a position on the 9th
er. Give ne a ball OF yarn from the bas
ket, and then whoever is hit with the ball
the greatest number of times, shall make !
present to the other. A nice present, o.
course"
"If lose, my present shall be dress
ing gown" said Jesse; " but you know
you'll have to pay for it.
1t will be just as acceplible," an
swered. " Bat if | lose, you shall have
that ring with the emerald and pearls"
Then the soft bail of yarn flew quick
ly from hand to hand, we all the time
laughing and talking with great glee. A
knock at the door and an acquaintanc,
entered, finding our faces flushed with tht
excitement OF the contest, and each uncer
tain who was the yanQuisbed. | declared
that she won the ring, and promised t.
put it upon hel finger the next day
which day to her alive, never came.
About two o'clock that night, [ wa
awakened to consciousness by one o
those inexplicabIe preturnatural premoni
tons Of near danger which are often en-
counterod, but generally in skeptica
spirit.
my mind was clear to reason-no
having its delicate powers blunted b
sleep. Scarcely were my eyes unclose,
before | became cognizant of the presenc
Of a cold clammy nature, by its loathsom'
contact with my face, and by its presenc
upon my bosom, whereby it nearly stilIec
the beating of my heart. Naturally an
no coward but the knowledge of tn
presence of this burden combined will
utter darkness, creator of fierce fears com
pletely unneryed me, and my body shool
like an aspen leaf
The quiet condition of this body
which appertalned not to myself or m
wife-itS mysterious situation-hnd abov,
all-the moist chilly contact with my face
deprived me for an instant of self possess
ion. The Gathering of blind or the nib
bling of a mouse. seemed like a peal 0
thunder to my ears tie overstrained ey'
saw or seemed to see, ghostIy shapes pen
dent from the chandelier or bed post.
81 dared not shout aloud or change
my position in bed for fear that my throa
would be clutched by the incubus that sa
like hideous nightmare fully developed
into reality upon my chest.
81 experienced such sensations as doe,
the strong swimmer or venturous diver
when coming in bodily contact, unforo
warned, with a corpse beneath the surface
of the waler-when nature acts like al
electric battery, and discharges volume;
of fear at slightest movement; or like one
in the dark who encounters a skeleton.
Il was peculiarly situated surrounded
by an immensity of terror expansive, in
asmuch as it draped thoughts and mo
tions in habiliments that gave them g
gantic appearance immersed in the sea o
dread and doubt, and finally completely