East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-02-14
The Dead Arm.
"Do you see that arm?"

withered right arm with the other, ciutch'
ed it a. if he would wiring it from it's
sockets, a. . traitorous member Of his
body. ;,
aThat arm did it, and he glarsd
vsngsfully upon, and shook it fsrcsly.
"Did what?"
"Did murderl 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 osn / live at the most?"
"Three hours-perhaps four"
"Too long to live, but sufficient time
in which to tell you my story. If you
believe it, it will be more than judge or
iury have done. Would you deceive
when on your death bed?"
"My marriage to the girl had long
loved, and who loved me with love ex-
ceeding my most sanguine hopes, is the
point, so far as regards the nice appllca-
biity 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
misfortunes, that, insignificant at their
birth, were gradually moulded together
by extrsnecus contingencies until they
eliminated in an act foul and terrible, If
meditated or intended, that made a
branded felon.
any wife and | never quarreled. We
loved and revered each other to much to
trespass or trample upon what the other
considered sacred. 10 be sure, in mere
lovity and exultation Of spirit we per.
formed acts that, to persons nnacquained
with our circumstances might seem seas
oned with earnestness To such misun-
derstandings, by third person, may be
attributed the origin Of reports that we,
my wife and /, lived an unhappy life--a
life Of turmoil-of blows. Many around
us held to such an opinion, but from mere
ignorant Of the nature Of our lives.
But |, descending rapidly to the
grave, do declare that we never, by word,
or deed, transcribed the bounds of our
great love for each other; or transgressed
those laws that should preserve the per-
son of the wife from blow or contumely.
If it wero possible to exist without jar
ring discord to turn the sweetest sympa'
thies into bitter hatred, ours was that
existence. Yet it availed me not in the
dark day that came upon my household;
but rather offered opportunities by which
to strengthen an apparent guiltness.
"Jessie," said to my wife, one evening,
do you stand on one side of the room
while | take a position on the other
Give me ball of yarn from the basket,
and then whoever is hit with the ball the
greatest number of times, shall make
present to the other. A nice present, Of
course"
off / loose, my present shall be dress
ing gown" said Jessie, "but you know
you'll have to pay for it."
at will be just as acceptable, ! answer.
ed
"But il l losc, you have that ring with
the emerald and pearls"
Then the soft ball Of yarn flew quickly
from hand to hand, we oil the time laugh
ing and talking with great gles. A
knock at the door and an acquaintance
entered, finding our faces all flushed with
the excitement Of the contest, and each
uncertain who was the vanquished. l
declared that she won the ring, and prom
ised to put it upon her finger the next
day; which day, to her alive never came.
About two o'clock that night / was
awakened to consciousness by one OF
those inexplicable preternatural Fremont
tons Of near danger, which are often en-
countered, but generally in sceptical
spirit.
NV mind was clear to reason--not
having it's delicate powers blunted by
sleep. Scarcely were my eyes unclosed
before became cognizant Of the pres
ence of . cold, clan,my nature, by Its
loathsome contact with my face, and by
its presence upon my bosom, whereby i,
nearly stillcd tho beating Of my heart
Naturally, / am no coward; but the
knowledge of the presence of this bur.
den, combined with utter darkness, ere.
ator Of fierce fear, completely unnerved
me, and my body shook like an aspen leaf
The quiet condition Of this body, which
appertained not to myself or my wife
it's mysterious situa.ion--and above all
the moist, chilly contact with my face
deprived me for an instant Of self pos
session. The Gathering Of . blind, OF
the nibbling Of a mouse, seemed like
peal Of thunder to my ears; the over
strained eye saw or seemed to see, ghost
ly shapes pendent from the chandelier OF
bed post.
! dared not shout aloud nor change m.
position in bed for fear that my throa
would be clntchcd by the incubus tha
sat like hidcous nightmare fully dovel
oped into . reality upon my chest.
] experienced such sensations as doe
the strong swimmer or the venturou
diver, when coming in bodily contact
unforewarncd with q corpse beneath tn
rurfaco Of the water-when nature act
like an electric battery, and discharge
volumes Of fear at the slightest move
ment; or like one in the dark, whom on
counters . skeleton.
was peculiarly situated; surroundc'
4 BY an immeusity Of terror; expensive i
. a. much a. it drabed thoughts and me
5 tions iu habiliments that gave them
gigantic appearance; immersed into tn
sea Of dred and doubt, and finally CON
plstslv cowcd by fear.