The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-04-02

rlght IN your neck, hecp very sun anu
don't stir | know what would happen,
and so do you, ii you stirred or spoke a
! word"
Good God These were hideous words;
but the glare of the mans eye, as he came
round front of me, was apa,ling. could
not have uttered syllable if had died
otherwise.
"Now," said he, "listen, but dent
move" he pressed the fat blade against
my throat. as it b, way Of warning. Il
don't like this. | Gait stand it. I'm
going! And so help,rue God, if yon Lift
Il finger to stop me, or make one noise,
both Of US will lave to die | would a
little rather not hurt you; but--remen,-
Der p
He sprang away and caught up my hat
and coat, which lay near, still keeping he
razor in his hand The moment its fright
full contact was removed, my luertnesS
vanished l leaped up, seized the chair
III which | had been sitting, AID shouted
Justify. He turned upon ne like IL
ger.
"Ah, you will have it, then - he cried,
and rushed toward me.
| thrust him aside with the heavy
chair, and lifting it high in the air,
brought it down crashing upon him. lie
sank for a second, but quickly rose again.
He was heavier than |, and twice as
strong. | suppose. Persons who have
thus been in positions Of great danger
will not be astonished to hear that for
got, after my first cry, to call out at all.
| thought only Of defending myself
This state of things did not last a quar-
ter of minute He would have beaten
me down soon enough, had | not, in
sheer desperation, made use of rick
which had once before seen succe. sfuIIy
employed. moved my eyes suddenly from
him, and stared wildly Iuto the space be,
hind him, pointing at the same time be-
hind him, and in the same direction with
my arm. By a lucky chance pointed
to the window. ..-- - ...
| think that movement saved my life
He stopped, irresolute. glanced at the
window flung bis hands over his head,
gapcd as if he were choking, and, dash
Iug the raz r against the stone wall, fell
tren. bling upon hs knees As STEPPED
quickly acruss the floor, he called out to
ue:
Don't 90. don't go!' he said. "Stand
at the door il you choose. but wait min,
ute. Its all over now and perhaps if
YOU hear me, you wont wouder that was
driven mad" ...
hardly knew how to act but as in
voluntarily checked my steps, he contln-
ued: - .......
Look cut that window, sir, and you II
see. Just over the road, a woman with a
cI,id in her arms, standing III "a door.
way. That's NY wife aud baby-my
ppor wife ana baby. She doesn't know
Fan here-thank Ged for that came
here under u wrong name, aud SuppoSe>
IN far away at sea. I'm sure It would
break her heart to know the truth
Well, sir that S nv home. I've seen it.,
aud I've seen her, every day BOW, these
three months 1t used to make me crazy,
but | bear it better now but this chance
this great chauce-was toe much for
me. And to think tIat came near los
ing all hope Of seeing her again -
Could ! doubt those struggling sobs
and tears? There Was truth in every
tone. | looked through the window, and
saw. as he tod ne, woman standing on
a threshold opposite, wi h little child.
She tossed it up laughing y once or twice
aud then disappeared.
You won't trast me, know" said
the prisoner "but | want to beg you
not to let the warden know OF this. It's
no use, know. Well swear that III
be true to home after this Nothing but
three years solitary confinement now,
aud who eau live through that? =? No, no;
you'll let this 60 by, won't you? You
mqy believe me-you may Indeed" j."
! Feet shuthing along tile passages an
rouuced the rctu'n of NY compauions.-
The prisoner endeavored to calm himself,
and | put on an air Of urcUncern which
| think Was very successful under the
circumstances.
Not shaved yet 2" said the warden,
astonished If he had known how close
shave | had been through
Il have broken my razor" said John
son, looking appealingly at me. See,
sir | must have another"
"Very we'll" said the warden. "wilI
you wait 2" he asked me.
Il think not, said I. "Another tiue
will do for me-
So wiped off my face and we went on
our way. +.
Of course I was bound to tell the war
den what had happened; bat even in
LIT rrnnt tnn.n1t &c linh natnrallu fol.