Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-01-04
ASHTARUTA OHIO SATURDAY JANUARY 4 f06S oJIztrt

was his trusty rifle, his epaulettes and
gleanilng sword, all carefully preserved.
| took that sword in my hand, and shud-
dered to think how many hearts it had
pierced, how many souls had been sent
to a dread eternity upon its point.
Mrs. H often spoke of a cousin of
hers, Young man of brilliant promise,
who had become Incorporate, and for
this had beef expelled from college
From that time his cbjirse was down
ward, and she feared he was swiftly
hastening to 4 drunkard's grave. And
he so young and beautiful, so talented, so
kind-hearted, with such noble and gener-
ous impulses. Oh, she felt as though she
could not have it SO. Could not some
thing be done to save him from fate so
dreadful ? saw this unhappy young
man, and truly he was all that she had
described him. In person tall and com
manding, Il lofty, expansive brow, locks
Of raven hue, features strikingly beauti-
ful, and O, what a world of intelligence
>lumbercd in the dep h. Of those large,
souI-lit eyes Methinks | see him now,
Just as he appeared one evening as he
stood in the midst of a flower garden,
and gazed with rapture on the setting
sun. looked out from my window with
emotions | cannot describe. Suddenly i
heard sob at my side, and | turned to
hear the oft-rep2ated question, "N hat
can be done to save him. Must so much
excellence be lost - left them the next
day, with a promise to call on my return.
Four weeks passed, aHd late one evening
| stood at the cottage door. Mrs. IL
met me with Il cordial grasp ef the hand,
and after bidding me welcome, she asked:
Have YOU heard about cousin William :"
''Nyhat OF him." l asked; elias he re-
formed :" 90, no )" she replied, Gle is
maniac, and it requires two men to hold
him. They have to guard him constantly
After tea that evening, | went out to
call Oh friend across the street. | was
just saying farewell, when Mrs. Il
ran to the door saying, William has es-
capped from his keepers. My husband
has gone to search for him, and l must
60 to his mother. You will not fear to
stay alone few houIs," said she, and
telling me where she had LETT the key, she
hastcilrd away. | fingered few mo-
ments and then returned to my solitary
room The fall moon shone brightly in
/ to tie chamber, and sat down by the
open window to enjoy the beauty of the
night could not sleep until the return
of my friends Ten o'clock rang out on
the evening air, and as the sound died
away, though: heard slight noise in
the closet. I turned my lead. Was it
fancy? or did that crrtain really move?
For few moments gazed,- and listen
ed, when the sound was again repeated.
This time there was no mistake. The
curtain was violently agitated. y
strange sensation stole over me. 1t was
not fear, for did not believe there was
anything to injure me. Itmight be cat
or perchance monkey had escaped from
circns then i'll town, and chosen that
closet for hiding place. Still, feeling
! cannot define chained me to my seat
Some fifteen minutes passed, and there
came a sound like the tread Of q heavy
foot upon the floor.
''N hat a fool amp exclaimed, "to
sit here trembling like coward; I'll
strike light, and see what is there. y
Then, | remembered that | had 10
matches in the room. | arose and turned
towards the door, which | had left open
for a free circulation of air, but at that
moment the curtain was thrown aside, Il
man sprang forth, shut the door, and
placed his back against it. In that posi-
Iion the moon shone full npon his face
1t was William, the maniac In one
hand he grasped the rifle, i'll the other he
braudished that -lnurderouS sword. l
shall not attempt a description OF my
feelings at that moment know of 10
words that would do justice to them.-
To say that was frightened would be
altogether too tame. | believed he i'll
tended to kill me, and the fearful flash CT
those wild eyes convinced me that he en-
loved the torture which the anticipation
of my fate produced. There was no es-
cape except by the window, and mo-
ment's reelection brought the conviction
that there was little to choose between
the stone pavement below, and the point
of that cleaning sword. All hope of es-
cape died ont in nay soul, and looked up
to my God for protection. My faith Ill
Him grew strong us L stood moment
after moment, each one an age of agony,
gazing into those flashing eyes, until my
own seemed bursting from my head. l
remember that l even tried to reason on
the absurdity of my fears. Had l not
looked death in the face once and again.?
When he came and shook his arrows over
nv sick bed, did not welcome him as a
FREUD? Why then fear him now? Twas
but little thing to die. One bitter mo-
ment-one agonizing pang, and then all
would be well. But reason as | would,
could not calm my quivcring nerves, OF
still the leaping pulsations of my bound
inc heart. Every movement of that fear
fuI weapon sent new thrill of terror
through my frame, and my clothes were
dripping with the cold perspiration that
started profuseIy from every pore.
How fast lived i'll those few moments
How quickly my mind ran over the dew
ous track Of my past experience? Ally
whole life seemed spread out before me-
and events long forgotten now shone
. bright on memory's page, as L stood
waiting to be slain; expecting each
breath was to be my last. So ntolera
BILE grew the suspense, | almost wished
he would finish his tiendish work at once