The Shasta courier., 1869-05-29

enrased at having to repeat the warning
NY throat was compressed painfully in
tnat herce grippe; there was anger in it.
a thrill OF horror again shot through me-
Again the bottle fell from my trembling
hands and was crushed to fragments upon
the stony pavement.
Again l raised my hands to my throat
though in deadly fear, but the motion was
mechanical natural and involuntary eff
fort to tear away the thing that had seized
my throat-to free myself from the pain
and horror of that mysterious grasp
Again then | raised my hands, and again
| felt there under my touch, plainly and
unmistakably tho long, hard, bony hand
which had felt before. One touch was
enough. My hands fell down. l tried to
shrek, but in vain. grasped for breath,
and thought that would be sufocated.
But at length the grasp slowly and un-
willingly relaxed. breathed more freely.
At length the touch was no longer felt.
paced the streets for a long time At
first every vistige of my appetite had been
driven away by the horror of that moment.
As time passed it began to return. Once
more | felt the craving. True, fear of
another attack was strong, and for long
time deferred me; but at last the craving
grew too strong for the fear.
Nerving myself up to desperate pitch
of resolution, l rushed back to the shop
where l had last purchased the liquor.
" See here!' | cried " Pm crazy for a
drink | broke that bottle Give me a
glass, for Gods sake-only one glass"
Something in my face seemed to excite
the mans commiseration. He poured out
glass for me in silence
With trembling eagerness reached out
my hands to seize it. With trembling
hand l raised it toward my lips. The CRATE
full fumes already entered my nostrils.-
My lips already touched the edge of the
glass.
Suddenly my throat was seized with a
tremendous grasp.
1t was as though the Power which was
tormenting me had become enraged by my
repeated acts of opposition, and wished
now by this final act to reduce me to SUBJ
lection forever.
1t was as if this Power was using with
me the means of coercion which one uses
with dog, viz: beat him for each offense,
and each time harder till he is cured
This time the grasp was terrible, it was
fercer than ever, quick, impetuous.
ln that dread grasp my breath ceased.
struggled. Ny senses reeled. raised
my hands in despair. l felt again the
bony fingers. 1 moved my hands along
bony arms.
In my madness l struggled. I struck
out my fists wildly. They struck against
what seemed like bony ribs.
The time during which thus struggled
seemed endless. The horror that was up
on me cannot be told.
At last all sense left me.
When | revived l found myself living
on rude bench in the bar 1t was early
dawn. No one was near. All my bones
ached | rose up confusedly, not knowing
at first where | was, but soon the terrific
event which had overpowered me came to
my memory.
| rose to my feet, and tried to get out.
The noise that | made awaked some one
inside. He called out to me.
Halo there Are you Off"
Yes," | said.
wait, I'll let you out"
He appeared in short time.
You had bad turn" said he, not un-
kindly. You had better take care of your
self, and not be out at nights"
thanked him and left.
When | reached the house nv wife
walked up and looked half fearfully at me.
Amazement came on her face as she saw
that | was sober. l kissed her and sat
down in silence.
She looked at me in wonder Tears fell
from her eyes. She said nothing, but 1
saw that she was praying.
AS soon as the shops were opened went
out and managed to procure some food
which brought to the room. l then de-
parted to go to my employment. Through
the day l felt an incessant craving, but my
horror was SO great that l would far rather
have cut my throat than risked having that
hand there again.
AS the days passed the horror remained
undiminished. 1t was simply impossible
for me to seek for intoxicating drink. l
dared not do it.
My wife said nothing. saw, however,
by her soft eyes, the gentle JOY Of her face,
and the sweet, loving smile with which she
welcomed me home, how,deeply this change
bad affected her.
Weeks passed and gradually the crav-
ing lessened. Yet so vived was the re-
membrance of that dread experience of
mine that my horror remained fresh and
unabated. l dared not.
Thus forced to be sober, my circum-
stances improved daily. There was no
longer any danger of want. Comfort came,
and peace, and pure domestic joy.
Remorse for the suferings which I had
caused to my sweet wife made me more
eager to make amends for the past, that so
| might efface bitter memories from her
mind. The revulsion of feeling was so
great that she forgot that had ever been
unkind. made no parade Of reform. l
made no promise and no VOW Nor did
she ever alude to the change. She showed
her Joy in her face and manner She ac-
cepted the change when it came and re-