National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-07-16
gladness IN song.


for | was almost always thinking OF
her-and / stopped a moment to
kiss the curl Of sun bright hair in
the morocco case that lay against my
heart. 1t had lain there long time
in fact | do not think my heart /
could have gone on with its legiu- /
mate business properly II the goiu-
en- talisman had not rested there 70
keep it warm and true.
I had struck the last stroke and
turned my back upon the canvas 70
gather uD my tools before descend |
ing. when heard crash far below.
| turned quickly, and saw that
my ladder had been thrown down
to the staging, and also that here
was a man beside me on the root.
A tall, powerful man, clad in the
uniform of the inmates Of ST. Mary's
He stood motionless, with folded
arms. gazing at me-a halt smile on
his haggard face-a smile drew his
lips from his teeth, and left them
white and snafling like those OF a
dog
needed but a glance at his wild
bloodshot eyes to feel satisfied that
he was mailman
"A fine prospect, said he, turning
and waving his hand in the direction
of the river don't You think so
faltered forth a trembling affirm,
ative.
He laughed fendishly.
1T makes YOU dizzy to he up So
high. does it? Now, | am never
dizzy. Ny head is as cool and
steady as an eagles. See here!
He stepped out upon the very edge
of the gutter. and stood there sway
ing his body to and fro, but never
taking his horrible eyes from my
face. My blood cu-dled-anothc
step and he would be dashed TO thu
pavement, full fifty feet below
Hal! he cried, coming to my side
lit makes you tremble, does it?
thought of getting you for one ofth
horses to my chariot in which | Al
going to fly to the moon tomorrow
But, bah such a head rs you
would get muddled before You la
flown fifty fathoms into the air, an
we should all 90 to the devil togetl
er See here !! let me give you
lesson in tripping the light fantasti
toe on nothing.'
He seized me 10y the waist, whir
ed me to the end of the roof, an
made me stoop over to see how blac
it was below.
l tried to cry out, but then | Ia
sense enough to know how uScle'
it would be, for cries Of mortal ten
rOr and despair were to common
that dreadful place to be notice.
and might scream for help until
died, and if they heard me the
would think it only the insane ray
ings of some of the patients.
But when | made the effort
scream my tongue seemed to clea
to the roof of my mouth and II
throat was so dry and parchcd th
no sound came beyond sort
cultural tone.
BY mighty effort, tore mysC
from the maniac, and daIted ava
away to the other end of the roe
putting the great chimney betwc
him and myself.
1t was only a moments respi
for instantly he was upon me
eyes glaring like coals-his f
livid, and his breath sweeping oN
me, hot and savage, like that of
iufuriatcd wild beast.
He closed with me, and tried W
all his might to draw me near TO
edge of the roof. With one han
grasped the Lightning rod, and h
on with the persistency OF dcspai
with the other clutched his thrC
determined never to yield but W
life.
lie threw me down and lay NJ
me, crushing my chest beneath
weight, and sitting my breath "
his horrible embrace. Slowly
my strngth giving way-l 60
breathe only with the greatest d
culty-in few moments it wo
be all over with me.
| should never see Minnie agai
never feel her soft hands on
head or hear her sweet voice cal
me the old familiar names of
love and trust. Va, ~ ! won
cd how she would bear the II
when il came 10 her-wondeic,
she would kiss my dead face q
had seen women kiss the faces
those they had loved wond,
il she would weep and moan q
my shapeless remains, as poor u
Harison's young wife wcpt
moaned over him when they bror
him to her presence, the crus
mass rescued from the ruins OF
terrible explosion at the lOcomo
works only Il few weeks prcNi
lou deem il strange that sh
think of such things. ! tell YOU
there are times in mems lives v
thought works quick, and We
an eternity IN few moments.
DO YOU like i'll Kissed
t0rnentcr in my ear. DO
enjoy my embraces! AIN IN q
tomato fellow, natural, only pc
treat me ~ roughly that ! {
showmy love. Look here, my d
don't you want me to kiss \
Aud he touched my face with
horrible lips, cold and clamm,
the body of A snake.