The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-05-20
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1869.

ton of the noise had, in great measure,
the effect of stupefying me, for my atten-
ton, being no longer occupied by the CHI
meras l had conjured up, began TO flag.
All that now distressed me was the con-
slant expectation of the second ringing,
for which, however, [ settled myself with
kind Of stupid resolution. l closed my
eyes, and clenched my teeth as firmly as
if they had been screwed in vice.
At last the dreaded moment came, and
the first swing Of the bell extorted a groan
from me, as they say the most resolute
victim screams at the sight of the rack,
to which be is for a second time destined.
After this, however, L lay silent and Ieth-
argie, without thought. Wrapt IN the
defensive armor of stupidity, defied the
bell and its intonations- When it ceased,
I was reused little by the hope of es-
cape. l did not, however, decide on
this step hastily, but, putting up my hand
with the utmost caution, | touched tho
rim. Though the ringing had ceased,
it still was tremulous from the sound, and
shook under my hand, which instantly
recOiled as from some electric jar. A
fore / again dared to make the expert
ment, and then l found it at rest.
determined to lose no time, fearing that |
might have lain then already too long, and
that the bell for evening service would
catch me. This dread stimulated me,
and l slipped out with the utmost rapidi>
ty, aud arose. stood, l suppose, for Il
minute, looking with silly wonder on the
place of my Imprisonment, penetrated
with JOY at escaping, but then rushed
down the stony and irregular stair with
the velocity Of lightning, and arrived in
the bcll-;ingers' room. This was the
last act l had power to accomplish.
leaned against the wall, motiorless and
deprived Of thought, in which posture
my companions found me, when, in the
course of a couple of hours, they returned
, to their occupation.
They were shocked, as well they might,
at the figure before them. The wind of
the bell had excoriated my face, and my
| dim and stupeiicd eyes were fixed with a
lackAlustre gaze in my raw eyelids. My
hands were torn and bleeding; my hair
dishevelleG; and my clothes tattered.-
They spoke to me, but / gave no answer
They shook me, but l remained insensi-
bic. They then became alarmed, and
| hastcned TO remove Inc. He who had
first gone up with me in the forenoon, met
them as they carried me through the
churchyard, and through him, who was
shocked at having, in some measure. oc-
casioned the accident, the cause ofmy mis-
| fortune was discovered
l was put 10 bed at home, and remain
ed for three days delirious, but gradually
recovered my senses. You may be sure
the bell formed prominent topic of my
rawlings, and if heard peal, they were
| instantly increased to the utmost violence.
Even W hen the delrium abated, my sleep
was continually disturbed by Imagined
ringings, and my dreams were haunted by
the fancies which almost maddened me
while in the steeple Time cured this as
it does most Of our foIlies but even at
the present day, if, by chance, my nerves
be unstrung, some particular tones Of the
cathedral bell have power to surprise me
into a mOmentary start.