The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-22
EBENSBURG, PA, THURSDAY, JULY %, 1869

my neck, but not upon the gallows; no
no! Some weeks ago tried to kill you,
but it was already too dark to take good
aim, and you escaped.
"The letters you have perussd are noth-
ing but forgeries. My mother has been
dead these four years, and the girl Annie
is only creation of my brian ~
His voice seemed to lower to a whis-
per Hs he continued:
fThey will say that you have been .
villain, that you fed few days before
the day set for the wedding. Minna will
be very unhappy, and will do my best to
cheer her up. She would have loved me
had you not crossed my path with your
fne talk and soft nonsense which won her
affections.'
Again he stopped.
"Two minutes more," said he, after a
pause, during which he looked at his
watch eyes, two minutes more and your
soul will leave its miserable body Please
give my best regards to his Satanic Ma
jesty. Tell him that sooner or later [
will join you in the fiery regions below.
Your eyes are closing now, your face has
the hue of death, your limbs are getting
cold yes, cold as ice! -
felt the touch of his hot hand upon my
face. 1t seemed as if a thousand needles
were entering every part of my body a
red blur obscured my vision, and it was
becoming darker and darker. I felt as if
something was pressing upon my head,
which now seemed to leave my body my
breath became shorter and shoIter-alI at
once it stopped. l felt, as L counted the
beatings of my hsart-one, t,Oo, three,
tSsr, ,sUs, sir! Then all was oblivion.
1 Iopened my eyes, that's, felt open
ed them, as not q ray of light fell upon
the pupils. Darkness, impenetrable
| darkness, was around me. Was in the
gravel made an effort TO stretch out
my hands. ] succeeded. They moved
through water, which now felt was ed
dying my neck.
Whore was II Surely, it was not a
dream for was thoroughly awake.
raised my right arm to my head, and my
hand came in contact with an iron rod
upon which my head was lying. Again
! the question passed through my mind ;
! ''Where am 7"
Soon, bat too soon, the question was
answered
Hark ! heard the the sound of a
distant voice. 1t came nearer and near
! er-yes, my ears did not deceive me-
1t was the voice of George, our night
watchman.
He was singing song. The words of
the refrain came distinctly TO my ears:
fAnd fer bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and die!''
1t took all my strength to raise myself
into q sitting position. I stretched out
my arms. My hands came in contact
with cold iron. felt that WAS sitting
upon something that lad . cylindrical
shape, and the water was now only up to
my waist.
All at once tie horrible truth came up
! on my mind Great God of Heaven |
was mad Mol no, not mad but 1
felt that lunacy in the shape of terrible
spectre was approaching me-for the
| question was answered:
81 Tas imprisoned ,Vitiin the steam, boil
er I''
began to shout:
"Help! George; for Gods sake,
help !"
But my voice sounded like that of q
mufied bell. Then / commenced to
pound with nay fists upon the iron. Sure
ly, George must hear that, thought I.
But MOI he was whistling Yankee
Doodle.
Once he stopped, and thrill of JOY ran
through me. Then he began again.
felt my way to the head Of the boil
er, for now ] heard that he was opening
the furnace doors. i knew we'll what be
was going to do. Soon heard scratch
ing sound-he was lighting match
Then 1 heard the rustling of shavings
which he was throwing into the furnace.
This was shortly followed by cracking
sound.
| ''He has lit the fire, and I tciH be boiled
aliUe. :" thought /, again pounding and
scratching against the sides Of the boiler,
in the vain hope of making myself heard.
felt not the pain, but felt that the warm
blood was dropping from my lacerated
knuekles and torn nails. listened. The
sharp, cracking sound Of the fire became
lower and lower. Again I had hopes
the fire had gone out, and knew that the
watchman had gone to bed, for the lights
ing of the fire was his last duty at five
o'clock in the morning. also knew that
the fireman would not rise until half past
five. Twenty, perhaps twenty min
utes, and then he would come and relight
the fire.
''Thirty minutes, and then must die!''
folded my hands F; 1 prayed to God as
had mover prayed before. I recalled to
my mind a prayer my mother taught me
when was child, and holy calm came
over me, for surely, thought !, He who
sees the sparrows fall will not desert me
in my present need.