Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-05-21

of the lamp, l saw rude apartment,
about tifleen feet high, and having no
other outlet than that by the garret where
we were. At first l could perceive moth
ing, and told wolfgang so,
Look closely" said he, In low voice
"do you see what looks like bundle Of
clothes in one corner9 1t is old Catha
rine Wogel, the spple.woman
He had not time to finish, for a sharp
angry cry, like the howl of a cat in agony,
was heard, and an enrsged being sprang
up, and seemed trying to climb up the wall
with its nails.
More dead than alive, with the cold
sweat starting from my forehead, | drew
back, crying, "Oh, 1t is horribleW
"Did you hear il ?" said Woifgsug, his
face lighted up with an internal Joy.
Wasn't it the cry of a cat Ha ha
Yes The old woman has been both
cat and panther. Yes yes Hunger
and thirst work wonders, can tell you"
He did not look at me he was enjoy.
ing his Internal triumph. The bowling of
the poor old woman had ceased and the
maniac, laying his lamp down upon the
table, added, in explanation
"This is the fourth day of her fast. l
enticed her here under pretext of selling
her some kirsch-wate | made her go
down into that room, and then | shut her
in. The first two days the human soul
was strong in her She prayed, she i'm
plored me, she protested her innocence,
saying that she had never injured me in
any way then she loaded me with re-
proaches denounced me rs a monster and
a wretch, and called down upon my head
the curse of heaven. The third day, which
was yesterday--We Wednesday-th human
soul disappeared altogether Hunger was
strong, and she began to NEW and howl
like cat. Luckily we are in an out of
the way place, for last night you would
have thought that there was regular bat
tie of the cats-the cries would have made
you shudder. But, now, KSsper, when
the animal soul shall be extinguished, do
you know what will come then? The
vegetable soul will have its time, and II is
the last 1t has been noticed that the
nails and hair of the head grow while the
body lies 10 the grave. In the same way,
there is formed in the opening of the skull
kind Of human lichen, which is thought
to be q species of moss, engender by the
Juices of the brain. At last, the vegetable
soul itself will die. 50, you see, Kasper,
that the proof of three souls is com
plete."
These words struck upon my ear as the
rawlings OF maniac. The cry of Catha-
rine Wogel pierced to my very marrow.
| seemed to lose all knowledge of where
was, or what had happened. But, all of a
sudden, waking from this moral stupor,
| sprang up, seized the maniac by the
throat, and dragged him toward the lad
der.
"Villain /" cried l, how have you dared
to raise your hand against your fellow
creature to satisfy your infamous curiosity?
will give youup to justice u
He was so much surprised at my attack
for To him his act seemed perfectly limo
cent-that at first he offered no resistance;
and I dragged him easily to the ladder
But there turning on me with astonishing
quickness, he in turn seized me by the
throat, lifted me from the floor, and with
one hand held me tight against the wall
while withthe other he opened the door of
that terrible hole. Seeing his intention,
made frantic effort to break away, but in
vain, for he seemed endowed with super
human strength, After desperate strug
| gle felt myself again lifted off my feet
and hurled into space, while in my cars
rang these strange words:
$50 perish the rebellious flesh SO tri-
umph the immortal soulr
There | lay, bruised and exhausted on
/ w
the heavy door was closed on me, shutting
out the grayish light of the garret.
Caught thus, like rat in a trap, my
CONSERVATION was such that l uttered nOt
single cry. Slowly raising myself up,
and leaning my back against the wall for
support, "Kasper," said |, with strange
calmness, "now you must either devour
the old woman or else be devoured by her.
Make your choice! 1t will be only lost
time trying to get out of this hole. Wolf.
gang has you in his clutches he will not
let you GO The walls are stone and the
floor is of oak no one saw you cross the
quarter of the Tanners no one would
think of looking for you here. 1t is finish
ed, Kasper-it is finished. Poor Catharine
Wogel is your last resource; or rather
you are the last resource the one to the
other"
All this passed through my mind like a
flash and, when at the same moment the
pale face of Wolfgang, with his little lamp
appeared at the opening above, l tried to
supplicate him, but only stammered horri
bly,, and not word came from my trem'
bling lips.
Seeing this he began to laugh; and, in
the silence, / could hear him saying,
"The coward he implores me-"
This was my finishing stroke. | fell
face downward on the floor, and it was
only the fear of being attacked by the old
woman that kept me from swooning. She
however, had not as yet moved, or in the
least manifested her presence. The face
of WOlfgang was withdrawn; but could
hear the maniac walking to and fro in his
garrett My ear was so quick that the
81 ghtest nose did not escape me. heard
the old woman utter kind of yawn, and
turning round, l perceived for the first
time her eyes glittering in the darkness.
At the same time Wolfgang descended
the ladder; and counted his steps one by
one until they died away in the distance
Where was the wretch going knew not
but through all the day and following
night he did not return.
IL was not until the morrow, at about
eight o'clock in the evening, at moment
when the old woman and myself were
shrieking to make the very walls tremble
that he came back. had not once CLOSED
my eyes during the night. no Longer
felt either fear or anger, but only de
vouring hunger, which knew would in
crease all the time.
When heard the faint noise in the gar
ret became silent, and looking up saw
by the brightness coming through thu
opening, that Wolfgang was lighting hi
lamp 1 doubted not that he would COM
to see me; and with this hope prepared
a touching supplication. But the ligh
was extinguished and no one came. Thi
was the most fdghtful moment of all.
! seemed to feel my hair whiten upon m,
head-which it really did at this very mo
! ment-untll at length my agony becam
such that lost all consciousness
About midnight [ was aroused from
: this stupor by feeling something toucl
) my body started up from my position
with disgust The old woman had ap
preached, urged on by hunger. Her hand
were on my clothes, and at the same me
, ment the cry, as of a cat, filed the place
and sent cold shiyer through my whOl
!, body. expected she would attack m,
but the poor wretch had not strengt
enough left this was her fifth day
Then the words OF Wolfgang returne
! to my mind A" AS soon as the anims