The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-11-24
Grin and bear it, l suppose.

this ~
There's no way out"
If there's a way in there's n way out
and for Heavens sake let me out of this
But the dreadful figure made no fIrthe
answer, and glided backwards by his shoul
der to the rear and others appeared il
view, each with a faint red halo round it
staring on him with frightful eyes, images
all in hideOus variety, of eternal fury or de
rision. He was growing mad, it seemed
under the stare Of so many eyes, increasing
in number and growing closer every mo
ment, and at the same time myriads anC
myriads of voices were calling him by hi:
name, some far away, some near, some from
/ one point, some from another, some from
| behind, close to his ears. These cries were
| increased in rapidity and multitude, and
mingled with laughter, with fitting bias
phemies, with broken insults and mOcker
les, succeeded and obliterated by others
before he could half catch their meaning
All this time, in proportion to the rapid
ity and urgency of these dreadful sights
aud sounds, the epilepsy of terror was
creeping mp to his brain, and with long
and dreadful scream he lost consciousness
When he recovered his senses, he found
himself in a small stone chamber, vaulted
above. and with pOnderOus door. a sin
gle point of light in the wall, with strange
brillancy Illuminated this cell.
Seated opposite to him was a venerable
man with Il snowy beard ofimmense length
an image OF awful purity and severity. He
was dressed III coarse robe, with three
large KEYS suspended from his girdle. He
might have filled ones idea of an ancient
porter of city gate-such spiritual cities,
| should say, as John Bunyan loved to de-
scribe
This old mans eyes were brilliant and
awful and, fixed on him as they were, Tom
Chuff felt himself hclplessly in his power.
At length he spoke
"The command is given to let you forth
for one trial more. But if you are found
again drinking with the drunken, and
beating your fellow servants, YOU shall re-
turn through the door by which you came,
and 90 out no more"
With these words the old man took him
by the wrist and led him through the first
door. and then unlocking one that stood in
the cavern outside, he struck Tom Chuff
sharply on the shoulder, and the door shut
behind him with a sound that doomed peal
alter peal of thunder near and far away, and
all round and above, till it rolled off cradu
ally into silence 1t was totally dark, but
there was tanning Of fresh cool air that
Overpowercd II IN. He felt that he was in
the upper world again
In few minutes he began to hear voices
which he knew, and first a faint point of
light appeared before his eyes, and gradu-
ally he saw the flame of the candle, and.
after that, the familiar faces of his wife and
children, and he heard them family when
they spoke to him, although he was as yet
unable to answer
He also saw the doctor, like an isolated
figure in the dark, and heard him say
There now, you have him back. He'll
do, think"
His first words, when he could speak
and saw clearly all about him, and felt the
blood on his neck and shirt, were
wife, ioreie me, I'm changed man.
Send for t sir"
Which last phrase means, Send for the
clergyman" ,, .,,,.r.., mn.
little bedroom where the scared poacher,
whose soul had died within him, was ~
ing. still sick and weak, in his bed, and
with Il spirit that was prostrate with ter
ror, Tom Chuif fcebly beckoned the rest
from the room, and the door being closed,
the good parson heard the strange con-
fession, and with equal amazement the
mans earnest and agitated VOWS of amend
ment, and his helpless appeals to him for
support and counsel.
These, of course, were kindly met, and
the visits OF the rector, for some time, were
frequent.
One day when he took Tom Chuff"s
hand on bidding him goodbye, the sick
man held it still, and said:
"Ye'r vicar o Shackleton, sir, and if
sud dee, yell promise me a'e thing, as l a
promised We Il many. L a said Ill never
gle wife, nor barn, nor folk o no sort,
skclp nor sizzup more, and yell know o
me no more among the slippers. Nor
never will Tom draw trigger nor set a
snare again. but in an honest way, and
after that yell no make it boOtlesS bene
for me, but ben' as say, vicar o Shackle-
ton, and able to 60 as We list, yen no let
them bury me within twenty good yerd-
wands measure o. the aid beech trees
that's round the churchyard of Shackle-
ton"
a see. you would have your grave, when
your time really comes, good way from
the place where lay the grave you dreamed
Of"
That's Jest it, I'd lie At the bottom o
rGerlpit litferl And I'd be laid in anithel
church yard just to he shut . my fear o
that, but that a my kinsfolk is buried be
yOnd in Shackleton, and yell gle me yel
prone and no break yer word"
Il do promise, certainly. I'm not likely
TO outlive you; but if should and still be
vicar of Shackleton, you shall he buried
somewhere as near the middle of the
churchvard IA we can find space"
"That'll do"
And so content, they parted.
The effect of the vision upon Tom Chun
was powerful, and promised To be lasting
With a sore effort he exchanged his life o
desultory adventure and comparative idle
ness for one of regular industry. He gave
up drinking; lie was as kind as an origin
ally surly nature would allow to his wife
and family; he went to church; in fine
weather they crossed the moor to Shacklc
ton Church the vicar said he came there
to look at the scenery of his vision, and tt
fortify his good resolutions by the re
hinder
Impressions upon the Imagination, how
ever, are but transtory, and a bad mar
acting under fear is not free agent; hi.
real character does not appear But as thc
/ images Of the Imagination fade, and the &C
ton of fear abatcs, the essential qualities
of the Ilan reassert themselves.
So after time, Tom Chuif began t.
grow weary of this new life /; he grew lazy
and people began To say that he was catch
ing harcs, and pursuing his old contraban'
way of life under the rose.
He came home one hard night, will
signs of the bottle in his thick speech ant
violent temper. Next day he was sorry
/ -. n.
fox a week or more, something of the oil,
horror returned, and he was once more OF
his good behavior But in little tim
came u relapse, and another repentance, am
then relapse again, and gradually th
return of old habits and the flooding in @
all his old way of life, with more violenc
and gloom in proportion as the man wa
alarmed and cxasperated by the remen
branse of his despised, but terrible, warn
ing.
With the old life returned the misery {