Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-10-12
A KEEPERS STORY.

from the small town of N to
the city of A-,a journey of
about twenty miles. When about
half way between the two places,
a rain storm overlook me, and
made it necessary for me to put
up for the night. / accordingly
drove into a farmyard and reques-
ted permission to stay through the
night. My request was readily
granted, and after seeing my horse
properly cared for, | repaired to
the house with my host, where a
warm supper was awaiting U.S.
-Four rosy checked children were
seated around the table, besides
the matronly looking mother.
After supper | drew up to the
fire to enjoy a smoke with my
new friend. As the man lighted
his pipe, | noticed deep scar that
extended across his hand. On
asking him the cause of it, l saw
my host and his wife exchange
glances, and noted a shadow fit
across her handsome face. After
drawing a Whit or two On his
pipe, he said
"There is story connected with
that scar that | shall never forget;
and even now, as | am sitting here
in safety, with my dear wife and
children around me, cannot re-
press a shudder at what might
have BEEN"
On my saying that l should
like to hear the story, he COM
menced as follows:
81 was formerly a night watch
man in the Insane Asylum over
in A. | had been at my en-
ployment about two years, when
ths incident | am about to relate
happened. My wife and l had
been married about year, and
she had tried to get me to leave
the asylum, and find some less
dangerous employment, as she
termed it. | had laughed at her
fears, but as she seemed so anxious
about it, had promised in one
month more to do IS she asked.
The month had nearly expired /; j
only one more night remained.
had to 60 on my watch at len O.
clock. On this particular night |
was seized with a nervous fear
of knew not what, but still /
felt that so.Le' hing was about to
happen In vain | argued to my
self that | had watched there two
years, and nothing had happened,
but argue as would that shadow
still hung over me. | had three
galleries to go through, apd on
each side of these galleries were
cells in which the patients were
AS | passed along, l
would occasionally see some bouy |
hand thrust through the CRATES,
or some poor fellow would rave at
me, accusing me of-he knew not |
what himself. As / passed into
the third gallery it was With such |
a feeling that | could hardly help |
fleeing back to awaken some of the
attendants; but laughing at my |
idle fears, as then termed them,
| resumed my duty. Passing a
long, l became aware of an uncom-
mon noise in one of the cells in
which a new patient had been
confined. walked along and ,
looked through the CRATES, but saw
nothing out of the way, and was
about passing along when an ago
nized groan passed from the lips
Of the man Oil the straw in the
corner--he was the worst patient,
and we could not give him a bed to
sleep on as he would tear it into
pieces. | Immediately unlocked
the door and passed into his cell.
approached him, leaving my
keys in the lock. As | stopped
over him to see what was the mat
ter, he sprang to his feet, and be-
fore | knew what he was about,
planted a stunning blow in my
ACE, which sent me reeling into the
far corner. The same time that he
struck, he sprang past me through :
he door, and before | could pre-
vent him, had closed and locked it,
making me o prisoner. Then
picking up the lantern, which |
had set on the floor outside, he
leld it up and glared at me with
lis terrible, bloodshot eyes, and /
"Iknow where they put the big
knife, and now that have
got the keys, l will get it, and
leath will be your portion"
"Saying this, he started of,
eaving me in the dark. He was
3 large and powerful man, weigh
ing nearly fifty pounds more than
[ did, and in his present state q