The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-11-14
A Keepers Story.

i. business called me from the little
town of N to the city of A,
journey of about twenty miles. When
about half way between the two places,
rain storm overlook me, and made it nee
essary for me to put up for the night. |
accordingly drove into farmyard and
requested 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 warm supper was awaiting us.
-Four rosy-cheeked children were seated
around the table, besides the ma,ronIy
looking mother
After supper drew up the fire to en-
joy smoke with my new friend As the
man lighted his pipe, | noticed a deep
scar that extended across his hand. On
asking him the cause of it, | saw my host
and his wife exchange glances, and noted
a shadow fit across her handsome face.
After drawinga Whit or two on his pipe
he said
"There is a 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 repress a shudder at what might
have been"
On my saying that | should like to
hear the story, he commenced as follows
g was formerly night-watchman in
the Insane Asylum over in A.. l had
been at my employment about two years,
when the incident am about to relate
happened My wife and had been
married about year, and she tried to get
me to leave the asylum, and find some
some less dangerous employment, as she
termed it. had laughed at her fears,
but as she seemed 50 anxious about 1t,
had promised in one month more to do
as she asked The month had nearly
expired only one more night remained.
[ had to 90 on my watch at ten o'clock.
On this particular night | was seized
with a nervous fear of knew not what
but still felt that something was about
to happen. In vain | argued to myself
that had watched there two years, and
nothing happened, but argue as would !,
that shadow still hung over me. had
three galleries to 90 through, and on each
side Of these galleries were cells in which
the patients were confined. AS passed
along, | would occasionally see some
bony hands thrust through the CRATES or
some poor fellow would rave at me, ac-
cusing me of-he knew not what himself.
As passed into the third gallery it was
with such feeling that | could hardly
help turning and fleeing back to awaken
some of the attendants; but, laughing at
my idle fears. as | then termed them,
resumed my duty Passing along, be-
came aware Of an uncommon noise in one
of the cells in which a new patient had
been confined. | walked along and look
ed through the CRATES, but saw nothing
out of the way, and was about passing
along when an agonzed groan passed
from the lips of the man on the straw in
the corner-he was one of the worst pa
tents and we could not give him bee
to sleep on as he would tear it into pieces
| Immediately unlocked the door anC
passed into the cell approached hin
leaving my keys in the lock. As | stoop
ed over him TO see what was the matter
he sprang to his feet, and before | knew
what he was about, planted hard blow il
my face, which sent me reeling into thu
farther corner The same time that b,
struck, he sprang past me through tn,
door and before could prevent him haC
closed and locked it, making me prison
er. Then picking up the lantern whicl
had set on the floor outside, he held i
up and glarad at me with his terrible
blood-shot eyes, and muttered
90 know where they put the BIZ
carving-knfe, and now that have go
the keys, will get it, and death vii
beyour portion.
"Saying this, he started of, leavin
me in the dark. He was large an
powerful man, weighing nearly fft
POUNDS more than | did, and in his pres
ent state a match for two like me /
vain | tried to think OF some way of e'
cape; there was none. The window wa
strongly grated; the door dozen me
could not move. thought of my dea
wife and darling innocent babe, and tear
would come in my eyes in spite of all
could do. What would she say when
was borne CHASTITY, bleeding corpse I
the house. Sometimes | would try
hope he would forget me, and not |conl
back, but reason told me better | trie
to pray but instead Of having my min
on what | said, was continually lister
ing for his returning footsteps At lai
they came nearer, and as he came in sigl
noticed he carried long carving kni