The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-17
3HisrchaR
AN HOUR OF HORROR .

AN HOUR OF AORROBs
The doctor was aroused by sharp
ring Of the bell, and a call TO the house
OF the superintendent of the mill After
seating himself again for a moment OF
rest aud rele lion, his mind was soon at
work. Il being but q short distance to
his patients home, he did not order his
carriage, but, wrapping up aud grasping
his umbrrlla-fOr it was rNining--he
sailed forth, so tired after his hard days
labor with the epidemic that II was with
difficulty his limbs performed their duty.
To reach his destination the railroad
track must be crossed, and as he was
stepping over the track his foot slipped
and slid in between the rail and the
planking, wedging him so firmly that,
with his greatest exertions be could not
stir. He pulled and twisted, pried and
strained, but without avail-the foot was
fast. The next thought was to remove
his foot from the boot, but that too, was
impossible, Il was not the boot only,
but the foot also which was immovable
It would not do to abandon his efforts,
however so he redoubled them, but the
result was simply severe pain and no re-
lease.
Just then his ear caught the sound of
far of whistle The cold prrspiration
gathered on his brow as b. remembered
that the express train was due, and but a
few moments would elapse re II
would rush over the very spot W IRE he
was so firmly fixed 1t seemed terrible
to be doomed to such a death. Again
he tried to free himself, and again and
again, but with no better success
Soon in the distance could be seen the
light Of the engine. o, the agony of
those moments, with death literally star.
ing him in the facel In his torture he
shrieked, screamed and cried like a veri~
table mailman, but no one heard the
voice. Then his past life flashed before
him; everything was mirrored in his
mind. Incidents long since forgotten
were pictured as wildly as though they
had but just occurred.
The Calmness Of despair succeeded the
intense agony OF those few moments,
and with no more writings and groan-
ings, be turned to look at the rapidly
nearing engine of destruction, fascinated
like The bird just ready to fall into the
hungry jaws OF the serpent-eyes glst-
ening, and head bent forward, Whilenearer
ana nearer III rolled.
He had lost all fear, and with SUPER
natural curiosity, watched the light grow
ing larger and larger, sprCulating as to
the length of time he had to live, think
ing calmly of how they would lift his
remains and bear them to the warm,
bright fireside he had lately left, and
wondering what the travellers who would
pour out from the cars in surprise and
anxiety at the detention might say, as
they looked upon the nOndescript mass,
but second before so full OF life and
vigor, and shiver as they turGed away
with the thought OF the ptril all about
every one, made so evident by this acci.
dent guessing with strange indifference
the number Of cars which would pass
over him, VIII ther thy would be Jared
as they met the Obstru. ton meditating
upon the result Of his not seeing the
patient for whom he was called, and
whether the epidemic had at last stalked
into the house OF wealth and luxury as
well as that Of poverty, and who was the
victim. Then back again to his own
situation in life, thanking God that he
had no wife ami children to mourn his
death, and perhaps suffer want for pro.
tector, then asking himself what Ould
be his portion alter death--whetuer eace
or woe. happiness OF misery
His mind few from one subj
another Ike tue lightning on summer
eve, flashing hgre and there, quickly ap
pearing and as rapidly vanishing II
action was almost instantaneous, and as
nearer and nearer approached the time
Tor death the less he thought, an bis
whole being Sc med to centre through his
eyes on that light j. ,reasing in bright.
ness so fast. He = I'D hear the rumble
and roar, could e the swaying of tn.
ponderous lor Aotive, but without feel
ing.
Suddenly as the engineer with his
keen eyes ught sight Of the poor man.
the whistle screamed sharply its warning.
But thoug the brakes were applied, AM
the lever eversed, the momentum was
too great be checked at once, and on
they swep with irresistible force, max
ing certaiI the doom and crushing even
the slight hope that could have found
place.
The sop ID Of the whistle broke tn,
spell, and the terror returned with re
doubled force. Drops Of cold perspira-
tion again stood on his forehead, and with
last despairing, frenzied effort, he
strove to free himself once more. He
failed. The warm breath of the destroy
er came upon his cheek, as with one last
prayer, his arms folded, he looked to.
ward Heaven, and prepared 10 meet his
doom. With a crash he was felled to
the ground, aud the fiery masb rolled over
him.
He awoke. His armchair had fallen
over, and he was lying beneath i, his
head toward the roaring fire. With a
convulsive start ne jumped up, while on
his forehead we're the great drops Of per
spiration that seemed so natural In his
fearful death. He glanced at the clock.
1t had just struck the hour of nine, and
remembering his call to the house Of the
superintendent, after which, so utterly
fatigued was he, he had fallen asleep, he
staEsed with long strides for the neglected
sicR-room. ...
a correspondent of The LondOt,
Field relates that cat belonging to
o neighbor having brought forth her
young within a few yards of a hens
nest, the hen occasionally takes pos
session Of the kittens, driving the
oldacat away With great fury, brood
ing the kittens, andamaking as much
fuss over them as If they were her
own chicks.