The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-09-03

hearty" said a burly man who stood over
him. while another had bound both his
hands and feet together before he could find
words or breath to remonstrate "You
thought you were going to give us the slip,
hey? Come, it isn't worth while to cut up
like that, you know, unless you want the
straight jacket brought out"
"Straight jacket" !" gasped Tripler, "what
do want of straight jacketY
"Nothing; unless you behave yourself
unruly like. Steady, then! Tom bring up
the wagon"
"Where are you taking me to? ?" remon-
strated our hero, as he was tumbled into u
one-horse wagon.
"To the asylum, to be sure, where you'd
have been two hours ago if you hadn't been
a little too spry for tho stage driver and your
keeper"
Light began to dawn on the troubled chaos
of Mr. Triper's much bewildered mind,
"It's all mistake, my good fcllows-a
ridiculous mistake" he exclaimed, "Im not
a mailman !"
"No, of course not; we know you are
not, responded the larger of the two with a
wink to his companion-"Drive on, Tom"
'But am not indeed; you are mstaking
me for somebody else-a man who just
forced me to exchange hats and coats with
him, and went down into the woods--he is
the madman %
"Oh, no-I guess not, said the big keep
er with fearful attempt at pleasant irony
"My good men you are laboring under
some very singular delusion, demonstrated
the victim, trying to speak plainly between
the iolting of the wagon and his own excite
ment. 81 am Mr. Nathan Tripler, of No.
-, John street"
ooh, yes" said the keeper, lighting {
cigar, yesterday you was Napoleon Bona
parte, and to day you are Nathan Tripler
and to-morrow-likely as not, you will be
the king Of the Sandwich Islands. I've
heard this kind o'talk afore."
Trpler'5 heart began to stand still witt
underlined horror. Was this hideous dream?
or was he actually to be immured within
the high stone walls of the asylum he had
so often walked past with feeling Of dread
and horror beyond all description the life
long victim of some scarce credible mis-
take In vain he reasoned, argued, protest
ed; his words fell on the unheeding ear, Of
his two conductors like drops of pattering
rain on the stormy surface Of Table Rock
until at length he was carred-more dead
than alive-into a narrow apartment at the
end of long row of similar ones.
1t was lighted and ventilated by an iron
grating in the door, with a corresponding
window high up on the wall, and furnished
| with only narrow couch and a stand built
in the wall and there Mr.. Nathan Tripler
released from his conining bonds, was lef
to enjoy the uninterrupted society of his owl
cherries meditations.
at can't be possible. / must be ASLEEP
and dreaming /" thought Nathan.
But it was possible and he was neve
wider awake in his life
Towards evening, pitcher of water an,
a piece of bread were dealt out to him. Mr.
Tripler ate it under sort of mental protes
to relieve the gnawing sensation of faintnes
that was at his vitals.
"What would give for one of Dorothy
hot biscuits" thought the wretched captive
"My poor little Dorothy! have been to
hard upon her. Suppose should die with
out being able to tell how ashamed | am {
being such brute
1t was not the dry bread that choked Nj
than Tripler just then-it was the humilil
ting sense of his own sins and shortcon
ngs.
Next morning it was bread and watC
again. Nathan thought Of Dorothy's despise
coffee and grumblcd at steak,
"Pve deserved it, thought Nathal
there's no mistake about that. Poor darlin
little Dorothy. How her heart is achiu
for me now. ! wish | could stroke down hC
hair just once, "Oh, it's hard to be treatC
so, even though know | am served exact
right If | ever get out of this hole aliy
Dorothy will find me changed man."
The confused current of thoughts was ia
eddying vaguely through his mind whC
there was a sound of steps and voices in Il
long corridors without,
81 suppose they are going to put on
strait-waist-coa now," thought Mr., Triple
with a resigned air. "Well, there's nothir
left for me but to endure, / don't think L
mad but how long | shall hold out sal
under these interesting concatonation Of ci
5 cumstances is rather doubtful question" t"