Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-05-24

with faculties too steadily balanced to de-
stroy himself. Ponder and think over
the matter as would, I could arrive at
only one solution in regard to the mys-
tery:I had read of, and even treated,
patients who, from constant dwelling OF
the mind upon one subject, had become
monomaniacs to it. 1t was evident the
Doctor had in some way become i'm
pressed with the idea he was to die that
night at ~, and, though perfectly sane in
all other respects, believed it was to be
so. Satisfied this was the reason of the
Doctors strange assertion, g shall die to-
night as that clock strikes 49," rose
from my chair, and advanced to the man.
tie to look at the clock, whose face now
indicated quarter offs. The timekeeper
was entirely different from anything
had ever seen; it was of pure white mar
ble, bound at the Gamers with bands of
thick yellow gold, and engraved with
strange characters, cut deep into the
marble at the sides and front. Two
golden serpents lay coilcd around its base
and their jewelcd eyes flashed a wicked
light as paused before the mantel.
A thought struck me: "Would it not
be good plan to set the clock back a
few minutes, and then when the hour of
12 arrived prove to the Doctor by my
watch, an excellent timepiccc which he
had often admired, that his clock was
wrong, and as he hour had passed, he
would have to set some other night for
dying?'
This looked as if it would cure the Doc
tor OF his strange fancy, and, opening the
front of the clock, placed my finger on
the hand and moved it slightly. Great
God! shall I ever forget that cry? 1t
sounded in my ear like thunder-clap; it
was woman's voice, if voice it could be
called, and the agony in it could never
have been suffered on earth. The shrek
died away in long, sobbing vail that
echoed through the room like despair
ing cry of a lost soul might sound.
My hand at the first cry dropped from
the clock, and, as staggered back, to my
excited eyes the golden snakes seemed
alive, writhing in fury. 1 even imag-
ined could hear their angry Kisses and
the lurid fire of their baleful eyes flashed
and sparkled in thousand colored
flames!
Terrified, I resumed my seat, and as
did so, the glass door of the clock closed
Of itself with sharp snap.
I have heard the cry ofraving maniacs;
1 have heard the cry of broken heart
but never before had heard, and I pray
l may never again, such a scream as the
one that echoed through the room as l
laid my hand upon the clock.
What cOr11 II rooon2 Wo, - ,,o,c:l, \ ,
the Doctor had some mad woman locked
in his house? But no, it was not proba-
bic. I touched the silver bell standing
on the table, and, after some delay, the boy
Qucto entered.
What was that cry, my boy:' asked
the lad as he stood before me.
Il have heard no sound, Senor," replied
the boy. -
"Al. never mind Il supp6se 1T was some
one in the street, said 1, half ashamed OF
having called the boy.
Queto departed, and was once moro
alone.
A strange feeling had come upon me
l took book from the case, and, as dld
so, the clock struck 8. The sound made
me shuddcr.
l lighted another cigar, and opened the
volume. Its title was, "Thc Dreaming
Dead, an old romance, weird and mys
tical, written by some German author
long since passed away. Fascinated b,
the book, the time flew quickly, and tho
clock chimed 8 as the door opened an6
the Doctor entered.
"Back at last!' he exclaimed, as
looked up; "did you get tired of wait
ing"
mo; the time has passed quickly; b,
the way, Doctor: did you hear that strang,
cry that rang through the housc?' As
asked this question observed the Doc
tors face narrowly.
II have heard no y,'rcplied DR.. Var
gravc; what was it likc?'
| described the shrek as we'll as
could, but it was evident the Doctor hat
heard nothing.
My friend, have but short thrc,
hours to live," said my companion sud
denly; are you ready to hear my story?'
" twas twelve years ago, one bright da,
in May" commenced my companion
that stood on the deck of vesse
leaving New York, bound for trip hal
for business and half pleasure,
Among the isles of Antilles, that southwar,
! stretch away
In one long emerald chain of beauty gay
"'I had just left college, and was full
of the enjoyment of youth, finding pleas
ure in everything. 1 had embarked fo
the voyage full of delightful anticipa
tions in regard to the country was abou
to visit. I had read of the wonderful
beauty of some of these islands, witt
their tropical fruits and flowers, and nov
l -''as to visit them. 1t is needless to tel
you of the voyage, which was short, an,
without event. arrived at my destina
tion, and almost the first thing I did afte
stepping on shore was to succumb to
violent attack of yellow fever
"Hovering between life and death,
lay for many weeks, totally unconsciou
OF what was passing around, and whe
once again, with reason restored,
opened my eyes, I thought I had die,
and passed away. I lay in large room
whose walls, composed Of bamboo, wer
hung with tropic vines and flowers c
every hue and size. Through the ope
door a cool breeze from the sea found il
way, bringing with it the fragrance of
thousand flowers. A fountain at one en-
of the room threw stream of sparklin
water high into the air with a musics
murmur, and by my side a maiden sa
who, as 1 stirred and was about to speal
laid cool hand on my forehead and san
a tender, dreamy song. Her voice
"'Was like chime of silver bells
Whose sweet, sad music floats upon the al
Whose plaintive soothing melody GIBBS an
6Wells
In one long song, harmonious, rich and rare
! Weakened by my long sickness, I la
with half-closed eyes wondering
"'My soul was an enchanted boat,
Which, like sweeping swan, did float
Upon the silver waves of her sweet ingins
II shall not weary you with the d,
tails of my recovery; it was complete, sh
was soon able 10 walk out and enio
the novelty of my position. During m
sickness I had been cared for at the res
dence of Don Roderick Morales, a higl
born Spaniard, who resided on the islam
an old friend Of my fathers, and it W.
owing to his attentive care 7 had rncn