The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-06-15

weight prifOTm VapOrS. Here was no an
no vapor-no motion-oo sound no atmos-
phere-to produce either of these active
agents Of the universe. No. Death was
far away, yet | felt as il the very silence
was killing me- The buzzing of fly, The
hum of 4 bee. or Tue sound of that mysteri-
cuS insect whose peculiar imitation of n
time piece gives il the name of The ''dead-
watch even that superstitiOus pleasure
was denied me.
There came a change. sudden as it was
alarming. The brain began To throb. Tie
heart heat ir unison. | iels its deep pulsa-
ton: | heard its deep. heavy thu'i against
my breast. THIS say | heard. for II WIS
part of myself. No Other sound outside of
my own person could have reached me
there. felt pain ia my head and brain ::
not an ordinary pang, bat one that struck
at the base of reason. Death was coming
Welcome And | laughed ihe wild un-
meaning laugh of the mauiac. And Yet |
WAS not mad; but so near il that bad not
reason told me il was approaching apopl"Xy,
| would have been raving, Welcome apo
pIeXy II, however, came not rolled
over and over in my limited cell scream
ed | yelled and shouted for help, and yet
all the while | Vas pIefectly conscious of
what was doing, Death was playing with
me Ipaycd 700, but did not curse. No,
no; for if | am t. die--thus | reasoned
let me die in peace with God. These
thoughts. the result of MY early religious
education. kept my soul Intact with Him
who had the best right to it,
entpavot ed 10 bc calm. Strove TO reason
myself in'o patience. AID wait 'he coming
day. DaY alas what to me was day?
For here all was night. But reason failed.
II had no argumcn5 10 cnmiute facts. -
Death WAS here and | had to meet it. But
how Alas alas that mystery was yet
~, b. \ ~ III so Silpllf-
that my faculties were benumbed. ] Ee-
member wondering if the voice of the De-
ily could be heard iU that dreadful place.
Was this blasrhemy? Perhaps it was
hut was moi then accountable for either
my wnIdS actions. was, for the mo
mrnt, mad
look of my coat and marie pillow of
it. Sleep! Oh! il could "niy ~.eep, aud,
i'll fuI sei ifuirc>>, escape the horrors OF my
waking moments. S,eCp WAS impossible.
IhcIe WAS u cons'AGl O'jZE'ng IL my ears,
acute paius in my heao-d vertigo that
drove ne again 40 my fee,, a0d Ieuird
round he l'Itieed space III Il whl h1ig ior
life. | struck my head aoaids, ihe side OF
,hc safe. ] frl 40 pain, for ,he'e was mad
ness 'lt my ac!s. with just sufficient reason
~ add 10 the horrors Of my situatj"u.-
Whas could do now bnt ave aud yell,
calIing fur hclp. we'll know lag there WAS
Ne help ~ hand Why did my senses re-
main to inliure ne thus? ? Why not go
mad aud commit some feaifrl act to END
my misery , BuCausr | in tire hands
Of Ono who had issued iiis canon against
scU-slaUehier. | rus ed to him. ] S'aI,-
cd 40 MY feet My head struck the Top Of
The safe, and ! WAS da>lied back again 80
The floor Again | shouted. again | laid
Hat on my face aud called on death 30 CONE
aud eud my woes. TIE shout was eChoc"
| in low. rumbing sounds. ,hen died away.
leaving the silence fcufuid eItater. Liz
I The d,s1 5ucSs preceding some great Shuc"
/ of nafu. e. ifS iHtenSCucss could be jrt. !
1 fcls it-fel, j: - MY bear,-lel, - on riy
, brain, vas pressing NE iu ded'h.
Had no,h!ug ciNe 70 think az but my
self? Reader, have given nv own ueH
! Ia aud ,ilSSical ST .ieTIug> While eHtomOt a.
/ was 40, selfish even ! anaiyZed my own
! feelings. aud seemingly fprgo, others out
! de ,,f ,he tomb What. desci i5r other
( sensations sensations that spIung from
! pictures could moi bring my mind 10 con
! template? Pic ules OF home of wife amd
/ child en-fiicudS- all these seemed, in my
/ state. as only adding to my misery, Tor l
; was doomed and they were fnr ,he time
/ being happy. J kept those pictures back.
! l even macrifed my suffering 50 that
! memory might be silent. | could NOT con
! template in nay excitement two diSt inct
/ events Therefore settled al my thoughts
: fixed III my energies one uaicc1-soif
. pre~eIy ion. | won al strive tn lve-lIve
/ for hose who were even now wondering
why WAS uut with 'hcm. ieader, /
81 rove as i,atd 81 forget wife and children
ana K I'D ed aud friends ~ do 20 intsser
my dread # ,he huIIlbie denth awaiin2
me Understand ne. No ulte placed as
was could think ar ihe past present Di
/ future with amy degree Of caininesS. The
reasoning facul les srccumbcd io physical
excitement ! they became aniasoui,tjc
and III hnngh eudeaVored q st'lari q II iIr
fwo, | uecame moie confused. | cuGld
) think pr nuttiing but nay position. DeY"ud
,hat, If | attempted 4 ga, ! fnrcsaw mad
ness. So, ia avoid all that. | cetielrd Al.
! my lbougi.ts pn one qua pose-se}f pieSer
va Ion. 70 accomplish ihiN. gould not.
! even IN thought. 90 beyond my prison
house. Why procced-w!iy even a temp
to- describe lie SuiIrrjngs ] underwent? !
: raved | serreched. fell on The llJp', rose
/ again, reeicd in nadieniug fury arnupd
my living ,umb. ! even medithed self
destruction. | argued the point win
death. | quoted Az iolitIe> 10 prove tia,
suicide was jus liable ~ some cases. dnt
/ nine WAS a case in poiut. My mind.
weakened a. il was, besijated to grasp al
this mode of ending ll:c, &ll iiiogc Cams
uu at tidt moment. small, child hke
voice, saying: "Hope-hope on Was
il voice ur was l.. merely imagination
corjurrd mp sounds to soo he me? '.iIope!
] started new light seemed io enter my
soul, and Illualiu.,e the Cimmeri:in dark
hess surrounding me The reaction canSt
by the siIange phenomena was too much
f1I my strength. ] lost all Consciousness
and fen as if dead.
1
How 10 Q lay thns had noknonl ledg i.
Whcn ca et myself i, nas TO hear dua
sound as il some ohe was striking he safe.
Was help AT hand ? 1hei came n grating
sound --Iiteu came a lol'lrr sound. if
from the ex plGsldm of gunpowd deE-a fash.
rs oG lightning. II came into tie safe and
for an Instant The whole space was iliuoi-
mated. What eGuid it mean? Was It =
dream? No! no reality The safe
door was thrown open, and rs J rolled oHt
on the iloor Of he counting house | again