The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-02-28

/ God only knows from whom | inherited
such fiendish passions, such damning
! hate and bitter animosity towards any
who had injured me; but these thoughts
all coursed through my brain, and instead
! of sitting the fever which was now fast
! heating my blood and aggravating my
bitter passions, seemed further irritating
all the worse feelings more and more.
1t seemed an age | waited; but firm to
death, | neither spoke nor cried,
although my sufferings were indescriba-
BILE. At length just saw the upper part
of Georges body bent around the stump,
and then | drew back the hammer of the
rifle, and drawing the butt to my shout
| der as best | could in my uneasy posi-
/ tion | prepared to aim. Up he rose
quick and suddenly, and the moment he
did so my finger drew back the trigger
and sent the ball whizing toward his
head. This last effort cost me all my
strength, and falling back on the snow,
my ears, heart and very soul were
pierced through and through by the
most horrid scream of pain | ever heard,
and then all sense vanished from my
mind, all light from my eyes, all feeling
from my body, and | seemed as dead.
had tainted.
One morning | awoke as from horrid
dream, and remembering nothing of the
occurrence before narrated, | attempted
to raise my hand to my head, which was
now aching badly, when l discovered
possessed not the least power of motion,
and | could speak no word save a whis-
per | made slight ejaculation, and be-
! fore the word was concluded, George
was standing beside my bed, tears run
/ ming down his face, and his eyes almost
! starting from his head God be thank
/ ed, jim, YOU are yourself again, said he,
I as soon as he discovered | was sensible of
his presence, which | could only assure
him of by CHASTITY smile, being too
weak to speak.
Do you know how long you have
been ill?' he asked
( | replied with my eyes in the negative,
and he continued:
You have been subjected to all this
pain and trouble by my internal hot tenn
per- and it is now six weeks ago since |
drew the bead on you. Your shot struck
me on the collar-bone and shivered it as
if it had been paper. | fell on the snow,
and after lying for short time | crawl
ed down to the house and alarmed the
inmates by my tale. Satan had been be-
fore me; he had yelled and barked and
scratched at the doors until he gained ad-
mission, and then had set up the most
dismal bowling, running back and forth
from the rooh, to the outer door to the
establishment and surprise of all. They
had heard the shots, and supposed them
to be the mere annunciators of our near
/ approach, it having been our custom to
fire just before reaching the house, you
know, and they thought no more of it.,
until our long delay frightened them,
and they were just coming to look for
us as | gained the doorway. They i'm
mediately sought after you, and when
/ found you were brought here, fainting
and perfectly insensible The doctor
was instantly sent for, the bullet ex-
tracted, and morning discovered you
perfectly prostrated with violent brain
fever. Don't touch your head, it has
been shaved, and now has no hair on it
longer than pin. You must be very
quiet and make no exertion to move, the
doctor says, and you will soon be up
and around. Satan had entirely recov-
cred; and Here, Satan, come and see
your MASTER he called to the dog, who
had been lying watching us during the
whole conversation, seemingly under
standing the whole, and as much inter
ested as either of us. With leap like a
deer he sprang with his fore-paws upon
the bed and saluted me with joyful cry
as he saw recognized and took notice of
him, and then, in fond submission, COM
menced to lick my face and hands. He
seemed almost crazy with delight, and
George was obliged to drag him forcibly
away from me in order to keep him from
smothering me in his Joy.
Can you ever-will you forgive my
hasty act of hateful passion? said George,
the tears streaming from his eyes afresh
and falling on my hand, which he now
imprisoned between his own; God knows
| did not know what was doing when /
pulled the trigger of my rife, and | have
repented in bitterness of the act night
and day, and prayed and cursed myself
for this devils work. Jim, will watch
you, stay near you, be your friend, any
thing for you, if you will but say you
forgive me-
/ could not speak; the big tears of
affection and pity for him who had al
ways been my friend were filling my
eyes and wetting my pillow, and my feel
ings of remorse for the part | had en-
acted in this nearly fatal drama were
choking me, and the thoughts of all the
kind and loving instances of friendship
George had always sEcwn me were eX-
citing my brain and heart in such a
manner that ii was. prOvidental did not
relapse, nearly driven, a | was, raving
mad again, and no word could | have
spoken To soothe his anguish had his life
been at stake. | tried to say. Yes,
George, | do forgive you, indeed do,
but the words stuck in my throat and
my only reply was faint pressure of his
hands, of which he easily interpreted the
meaning. Just then the doctor entered
the room, and to my enfeebled ideas at
the time rather rudely reproached George
for 50 exciting me, as weak at the time
as | was and Just sane. This was the
last time we ever spoke of the matter,
by mutual agreement. Six months Law,
however, between life and death. George
my only attendant (for he would permit
no one to wait on me but himself, and |
desired no better nurse, always near ME.
Gradually my strength returned, and
then he stIoye to entertain me by
reading 10 me from my favorite
authors or else communicating to
me the news gathered purposely, of al
the village. Slowly but surely ! pro-
gressed towards health, and at last was
permitted to leave my room. Nv first
essay was by riding with George, who
drove me with care and anxiety far over
to the Eagles Nest We were better
friends than ever; adversely had drawn
4 band around our hearts which no mis-
fortune could sever, and at this late day
George C is the most esteemed and
dearest, nearest and most confidential
friend your father possesses, you we'll