The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-04-14

| bNASN ~ 10 Sulhi u NOice hS MS OWL
Il have long thought that life was be.
coming very undesirable; and, to leave ii
in your company, with you, my Oldest
and warnest friend, would be the most
agreeable thing to me that could happen.
But-you are are not married, Tom?"
THANK Heaven, nor
Remember, am married; and, had
you given me notice of this wish of yours
before starting, would have made ar
rangements and have spoken 10 my wife
to prepare her. Have. you made your
will, Tom2'
mo, have not"
GOOD Heaven, man, not made your
will! Tom, it is absolutely necessary for
both of us to make our wills before we
die. have not made mine, and should
not like to leave the world with the
chance of my wife and child having to go
TO the workhouse or be chargeable on the
parish after my death. You would wish
to leavesyour money to some one in par
ticular-is it not SOP"
"Of course should like to leave my
money properly --of-course-yes! new
ef thought of making my will"
you must also remember, Tom. that
it would never do to die deliberately, in
the way we both desire TO die, without
leaving to the world our reason for the
act. You would not wish your name to
be by-word and the cause of derision
to any one, am sure; and am certain
l don't wish my own to be so. There
fore We must both draw out our reasons
for dying"
"Do You know, Jack, never thought
of that?'
"Well, then, first put your knife down
on the cushion there, ard then we will
set 10 work. I've plenty of paper in my
baG and plenty of lead in my pencil, aud
we've the whole night before us"
A trenble of my hand, q qniver of my
voice, would have been fatal. / opened
the bag and drew foith the writing pa
per. The knife was on cushion by my
side.
'Now, Tom. let us first state our rea-
sons to the world for wishing to die to-
night by our own hands. II you will
dictate to me your reasons, will write
them down, and then we will revise and
correct them. We shall be able to do
our work well and quickly"
quite right, Jack; We ought to give
them our reasons. How odd that never
thought of that! Let me see; if kill
you first, 1 might write that out after
wards"
"Ah, but who will write out miner
Don't be selfish, there's good chap!"
ITO be sure! Well, are you ready?'
He began debating long and flowery
sentences. Now and again interrupted
his flow of language to gain time. This
kept him thoroughly occupied and in
terested, while the train sped on Rt ex-
press rate. He had nearly finished his
long, rambling dictation, when, 10 my
inexpressible delight, 1 felt the speed OF
the train gradually slackenipg. 1 knew
that my chance Of deliverance was near.
"Rsad over for yourself what have
written" l said to him. The carriage
is very close-a little fresh mir Will do US
good. l will make any corrections you
may require"
sat on the knife and reached over TO
lower the glass. A slight fumbliug
necesstated my rising TO manage better,
and the knife was in my left hand con-
cealed under my coat. turned round |
to look ut my poor friend. and saw HIM
trying intently TO read my scribble 10y |
the light of the lamp seemingly un |
conscious of the stopping of the train.
Ia another moment the glass descended |
the knife dropped upon the platform.
my hand was thrust through the window |
and on the handle of the door. The
train nearly stopped MS jumped out,
shut the door, aud held the Landle
fl mly. Poor Raven even then was qui'e
engrosssd with what had written for
him. l called the guard. and secretly |
ano q1ietly the porters were assembled |
on the platform at the door of the car
riage.
"Come, Tom. this is Swindou! Let us |
have cup Of cotIee!' called to him
through the window.
In that moment the spell was broken,
saw him look for his knife, then rush /
to the window at the opposite side; but
we were too quick and too rowerlnl for
him. The guard, two porlers. aud my
self jumped into the carriage. and be
was secured.
My hest friend with brilliant fulure |
before him, and in the ripe portion of |
lis life, was a mving lunatic. and has
remained hoptlessly so-insane from that
1ihe one OF the many victims to over
work.
nssd scarcely add that the case which