Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-31
Continued from yesterday. }

Continued from yesterday
/ uttered CRY and awoke. / knew
was awake. but the nightmare was on me
still. for could feel the pressure upon
my chest, and the strange upward motion
as plainly as had felt it in my sleep. /
tried to move. but found myself fixed to
the bed. 80 firmly that I could not stir
hand or foot. Was it merely the alter
effect of my dream, or was | really being
raised to perpendicular position' could
doubt it no longer. Slowly and smoothly
the foot, or rather the head OF the bed
for it will be remembered that l had re-
ver-ed for nv own convenience-dipped,
while the opposite end rose; at the ssme
time / could feel thick folds gathering
around my feet. The horror of the situa-
ton was greatly heightened by the in
tense darkness and By the awful silence.
When I had been brought to a standing
position, though without my feet touching
the ground. the motion ceased. And did
I not cry for help At first my bewilder-
ment, my doubt as TO whether | was sleep
ing or waking, held me tongue-tied; and
a. thought once more began To circulate
through my brain, | knew that was in
some snare, and that my cry would bring
no assistance, but perhaps the assassin
What the agony OF that time was like.
ONLY the man who. full Of health and
strength. has suddenly been brought face
10 face with death. can realize l knew
that was doomed, and each second 1 ex-
pected To hear stealthy footstep creeping
toward me and to feel murderous grasp
upon my throat Why. if murder were
intended, was / not dispatched in my
sleep? Minutes elapsed, nothing further
happened, and could hear the pouring
rain without, but no other sound.
Almost the first sound that came 10 my
waking mind was the story of the mystic
rious death at La Tour -du-Pin. l under
stood the situation in moment. l had
fallen into similar snare, or rather.
should have done so had | not reversed
the position of my head. Yet how extra
ordinary, how utterly unreal such coin
cidence was But for that physical pain
which was too acute to be imaginary, |
could not have believed it was other than
a nightmare | continued to endure with
out a struggle, on the suppositisn that
my lie depended upon the assassins
believing that their murderous plan
had succeeded. How long it was be-
fore relief came cannot judge, but after
a lapse of what seemed to me hours
found the bed gradually moving back to a
horizontal position. Then the pressure
slackened upon my chest and legs, felt
the cords slide away. and was once more
free.
The worst of the danger was now over;
but not all truly had the use of my arms
and legs. and could fight tor my life; but
these people would be desperate at the
idea of their diabolical plan being discov-
cred. and the odds in such fight would
be terribly against me. must keep cool
and not yield to panic. 1t was still quite
dark yet feared to strike light. and
after cropping for my clothes and dressing
myself sat down in my chair and waited
tor the dawn. Can ever forget the hor-
ror of that vigil Surrounded by an i'm
penetrable blackness over which brooded
the phantom of murder; scarcely daring
to breathe lest should betray myself to
some stealthy listener; fancying every
moment that could hear creeping loot
steps that could see shadows moving
across the darkness, and outstretched
hands making tor my threat Would the
dawn never break ? 1t came at last, wan
and CHASTITY as the face of my dream; but
never had the most glorious sunrise been
so grateful to my eyes as was that CLEAN
ofcold gray light that broke at last through
the cloud of darkness that enveloped me.
| advanced on tiptoe to the window aud
cautiously peered through the glass.
could see that it was at least twenty feet
from the ground. and looked into a paved
yard. with high walls. That way was
hopeless. Ii I attempted to leave the
room might find the assassin lurking on
the stairs. The safest plan would he to
wait here until later; until the doors OF
the house were open; until people were
about the streets. and there would be a
chance of assistance should | need it.
looked at my watch; it was past 7
O'Clock Just then heard some one stir
ring below, door open and shut While
| stood listening. with my ear at the key
hole my attention was attracted by another
sound it come from beneath the bedstead
and might have been the gnawing of rat
Fixing my eyes upon the spot whence the
noise proceeded. Il presently saw a portion
OF a wooden casing that enclosed the bot
tom of the bedstead move away, and the
next moment the space was filed bv a
head covered with long black hair and a
white CHASTITY face, shaded by stubby
black beard; the morning light was still
dim and the room full OF shadows, but
that livid face started out OF its dark
framework with terrible distinctness.
could not stir, very fascination OF horror
seized upon me. Our eyes met; | could
see the pupils of the other dIlate. the
mouth open, and almost the very hair stir
with terror. For seconds we faced each
other thus. Then heard cry of mon
Dieu I" and the head was gone, and heard
scratching and a scrambling.
Icould endure no more; without even
waiting to put on my hat turned the key,
shot back the bolt. opened the door. and
sprang down the stairs. The girl was
sweeping out the hall-the outward door
was open--I rushed past her into the street
and ran at headlong speed until reached
the centre of the town.
As soon as | recovered my breath,
sought the bureau of the police. and told
my extraordinary story. From my strange
appearance and excited manner / am sure
they took me for mailman; but never
theless prevailed on them to allow q
couple of gensdarmes to accompany me
back to the hotel Yet brief rs had been
the time Tins faken mn IL had haou sY,tY, ~;