The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-09-18


sorrowing over the bitter disagree
ments. the hate he had felt for the I'M
fortunate man?
He gave evidence in low. firm voice
to the effect that the drowned man had
been on the river the night he had dis
appeared. The matter was quickly
settled. We were returning; chance
movement showed me on johnson S
wrist. as it seemed in the moment
glimpse / obtained, a red marx. So
much did it recall to my mind the hor-
rible Disagreement on the neck of the
corpse that noting it was the hand
which had raised that of the corpse.
Involuntary caught up his haud-but
was mistaken. Nothing" l said in
reply to his inquiry; ..I thought saw
something on your hand" / remem-
bered this fact, however, later.
The next morning was awakened
by vehement knocking at my door.
1t was just four by the clock; the sun
had not vet risen. Wondering what
this sudden summons might be, l un-
locked my door and in stumbled john
son, muttering and moaning. his ap-
pearance indicating an extreme of
fright. Falling iato an armchair he
lay back. white. still. Promptly /
threw some water in his face, and
pressing brandy flask between his
teeth. urged on him full draught.
This had its-efiect, and he recovered
sufficiently to tell me his story.
Drake" he said, I'LL killed my
chum."
Horror-struck / recoiled from him.
but with an outstretched deprecating
hand he continued:
but, in Gods name, not pur-
posely!'
Then. as if the confession had given
him strength. he went on:
THAT night we had quarrelcd. and
he came for me with a knife. l seized
him by the throat, and held him back.
God knows did not intend to do it.
In nv blind rage and in fear of my life
l held him until he fell. a heavy weight
at my feet. What could l do? l
worked to bring him back to life-did
you not notice his face and the mark of
my fingers on his throat? Oh. believe
me! Believe me! For the love of
Heaven. believe mer' he cried falling
before me and bowling his head between
his hands upon my knees. And l..
there was sincerity in his speech that
carried conviction of TRUTH believed
him.
johnson" SAID, Il believe you
But why did younot tell the truth; you
would not have been in danger?"
'.In danger? No." he exclaimed,
70 -. S.pnk no,,ll I kox-o cko:l
here? Would 1 not have had to go
back to my old life and give up the
college life / have SO earnestly
worked for? 1 could not have gone
elsewhere. So / took the loathsome
thing up, and through my open win
dow / stole down over the fields,
skulking in the shade. speeding over
the moonlit places with all the horror
of guilty man. And / am guilty
now! Then down to the river. and
the air-hole. and to see the body drop
into the icy depths, and then rising
through the black water. show the aw-
full face with that bloody mark burning
at the throat"
He spoke in rapid tones with rapid
gestures, as he recalled the awful
of that night.
I sat frigid with horror. .It will
turn his BRAIN" thought 1. IF l do
not soothe him." and so carefully l
quieted him. speaking to him gently
and slowly.
you have been guilty." 1 said,
but you can yet make PREPARATION.
Make clean breast of it all, and clear
your mind of its trouble
II W mr. he said. but not YETI
Let me have but q day or two to
compose myself But I have not told
you all. This morning. just before l
came to you. 1 woke up and saw
that horrible face at the window of my
room.
johnson. l exclaimed, now not
that his mind was going.
recall yourself. Don't let the horror
of all this overcome you. There was
no such thing. 1t was your imagina-
ton, man. !"
Il dreamed the whole thing over
again." he said solemnly. land wax
ing with every limb trembling with
fear. saw it as plain as see you"
THAT is just it, Isaid. and lshowed
uitu sndt sucu an appearance WAS
natural consequence of his mental con-
dition. There is no need of describing
the means l used to quiet him. but
finally convinced him. AT least" he
said. sleep with me tonight" This
promised readily. I stayed with him
Oh and on all day. Toward night l |
had so far succeeded that he had be-
come COMPOSED, and was fully deter
mined to confess all to the proper au-
thorities- We slept together that
night
I do not ask you to believe me. II
can only tell the story IS it happened.
That night awoke. feeling strange
johnson was sleeping |
very soundly-the result of his intense
excitement A glimmer Of dawn was
10 the room. Casting glance through |
the room door into the study beyond,
IN the half light Of the window saw
Oh! the horror Of 1.-THE exact simili- |
tude Of that ghastly face. blackened,
with protruding tongue, the bloody |
mark upon its throat
lost consciousness, and, when / |
came to. it was full dawn. and john
SON was still sleeping quietly at my |
side.
I said nothing In Johnson Tdro.saa /