Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-09-18

Between the roof and the wall there
was q space OF at least four inches.
Through this space | became aware OF
a faint CLEAN OF light very far above
my head With the object of ascer-
tanning the length OF this aperture ]
moved along the wall, keeping my eye
upon the crevice. The light did not
vanish turned the angle of the wall,
and still the light remained visible. l
traversed in succession the four walls
OF the cell; no obstacle obscured the
feeble gleam. The roof did not touch
the wall at single point OF the cir
cult.
At this unaccountable discovery |
was so astounded that for some time
] refused to credit the evidence OF my
own senses. The roof was, to all APP
pearance, like Mahomet'5 coffin, sus-
pended in mid air. | struck 1t with
my stick, it sounded heavy, massive,
substantial as the walls themselves.
But vet neither to the touch nor by
the peculiar ringing sound which il
emitted when struck did it seem OF
stone. 1t gave rather the impression
OF block OF solid iron. But how
could this be?
Totally unable TO account for this
discovery, now placed myself on the
floor OF the cell, my back supported
against one Of the walls and my feet
against the opposite, and was relieved
to find that the posture was more
tolerable than expected. ] began to
be not without hope that | might in
time be able to fall asleep, and so pass
n portion OF the weary hours before
me IN Inconsistencies Little did
know what was to rouse me. Sleep!
1t was not sleep that was in store Tor
me.
Presently a loud and startling
sound, seeming to issue from the roof
above my head, burst suddenly upon
the silence. 1t was the great clock of
the cathedral striking the hour. The
notes fell slowly from deep, solemn
and sonorous bell. But instead OF
reaching my prison, as might have
been expected, in dull, far-off and muf-
fled tones, they fell upon my ears with
thrilling clearness and dIstinctness,
as if they were close at hand. 1t was
evident, in fact, that my cell must be
situated directly under the clock tow
er. This conclusion, however, led me
no further at the moment.
| sat for long time i'll reflection up
on the number OF hours which must
elapse before | could expect to he set
free. The bell had struck the hour of
six. The cathedral would probably
not be open in the morning before 8
or 10 o'clock. had, therefore, some
fifteen hours at least before me to get
through as best | might.
How slowly the time waned. At
seemingly long intervals the bells
struck the quarters; one, two, three,
four; AMI then i'll deeper tones the
hour ITSELF o'clock. And now, when
the ringing sound of the last note had
died away, the bells of the carlton be-
gan to chime. The notes fell on my
ears with the same singular and I'M
accountable distinctness which | had
observed in the striking of the hour.
They chimed the evening hymn.
Very suddenly q strange thought
struck me, causing me to raise my
eyes toward the ceiling OF my cell. In
my present position could Just per-
ceive the faint gleam OF light discern
IDLE far up through the interspace
between the roof and the wall;
but the roof itself was buried
in darkness. rose slowly
to my feet, and the scarcely formed
conjecture OF my mind was instantly
confirmed. As had expected, / could
no longer stand erect; my head now
struck the roof. The whole truth
flashed at once across my mind.
now saw clearly the explanation of
what had before astounded and per-
picked me. | saw why the roof did
not touch the walls of the enclosure,
why it was formed ofmassive iron. 1t
was descending.
Yes, descending During the hour |
had remained seated, the roof had
sunk through a space fully of four
inches. But this discovery, when now
| made 1t, so far from causing me
parplexity, at once revealed to me the
whole mystery of my prison.
The distinctness OF sound with
which the Ginning of the bells
reached my ears had already
told me that the belfry must be
situated directly above my head. |
now perceived that what had taken
for n solid, heavy roof was, in fact, the
massive and enormous weight OF the
great clock. | was imprisoned in the
bottom OF the shaft into which the
weight descended. The ponderous
block OF solid metal was falling at the
rate OF about four inches an hour, or
rather more. In less time than it
takes to trace these words the conse-
uuence of tins flashed through my
mind. In fifteen hours the weight
would descend through a space of five
feet. Long before | could expect re-
lease the enormous mass would be
upon me. and would crush me help
lessly against the pavement OF my
prison.
My sensations upon making this
discovery | will not attempt to de-
scribe. Often, very often, in the course
of my life, have l had occasion to re
mark the truth OF the saying:
1.-The avenues that lead to death are
numerous and strange" Little did
think how nearly was myself to af-
ford an example of its truth. Yet
surely no mortal was ever before the
victim of an accident so wildly singu-
lar and so full OF horror There the
great weight was above me. Slowly,
surely, it was creeping downward in
the darkness and the silence OF the
night.
And far up in the soft air OF sunset
the bells were still ringing the evening