Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-12-09
A DREADFUL FRIGHT.

s+set BY LU d. JAKE
A DREADFUL FRIGHT.
"DoD't call me for breakfast in the
morning." This instruction was given
to servant in the hall who had just
shown the speaker into the room which
I occupied on the third floor Of the
hotel. aa]
The newcomer closed and secured
the door, deposited his valise and over
coat on the floor and turned up the
gas, while /, who had been awakened
by his entrance, lay blinking at the
light which glared in my face. AS the
clerk told me they were crowded and
he would probably have to put some
one else in my room when the 1910
express arrived, / was not surprised or
alarmed at this. midnight intrusion.
The stranger was a man, of perhaps
30years of age; he was above medium
height, of athletic build, clean shaved
except blonde mustache, and had the
manner and general appearance which
would lead casual observer to denomi-
nate him as one of that variegated
class commonly known as commercial
tourists.
Having completed my mental criti-
cism of him, / was about to close my
eyes and endeavor to resume my much
needed repose--as I had to take the
train at 4 a. m.-when, catching for
the first time good view of the face
in the light, I noticed gloomy and
troubled look on his countenance. 1t
was evident that a great weight of
sorrow, some CALLING burden of grief,
rested on his mind.
His was not the weary and iaded look
Of one who is worn out with long
travel. No; it was sad, gloomy and
respondent, yet fierce, determined and
desperate. 1t was calculated to arouse
the curiosity and sympathy, but at the
same time to oyerawe the prying scru-
tiny, and to repel the proffered SYM
pathy, Of the observer.
Though at first somewhat yexed at
behg abruptly aroused and kept awake
at this hour Of the night by this unin-.
vited guest and room-mate, my impa-
tience had now given way to curiosity;
ana / lay in silent wonder eyeing the
strange man who had not yet taken
any notice Of me or seemed to beaware
Of my presence. Nothing but Excess
sive mental torture and great travail Of
spirit could produce on the counte-
nance an expression so pitiably and yet
80 frightfully desperate.
AS in gloomy and meditative silence
he undressed himself, with a consider
able effort drew off his trim, narrow
toed CATERS and prepared to retire; I
wondered what mighty grief it was
that fastened itself upon him; what
wrongs he had suffered, what disap-
pointment encountered, or what crime
he had committed that now arose like
gaunt spectre before him and wrung
his soul in torture. He at last seemed
ready to retire, but instead of doing SO
opened his valise, which lay at his feet,
and, after running over its contents
for a while, took out razor and began
strapping it on the palm of his hand
As I looked at his face, now darker
and more determined than ever, at the
bright blade which ghttered in the
light, and his neck, now barred to his
breast, an appalling possibility flashed
into my mind: Is he about to end his
sufferings--to quiet the pangs Of
remorse with the horrible and cowardly
crime Of self-murderp Is he about to
thrust his blackened soul into thu
presence of his Maker with this crown
ing act of wickednessp Am 1. to wit
ness a horrible and bloody deedp
I could scarcely restrain myself from
springing up and crying out, yet
almost feared to breathe lest / should
attract his attention. Transfixed will
terror and alarm, I lay, convulsivel!
clutching the butt Of my revolver be
meath my pillow, and watching his ever.
motion, as with demoniacal delibera
tion he continued strapping the razo
on the palm of his hand, now drawing
it across his thumb-nail, now holdinl
1t toward the light to inspect the keen
ness of its edge. He soon laid tn
razor upon the table, again turned t
his valise and after a moments searcl
took out q slender vial containing
some dark liquid. R
It was now clearly evident that h
was bent upon self-destruction, yet
was with some relief that saw tina
n he had chosen o milder method o
taking his life. I was seized with a
impulse to spring forward and snatc
razor from his reach, and, II POI
Il sible to thwart him In the fell desig
upon his own life. ! would reaso