San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-31
2otu lam down upon their faces.

GOTH lain down upon their faces
Then the prisoners task was changed to
that Of passing bricks and pals of cement,
sometimes being forced to hold the light
while the man deity fitted in bricks, and
made up what had been a fall and beyond
which the passage seemed to continue ten or
a dozen feet.
At intervals the gang broke off work to
crawl backwards out Of the passage to par
take of meals which were spread for them in
the library. These meals were good, and
washed down with plenty of spirits and
water, the two servant like women and the
so called Adela waiting on the party, every
thing being matter of wonder to the pris-
oner, who stared wildly at the well dressed,
lady like, girlish creature who busted herself
in supplying the wants of the gang of four
bricklayer like men.
At the first meal, Mr.. Barclay refused
food He said that he could not eat but he
drank heartily from the glass placed at his
side-water which seemed to him to be ia.
vored with peculiar coarse brandy. But he
was troubled with devouring thirst, conse-
quent upon his exertions, and that of which
he had partaken seemed to increase the pecu-
liar dreamy nature of the scene. Whether it
was laudanum or some other drug, we could
none of us ever say for certain, but Mr.. Bar
clay was convinced that nearly all the time
he was kept under the influence of some mar
cotic, and that, in confused, dreamy way,
he toiled on in that narrow culvert
He could keep no account of time, for he
never once saw the light of day, and though
there were intervals for food and rest, they
seemed to be at various times; and from the
rarity ytbip oh hr bao nd na fair of
some passing vehicle, he often thought that
the greater part of the work must be done by
night.
At first he felt keen sense of trouble con.
nected with what he looked upon as his dis
grace and the way he had lowered himself;
but at last he worked Oh like some machine,
obedient as a slave, but hour by hour grow
ing more stupefied. even to the extent of stop,
ping short at times and kneeling before his
half filled basket motionless, till rude thrust
or a blow from brickbat pitched at him
reused him t. continue his task
The drug worked well for his taskmasters,
and the making of the mine progressed rap
idly, for every one connected herewith
seemed in state of feverish anxiety now to
get it done.
And so day succeeded day, and night gave
place to night The two servaut-like women
went buSily on with their work, and fetched
provisions for the household CONSUMPTION, no
tradespeOple save milkman and baker being
allowed to call, and they remarked that they
never once found the area gate unlocked.
And while these two women, prim and self
contained went on with the cooking and
housework and kept the doorstep clean, the
so called Miss Adela Mimpriss went on with
the woodwork flowers at the dining room
window, where she could get most light, and
the world outside had no suspicion of any
thing being wrong in the staid, old fashioned
house opposite Sir John Drinkwater's Even
the neighbOrs on either side heard no sound.
CIV hat does it all meanr Mr.. Barclay used
to ask himself, and at other times, when
shall wake for he often persuaded himself
that this was the troubled drear' of a bad
attack Of fever, from which he would awak-
Ell some day quite in his right mind. Mean
while, growing every hour more machine
like, he worked on and on, always as if in
dream.