The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-01
THE SQUARE" IN THE HAND.
Dr. Anna King in "LuciSer."

/ am unable to say where or when the
events related in the following pages took
place. Neither can give any details con-
corning the personal circumstances OF the
narrator. All know Is that she was n
young woman OF French nationality, and
that her "unclo" of whom she speaks
her senior by some thirty years more
distinguished as philosopher than as an
enthusiast Whether the conspiracy
against the reigning authorities In which
our heroine and her friends were impli-
Gated happened TO DO of any histor-
ical importance is also more than
can say. AS my object in
reproducing tho narrative is merely to
illustrate the curious operation through
natural channels OF laws which are usually
regarded as occult and tho activity OF
which on the material plane has given rise
10 the common notion OF miracle" | do
not propose to trouble the reader or myself
with any preamble of merely local interest.
So, without more introduction, leave the
diary OF the writer TO recount the advent
urc set down therein by her own hand.
was concerned in very prominent
way in political struggle for liberty and
the peoples rights. My part in the strug.
gle was, indeed, the leading one, but my
uncle had been drawn into IL ut my in
stance, aud was implicated in secondary
manner only. The government sought our
arrest, and for u time we cyadcd all at
tcmpts TO take u.s. but ut last We were sur
prised and driven under escort in IA pri-
vate carriage, 10 military station, where
we were 10 be detained for examination.
With us was arrested man popularity
known as "Fon," u poor wcakling whom
l much pitied. When We arrived nj the
station which was our destination "Fon"
gave some trouble 20 the officials. think
he tainted; but, at all events his convey
ance from the carriage 10 the caserne
needed the oonjoined efforts OF our escort,
and some commotion was caused by his
appearance among the crowd assembled 10
sec us. Clearly tho crowd WIS sympa.
thctic TO us and hostile 10 the military.
particularly noticed ono woman, who
pressed forward IA "Fon" was being ear
ricd into the station, and who loudly
called on all present TO note his feeble con-
dition and the barbarity of arrcsting wit.
less creature such as he.
At that moment my uncle laid his hand
on my arm and whispered: snow is our
time; the guards arr all occupied with
'Fon'; we are left alone for minute; let
us Jump out OF the carriage aud rum" As
he said this hc opened the carriage door
on the side opposite 10 the cascrne and
alightod In the street. | instantly fol-
lowed, and the people iavoring ny, we
pressed through them and fled at the top
Of our speed down the road. AS we ran
spicd pathway winding mp u hillside away
from the town and cried: "lct M go up
there; let ~ get away from The stress"
My uncle answered; mo, no; they would
SEQ us there Immediately nj that hight;
the path is too conspicuous. Our best
safety is TO lose ourselves in the town. We
may throw them of our track by winding
In and out Of tho streets" just then u
little child, playing in the road, got IN our
way and nearly threw M down ~ We ran.
We had to pause moment 10 recover
ourselves. THAT child may have cost us
our lives" whispered my uncle breath
lrssly. a second aitcrwnrd We reached
the bottom of the street, which branchcd
oil right aud left. hcaitatcd a moment,
then W. both turned 10 the right. Az We
did so-in the twinkling Of an cyc-we
found ourselves In the midst OF n group Of
soldiers coming round the corner. ran
straight into the arms Of one Of thcm, who
the same instant knew me and seized me
by throat and whist with grip Of iron.
This WIS q horrible moment The iron
grasp was sudden aud solid M the grip Of
wise; the mans arm held my waist like n
bar Of steel.
III arrest you" he cred, and the soldiers
Immediately closed round IA.
AZ once ! realized the hopclcssness Of
the situation, the utter fuiilty OF resist
ancc.
"vous n'aycz pas bcson dc me tcnir
ainsi, / said 10 the officer; ''j'inl tran
quillcmcnt."
lie loosencd his hold, aud We were
then marched to another military sta.
ton, In different part Of the town from
that whence We had escaped. The officer
who hal arrested me WIS n sergeant, or
some officer In petty command. lie took
mo along With him into the guarlroom
aud placed before inc on n wooden table
some papers which he told me 10 flll In
aud sign. Then lac at down opposite 10
INC and | looked through the papers.
They were forms. with blanks left for de.
scriptions, specifying tho name, occupa-
ton, age, address. etc, 81 arrested persons.
! signed these, and pushing them across
the table Ia the Innn, asked him what Was
TO be- done with W..
"You will be shot," lac replied, quickly
and dccisiycly.
"Iloth Of usg' I asked.
both, lac replied.
"But, said |, my companion has done
nothing 10 deserve death. lie was drawn
into this struggle entirely by be. Consider,
too, his advanced agr. His hair IA white,
he stOops, and had Il not been for the dif.
ncnliy with which he moves his limbs,
both of us would probably DO nj this mo.
mcnt in place oi safety What can You
gain by shooting an old man, such as hep
The officer WIS silent. lilo neither In
yorcd nor discouraged mo by his manner.
While sat awaiting his reply | glanced at
the hand with which had Just signed the
papers, and u sudden idea flashed into my
mind.
at least" said, grant mo one re-
quest. II my uncle must die, LET me dic
hrrt."
Now made This request for tho follow
ing reason: In my right hand the line OF
life broke abruptly half way In iis length,
indicating o sudden and violent death.
hut the point nj which II broke was ter.
minated by perfectly marked square, cx.
traordinarily clear cut and distinct. Such
a square, occurring nj the end Of broken
Inns, means rescue, salvation. had long
been aware II this strange 1guration In
my hand and had often wondered what II
prcsagcd. hut now, ~ onco more looked
nj II, Il came upon mo with sudden con-
yiction that In some way was 10 DO de-
liycrcd from death nj the last moment. and