Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-02
A HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE.
Tne Young Man Whose Hair Turned White
with Fright in Dream.

A communication in the Indianapo-
lis Neos says: II read with great in
terest the opinion of a physician ex-
pressed in your paper to the effect that
death sometimes occurs in sleep from
fright in nightmare. / thought some
of your readers might be interested in
nay case, for can relate an experience
that seems to be phenomenal
81 am q years old, robust and sound,
and never knew of premature age
coming on any of my people. Yet |
am gray and old far beyond my years.
1t all came about in single night
When | was boy, hungry, poor, and
forlorn, was tempted into crime. I
saw In window open packages of
candies. By stepping inside the door
and watching my opportunity l could
reach one of them. thought nobody
was looking, but when / snatched one
and fled | ran straight into the arms
of policeman on the pavement out
side. had a good mother, and the
thought came to me that l had betray-
ed her and ruined myself. I was al
most crazed with remorse. / begged
to be released, but the officer did his
duty. Next day, when [ was brought
from jail and put on trial, saw among
the motley crowd in the police court a
man who did not seem to belong there.
He proved to be the owner of the store
from which | had stolen the candy.
When L found this out my fright was
increased. You can not imagine my
surprise that this gentleman, when
called as a witness, withdrew all
charges against me and asked the
court, as personal favor, to discharge
me. The request was granted. My.
new friend called me to one side after
the trial, heard my story, and seemed
to have faith in my promises. He even
took me into his store, and advanced
Inc from one position to another as the
years rolled on, and finally made me
chief clerk and gave me the keys of the
safe.
Zone night, just year ago, / found
myself down at the store at a late hour.
We had received large sum of money
after banking hours, and this had been
placed in the safe in my keeping. For
some reason | was tempted to go down
town that night. | wandered into the
store, sat down awhile, and finally
opened the safe. was trembling vio-
lently all the time-why | would not
confess until the conviction forced
itself upon me that / was about to
commit a second burglary. An infer
nal desire for that money had complete
control of me. Finally took out the
money, put it into my pockets, and
locked up the safe. Then l went to
work in clumsy manner to conceal
the crime. | thought could pry off
the lock and thus make believe that
the safe had been robbed by experts.
was sweating at this felonious task
when l heard step behind me, follow
ed by a voice: What in the world are
you doing, John?'
sit was the voice of my old en-
ployer and old friend-the man who
had saved me from prison, and who
had given me chance in the world
Great heavens, how ! suffered! Cold
sweat stood out on me, and the thought
of my treachery was agonizing beyond
human endurance. l was suffering all
the torture that DR.. Jekyll must have
known in being transformed into Mr.
Hyde. felt the very elements of my
lief, sweet delight. when | found that
all this real suffering had been in
nightmare only, and that | was still
the trusted employe of just man. Yet
when | looked into the glass next
morning found that the snow which
comes upon ordinary mortals in old
age had whitened my head during
that struggle in my Sleep