Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-01-15

ing over mine. Terrified bsyond O.
presaion, I struggled 10 ire myself q
the creature upon me; but my arms ani
legs were fest bound; the Same cunninl
smile distorted the face. and the leerin6
eyes rolled ~ I struggled vainly. ]
strovs 70 shrek. but the sound cam,
not; . faint gurgle was the only result,
of my frantic effort.
At the same instant the creature
above me rose, and with chnckles and
leers drew forth a coil Of rope. Nod.
ding his head and gibbering, he ar.
ranged . moose, and with another blood.
curdling laugh he put it about my neck.
Ny Godl The agony OF that mo.
ment, when I realized that I was abso.
lutely ct the mercy Of that msdman
Tighter and tighter he drew the rope,
until my face grew black with sufioca.
ton and my eyes and tongue started
from my head.
Consciousness was almost gone, when
the pressure was slowly, steadily ne
Taxed, and the maniac's features
gazed down upon me once more.
/ breathed again; he had spared me;
the rush Of joyful feeling overcame me.
He marked the expression OF my face,
and, chuckling, drew the moose again,
exulting TO watch my face purple and
eyes protrude. Twenty times I
thought my death agony 1t hand, and
twenty times with o maniac's cunning,
he restored my breath and prolonged
my torture. How he chuckled and
muttered to himself, wagging his fend-
ish head, and oh, my Godi how, when
! struggled to get free, wrestling in my
agony with death and torture. he ut
tered his insane, exulting laugh!
How I longed and prayed for death;
how l hoped the mailman would once
draw the loose SO tight that, when once
relaxed, my breath would still refuse to
come. Suddenly his brain seemed
possessed Of some new plan. Slowly
he drew of the rope and with nj back
ward glance left the room. At first I
dared not hope for life, but when the
time went by aud still he came not, I
began 70 think he was gone entirely
and that my life might be saved. l
struggled to free, myself once more;
struggled and writhed till my heart
nearly burst through my body, but in
vain. just then q new sound caught
my ear, filling me with unutterable
dread.
A fork Of light shot up, Yes, 1t was
true; the maniac had set fire to the
howell And now l saw his face grin
ming ut me through the window. Max
ing last superhuman effort, I ut.
tered . fearful shrek. The mailman
leaped in ct the window, and at the
same instant another form followed
him. Some one seized me, I knew no
more.
When consciousness returned / was
lying upon . bed In my sweetheart's
own pretty room, and she, with gentle
tears in her eyes, Watching me slowly
return 10 life.
I learned afterward, when my
strength returned, that the mailman
escaped from an asylum in the neigh
borhood, and, being missed, his keeper,
attracted by the light Of the flames, ar
rived just in time to q v me from the
horrible fate that seemed to await me.
I had fallen into . deep swoon, and
from that into . raging fever, and dur.
ing my rawlings enough was learned to
send me to the house which had been
my destination when / started out the
previous night, As soon q / was we'll
again Alice and I were married, and
were surely happier than it falls 70 the
lot Of mortals to be; but never while I
live shall I forget the sgonies of that
one night Of my life.