The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-07-25
however, and whistled along mc-rily


situated on hill half a mile west of
the railroad l walked rapidly along,
and descended the hill to cross the
track. Hardly had l taken the first step
on the prank crossing, when the heel of
my shoe, by some unlucky chance, sank
| tightly into the space between rail and
timber, and l was thrown heavily to
the ground.
Although shaken up considerably, l
was not badly hurt, and attempted to
rise at once; but my foot was firmly
held, and l only partially succeeded in
doing so. / now turned my attention
to freeing myself from my uncomfort-
able position, thinking it an easy mat
ter that could be accomplished by a
simple turn of the foot. To my con-
sternation found it absolutely impos-
possible to draw my foot away, so Sc
curely was it wedged between the rail
and plank.
l began to grow excited, and twisted
and pulled my foot recklessly and VIC
lently until nearly exhausted. There
was no result, except that my ankle be-
meTt, and felt that it was beginning
to swell.
To escape from this trap, l found
must take the matter more coolly. By
strong effort at self-command 1 be-
came calm again, and began to consid-
er the best way out of the fix. Consult
ing my watch, which had an illumin-
ated dial, ! found it was twenty min
utes past eleven. No train would pass
till after one, and this was the one |
wanted to catch at the Junction. There
fore I need not worry lest should be
run over; had plenty of time. Yet
from the pain in my ankle l feared l
could not reach home as early as had
intended.
went Systematically to work, and
tried to pull my foot out of the SHOE
Failure. Again and again l endeavored.
Dead failure. My foot was badly swol-
len.
A happy thought flashed through my
mind, and | almost shouted with Joy.
Jubilant at the prospect of deliverance
felt for my pocket-knife. Horrors! it
was gone. But no. Almost miraculously,
it seemed to me, my hand at that in
slant touched it lying on the ground,
where it had slipped when foil. Witt
thankful heart l opened it's onv
blade.
l then cut deeply into the plank where
it held my heel. But in my eagorness l
overestimated the strength of the
knife. and before l had taken off
Shaving, to my infinite dismay and
alarm, the blade snapped off short,
my grasp.
/ now became thoroughly desperate.
l reproached myself again and again
for not having been wise enough to cut
off the shoe. But it was too late now,
for the broken blade, even if could
have used that, was away down in
crevice whore my fingers could not
reach it.
l called wildly for help.
"Youcan't getout, youcan't getout!"
said commissioning voice.
! started up. Bah! it was only frog
"Youcan't getout, youcan't youcan't,
youcan't.' croaked the sympathetic
creature.
This was depressing. Fool, fool,
fool, fool" hooted an owl from the
wooded hill behind. And the frog sub
sided.
Again and again my aronized voice
rent the dark with screams for help.
No one came or answered, and at last
hoarSe and exhausted, l sank down in
despair.
All became still again, save for the
drumming of the telegraph wires over
head, which to my startled imagination
seemed like the sound of spirit voices
warning me of doom. For some time |
lay there in sort of stupor when
"Bo-loomr'
I reused up again. 'Bo-loom!" 1t
was striking twelve from the clock in
the tower. Then for the first time the
full terror OF my situation impressed
itself fully upon me, and chilled with
fear. Each stroke sounding out with
relentless precision seemed to even
hasten the time when the fast express
would sweep round that curve, rush past
and away, and leave me there MANNED
and bleeding, to die, no doubt, alone
before the dawn.
Despair gave me mightier strength
than hope, but unguided by reason.
Again l put forth almost superhuman
efforts to escape. My foot was badly
sprained, but l felt no pain. l was
frantic with fear, and writhed in the
dust like a demented creature.
o! it was dreadful to be held there
without any hope of rescue, fancying l
heard the horrible crunching of the iron
wheels passing over my ankle!
My brain was on fire. l uttered shrek
after Shrek. Would no one come?
Only the echoes ans wered. A terrible
calm came over me, and l burst into
paroxysm of uncomfortable, mirthless
laughter.
l was going mad.
lay PROSTATE and closed my eyes. A
mild and pleasant intoxlcatlon seemed
to take possession of me, much like
that produced by morphine. Pleasing
fancies fitted before me, and thought
them real. In the midst of all was
present to my disordered brain an indie
scribable feeling of relief. What an aw-
full nightmare had had, but it was all