The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-19
CAPTURING THE CONVICT.

happy gathering. tired OF the frolics
of that occasion, were In the big room
OF the old homestead. sitting around
tho log fire merrily blazing In the
great chimney fireplace, and telling
stories.
Save the glow from the flames
making ghostly shadows fit across the
ceiling and walls there was no other
light in the room. for we were trying
TO be as romantic rs possible.
Outside in the black night furious
storm was raging and tho wind moan
ing and whistling down the chimney
and through the huge fir trees. min
gled with the beating rain on roof and
Yindow panes, gave Us the wierd and
spoolSy feeling we desired.
=. Finally. satisfied with fairy hobgob-
lin stories. we urged Aunt Kate to re-
late her adventure with the escaped
negro convict
When / was about eighteen, COM
ed Aunt Kate. with u shudder ut
tho remembrance Of her awful expert
encc. ION just such black and
stormy night as now, we were sitting
in this very room. The little ones had
gone TO bed. mother was knitting in
the big rocking chair ard DOING for
IL was quite la.e and father and
were playing u long and interesting
game OF chess which neither OF us
wanted to stop although 1t was time
we were all asleep.
The day before a negro convict
had murdered his keeper and escaped
from the prison in the town next TO
our little village and, while then we
didn't know OF it the people around
were greatly frightened and searching
parties were out looking for the fell
low who was Il most daring and DIES.
perate character.
We had no handy neighbors then
as we have at present the nearest
house being half mile away and be-
side our maid servant in her attic
room snoring soundly our family was
alone on the place. We didn't even
have dog, and our only protection
in case we needed any was that old
army musket that still hangs on the
wall yonder over the door.
I'VE had lived so long in perfect
safety that no idea Of danger had ever
troubled US So when mother waking
from u comfortable do2e said she ielt
bit chilly, | immediately offered TO
run upstairs to my room just over
head, and bring down wrap which
i knew was hanging in my closet
IL didn't want her to ask the time,
for If she found 1t was midnight, rs it
was our game then in its most excit-
ing stage, would have been spoiled.
and the glory OF my beating my faith
err for once would have been lost
so up jumped and without vast
ing precious moments in getting n
light rushed upstairs and into my
room which was dark as Egypt
The storm outside was wild one
and the wind uas roaring fearfully
through the trees and shaking the
shutters as IL it would rattle them off.
'.But had no difficulty in cropping
my way to my closet where among my
dresses and things the wrap hung.
when / opened the closet door
fancied / heard movement inside,
but thinking may be- II mouse had
made 1t began feeling with my hands
among the hanging garments for the
article / was after.
suddenly my fingers touched
mans bewhiskored face.
Ere ! could give scream for help
two great rough hands had me by the
throat dragging me in the closet and
choking my breath away.
Then my presence OF mind and
courage showed themselves.
'In spite OF my terror, In spite OF
the pains Of strangulation l managed
TO stamp and pound my feet several
times on the floor
'''Do that again an yer die Kissed
my terrible assailant's fendish voice
in my ears while his fierce, strong
fingers frightened themselves about my
poor neck which is SCARED yet with
with the cuts his sharp nails dug.
But with what little strength was
left me pounded on the floor the sec
ond time with my heels and-made up
my mind to die. ! hardly expected
the signals would be understood and
II they were | feared father alone
WOUlu Dt TO uldtcl iOT tifc Who
then had mo pushed in the far corner
Of the closet and was fast strangling
myiife away
''rhe pain OF nv being rapidly
cbQEed into insensibility or death was
nothing to the agony OF suspense l en-
drred during those terrible moments,
waiting praying that help would come
in tim. Then 1 remembered nothing
r:orc."
Aunt Kate stopped for q moment to
I.,l wh le, with faces palo and horri-
ii,,'y yS'c gazcd 1T the cruel scars. faint
ly ~ wing on her fair white neck.
II guess mother had bctter finish
tso tory. for she saw The ending and
] diGht" said b ave Aunt Kate. ,or
70 laps il is too late TO continue to-
n ght--bcsiies, you may all get too
,rl-lrencd 10 20 to bod. she smiled,