The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-02-20

rest awhile at the foot Of the tower
stairs. where the others were to pick me
up on their return. SO that we might all
descend together. This was satisfac-
tory and off they started.
For time was quite comfortable,
and paid no attention to the passage of
time: but suddenly noticed that it was
getting dark and that my companions
had not returned. called to them first
In a moderate tone of voice. then more
loudly. but received no answer.
Fearing that they would be belated on
the roof | started in search of them.
walked the entire length of the ridge OF
the main roof and peered down all the
side passages in the gathering dusk. but
caught no glimpse of my companions.
Then descended to the roof of the aisle
and made search there which was also
fruitless. became alarmed AS the light
failed. and ran from one point to an
other. calling out rs ran. until found.
to my great distress. that had lost my
way. could see far below me the lights
Of the great city and hear the distant
rumbling of the carriages as they drove
past on the stony streets
But ! WAS as effectually lost for the
moment az if had been in the heart of
an African Jungle without compass
and no Stanley on the alert to hunt me
up. In the excitement and despair
which the consciousness of this fact pro-
duced. rushed about SO wildly that
slipped and fell ON long flight of stone
steps. wet with the dew which had be-
gun to fall. | was not conscious OF any
serious injury from the fall. but when |
brought up at the foot of the stairs and
tried to regain my footing. | found, to
my despair and horror, that was utter
ly unable to move my limbs was par
alyzed
The mental agony suffered is incon-
ceivable. Yet curiously enough spent
the first moments in speculating as to
the exact nature of the injury had sus-
tanned. Had broken my back or sim
ply injured my spinal cord: tried to
recall what | had heard my doctor
friends say about injuries Of similar
character, but could not seem to remem-
Der anything definite. The words. 1.-The
fifth pair" flashed into my mind and ap-
peared to connect themselves in some
way with my condition: but whether it
was the fifth pair of nerves or ribs. or of
something else. could not make out.
could not understand either how |
could have been SO seriously injured
without any sensible shock. but that my
power OF locomotion was gone there was
no doubt. could move my hands and
I began to speculate on the number of
things one could do with ones hands
alone. This occupied me for what
seemed to be an hour: but rs the train
Of thought was interrupted by clock
striking the hour o. midnight. ! con
cluded it must have been much longer,
and wondered had not heard the pre-
ceding hours.
Suddenly the full horror of my condi-
ton flashed upon me. Twas not only
doomed to remain where was. helpless
and alone, during the long chilly hours
Of the night, but there was no certainty
that would ever get away alive My
friends would never dream that .-aa
there. They had undoubtedly con.
cluded that ! had gone down. and II
they missed me would search every
where but in the right place. 1t might
be days before the particular spot i'll
which | lay would be visited. and in
that case i: would be too late. Starva-
tion would do tor me, even if the injury
l had received did not. In my anguish
| shrieked aloud. but was dnlly con
scious all the time that nobody could
hear me. Visitors and custo'iians alike
must have departed hours before; and
even if my cries were heard from the
streets below nobody would attribute
them to their real source.
To the feeling Of acute anguish SIT
ceeded one of blank despair no longer
speculated on the possibility Of being
| discovered. dead or alive. There was :,
dull leaden feeling at my chest. and I
found myself repeating mechanically
old rhymes and jingles and saying the
| alphabet backward. as | once learned TO
lin seeking relief from insomnia. Yet
at the same time was conscious that
my whole life was passing III review be-
| fore me. as they say it does when one is
drowning or being hanged. remem-
bered that saying, too, and without any
cessation of the review wondered IN
| my doubled consciousness if We're
undergoing the sensations of il adrownlng
man. or of one being hanged, and wished
could put them down on paper for the
benefit of the rest of mankind.
What struck me as singular was that
the clocks kept ON striking twelve. The