The Bossier banner., 1892-02-18
A FEARFUL ORDEAL.
An Aot Of Mercy But It Wrecked
a Life.

II Life.
il The superintendent was escorting
three guests through his institution.
Ata certain point he made a partial
! nause, and, motioning to the figure of
4 amau visible in one of the rooms off
the corridor. said: There is one of the
saddest cases that has ever come under
II nv notice" The person alluded to
sa was seated in one of the pleasant par
81 lors of the blishment which lined
81 the hallway His hair was gray, and
u IN his form were symptoms of age
"a which a look at his face belied. There
n we're no wrinkles. none of the deep
q furrows which care will plow in the
y human face. The eye was bright, aud
: bad a look of gentleness very attractive
N to the observer.
Il He certainly does not look like a
! dangerous individual" >" remarked one of
the guests.
''Dangerous?" replied the superin-
. i iendent, ''he is as harmless as a kitten,
and sometimes | don't believe he is
Al TedliN lnSdut, DuD loi dii lhic nv 10 wv
: 4 ter off where he can be looked after.
You see, he has fits of temporary de-
mentia, during which his excitement
runs away with him, and he might do
himself some injury, though he would
never raise his hand to harm anyone
else.
u "His trouble is very peculiar; he had
Q an awful experience once in connection
{ with railway accident and at each re-
4 turning anniversary of that event he
v becomes much depressed, seemingly
i ! only desirous of hiding himself away
II A from all observation. He is never vio-
j lent but these seasons of depression
il arc so intense that it appears advisable
10 he should be watched"
S "Does he ever talk of the event at
!. other times than at it's anniversary?"
n "0h, yes, indeed; in fact, at all other
t times he seems to enjoy meeting peo-
In PIE and if the subject of accidents
,r arises in the course of conversation he
IT A almost certain to tell his story. II
gS you care to hear it an allusion will
:, bring out one of the most affecting
ID I stories you have ever heard"
III The superintendent was right; on the
1t way out he said: "Well, Mr.. Martelle
IS how are you? Let me introduce some
lg friends of mine"
i'll After few words of commonplace
y conversation, one of the guests adroitly
e. led the talk up to railway disasters by
Of / referring to something he had seen il
d the morning papers. Martelle was seer
9. to move uneasily in his chair and tt
s become visibly agitated. His face
oanched and in a voice tremulous will
emotion he began: ''Gentlemen, yol
may not have heard OF it, or if yol
i have, you may have forgotten it, but
! was in railway accident once that ha
J, changed the whole course of my life.
an Each one present manifested an in
be Rrest in the subject that, while pre-
medltated, was not in the leas
affected. Thus encouraged he went Oh
IA i was making my first trip in tn
he west had been through California
~ and was heading for the Yellowston
d country. One day we were whirlin;
slong, verybody in good spirits, ant
n mad Just gone forward into the smok
ing ear and accepted an invitation t
!. st IN game of whist. My partne
!. was tine-looking man, about thirty
# ave years old, with pleasant fac
4 ana voice, and full of good humoI
/. me game was close, for all happene
Il oe good players. Each side had on
W lS credit and the rubber had bee
begun.
= Suddenly there was a lurch,
i suOck, and then for me there was moth
a ie out deep Inconsistencies. Ho7
- remained 50 | cannot tell, but
a "uia not have been long. With tn
m 'ufh OF my senses came the know
Ose That | was hurt. There was
:. pam In my back and the blood wa
q siekllng down my face and neck frol
/. wound in the head. l was lying O
: ground and it was some minute
: e | could realize what had hal
J. lea Gradually matters becam
!, aref' l remembered the game
i ! uS and the sudden shock, and then
aueW some dreadful accident had ha
!. s;ae ea While our game had progresse
]. SUI mad fallen, and in the dim ligl
= n the stars and several lanterns
& sLa a see the figures of men movir
I. ,ue mere and there, and | soon rea
!. or,'.'I .hat they were bearing the form
: sona eo and wounded to my localit
Y 'ue distance from the wreck.
i n he sense of sight had been the fir
q s0oyer; bat now the terrible thro
= sas pam IN my head seemed to IL
l,~S hearing became more activ
Vhaa ah aMful sound that hrnlxn IN.