The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-19

| shed. Ny aunt passed me BY and
rushed into the street, straight to the
market place. could not follow.
What happened there was told me
later.
"Wild with agony at her husbands
fate, my gentle, loving aunt had burst
into food Of reproach Of his murder.
In these days this was crime enough
for the heaviest punishment, and be-
fore evening she had Jared the same
fate as my uncle.
"The Reign Of Terror had indeed
begun with us. The girls had fed,
terrified at the fate which had befallen
their protectors, and ! was meditating
in half stupefed way the same meas
ure, when a knock came at the door,
and two men, who had often eaten and
drunk at my uncle's table, came in
and made me prisoner, confiscating
all the possessions Of the family to the
state.
In those days mans foes were Of
ten they Of his own household. / Of
fered no resistance the shock of the
day had completely unnamed me. |
made certain that /, too, should die
that night, But my time was not yet
come.
"In consequence Of the lateness Of
the hour / was taken to the town pris-
on, dismal building, which | had
never known to be occupied. There |
was thrust into a deep dungeon, and
left in total darkness till the morning,
when doubted not | should be con-
Quoted to the same cruel fate as my
poor relatives had met. But morning
came, as | had guessed by the sound
without, and still no summons. Worn
out with suspense and waiting, / fell
asleep. When / awoke hunger and
thirst oppressed me. Happily / had
stored some bread and meat and a
small bottle Of wine in oneof the pock-
cts Of my coat preparatory to my in
tended fight. OF this I now ate and
drank. No one came nigh me, and
yet / could hear sounds as if wretched
prisoners were being led forth out Of
neighboring cells, doubtless to death;
for they wept and pleaded vainly as it
seemed to me.
"But the third day great stiffness
fell on the prison. | could not under
standit; my senses were enfeebled for
want of food, for my small stock had
long been exhausted, and / almost
lacked strength to wonder why was
left to live SO long. Presently arose
an awful terror, lest this should be
my sentence, to perish miserably for
want of food in this damp dungeon.
Death on the scaffold appeared light
by comparison. I clamored at my
prison door. ! shouted as loudly as |
could-all to no purpose. Then r.
burst into an agony Of tears, my fate
was too terrible to bear. With the
soft nature Of my youth / pitied and
bemoaned myself sorely. AL at once
words came into my mind that / had
learned years ago as a text in the
school, Fear thou not, for am with
thee be not dismayed, for am thy
God.'
"They came like ray of light into
my prison, and / chung to the promise
as if it had that moment been made to
me by plying God. | felt soothed
and hopeful, and ID this condition I I!
sank back in doze or swoon.
How time passed could not tell:
day and night to me were alike in my
cell. / woke up to find light and
warmth and kinkly faces about me.
Slowly regained consciousness enough
to understand what they told me. l /
had lain five days forgotten, the still
ness | had noted the third day was ac-
counted for by the fact that the news
had just reachedour town Of the death
of one of the greatest leaders of the
revolution, and the consequent decline
of the party. In fear of his life, our
terrorist mayor had fed, and the old
mayor, resuming power, had ordered
the prison doors to be set open. /, in
my solitary cell, had been forgotten,
and but that some one had been sent
to examine all the cells and collect the
letters used therein, l might have
persisted most miserably. AS it was, j
was carried out perfectly senseless
H.. q