The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-06-11

banked by dark clouds, while low,
rambling farmhouse stood silhouetted
against the plains.
The train shot on. Station after sta
tion was passed until we were almost
home again. / had grown drowsy, and
throwing my heavy travelling wrap
about me rested against the cushion.
Suddenly raised my head and locked
around the car. | cannot describe the
force that compelled me, but am quite
sure that had my life been weighed in
the balance against my inclinations L
could not have done otherwise. l saw
the same terrible eyes fastened upon
me with that awful glitter, and they
expressed more than mortal tongue
could have done-hatred, revenge, cru
city, fiendishness.
grew sick at heart. could under
stand now the fear that must possess
the Door little animal the prey of the
larger. My limbs trembled. My head
reeled. My teeth chartered like cas-
tenets, and it seemed to me that the
beating of my heart could be heard all
over the car, above the roar and din of
the rattling train. A desperate thought
flashed through my mind. would
speak to the conductor and ask his pro-
lection, or that fatherly looking gentle
man in the corner who resembled
physician. But what should say? Tell
him / was afraid of man on the train
who was looking at me? Go to the
fatherly looking old gentleman with a
blanched face and trembling limbs, and
beg him to protect me from some one
who had done nothing to molest me?
What would they say, or saying moth
ing, what might they think? My mind
was chaos of conflicting emotions.
l looked around the car. Evidently
the occupants did not notice my agita-
tion-those who were awake; II great
many were in various stages of repose,
and l can remember the half frantic
thought that came to me, imagining
how they would wake from their slum-
ber in wild alright should do what l
was most sorely tempted to do-lose my
control and give voice to my nervous
ness in truly feminine Shrek.
1t is claimed by that class of people
termed enthusiasts that actual dissolu-
tion is not unpleasant, but is preceded by
state of coma, so delightful, in fact,
that people who have walked hand in
hand with death almost to the shores of
the other world have rebelled upon be-
! ing awakened.
think ! must have relapscd into a
state something very much akin to this,
for when the train steamed into the
depot l was forced to arouse myself,
and made my way rapidly through
the car to the outward entrance.
1t was very dark. The wind blew a
gale and the air had grown chill. l
hastened rapidly through the depot
without encountering a familiar face
and picked my way over the pavemepts
under the gaslight.
There was neither a cab nor a car In
sight, and after some little delibera-
tion l decided not to wait. Gathering
my skirts about me l disappeared down
dark street. There was always a
policeman on that corner l knew, and
l could appeal to him. l had been out
many times before at night without eX-
periencing any alarm, but now l was
timid and I looked in vain for the
policeman's familiar form. The very
lamp posts seemed to stretch out spec
trail arms that were moclSing my fear,
and the massive buildings on either
side of the street looked grim and fore
boding.
1t might have been city of the dead,
everything was so silent-not soul in
sight. The gas lights had grown dim.
l looked about me nervously and rec
| Ounized with horror n form that had
grown to me terribly familiar. threw
self-control to the winds and started to
run. There were only two blocks more
and felt sure could reach the end OF
the way.
On, on, sped, my heart beating with
such rapidity that it almost suffocateC
me. One block more and l would be
safe. With a courage born of despera
tion l made the final effort. 1 looked
around. The form was gaining upor
me rapidly. Would l ever reach it? Al
last my foot was on the step and