The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-02
ON THE ROOF.

Have you never read of a persons hair u
mrning gray in single night? OF course h
YOU have. The old story books are full y
II such tales. can remember dozens of :
them-stories reeking with gore and +
dank with dungeons, and grewsome with
ghosts and other uncanny things The
heroine. and sometimes the hero. goes to 6
he'd at night with hair as black as the
ravens wing. and along in the night
come the horrors. whatever they are. and
in the morning the raven hair has turned
snowy white.
can remember. too. that never used
to take any stock in such stories. used
to hear them read, and get up quite a
respectable thrill at the most horrible
} portions. especially when the candle
fiickered awhile. leaving everybody in
total darkness, just as deep groan was
heard or long, shuddering cry. like the !
wind through the weeping willows in a
graveyard.
Oh, yes! was quite susceptible to
touching passages like those, and used
to hurry up to bed and tuck my head
under the clothes and shiver with the
most timid of them. But somehow or
other could not accept the hair turning
part of the story. knew that hair,
black or white could stand on end. but
that good head of black hair would
bleach itself out between dark and day
light was a little too much to swallow.
l know better now. have had = lit
tie experience of my own which-but
perhaps it is best to tell the story as it
occurred.
It was on the roof of the cathedral at
Milan, We had climbed the stairs in
the late afternoon of beautiful spring
day, after paying the custodian the in
significant price he asked for all the
glories visible from the elevated station.
We had looked through the telescope
for another fee-and had each assured
the others that we saw Mont Blanc per-
fectly we'll. without for a moment be-
leving what the others said or convinc-
ing them that we told the truth, and
had ended our climbs by ascending to
the highest point under the lantern-if
it is a lantern-by the cOrkscrew stair
case. which will scarcely permit any but
the thinnest persons to pass when one Is
going up and the other coming down.
We were party of four. and when
the roof was reached the youngest pro-
posed a ramble over that portion OF the
structure. To this all but myself as
sented | was tired and proposed to
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 a time was quite comfortable
and paid no attention to the passage Of
time; but suddenly noticed that it wa'
getting dark and that my companion
had not returned called to them frs
in moderate tone of voice, then NOR
loudly. but received no answer.
Fearing that they would be belated OF
the roof started in search OF them.
walked the entire length of the ridge .
the main roof and peered down all tn
side passages in the gathering dusk, bu
caught no glimpse of my companions
Then descended to the roof of the aisl
and made a search there which was ais
fruitless. became alarmed as the l1gh
failed, and ran from one point to al
other, calling out as ran, until fount
n, to my great distress, that had lost m
way. could see far below me the light
of the great city and hear the distar
rumbling of the carriages as they drov
past on the stony streets.
But was as effectually lost for tt
moment as if l had been in the heart {
an African jungle without compa!
and no Stanley on the alert to hunt n
up. In the excitement and despa
which the consciousness of this fact pr
duced, l rushed about SO wildly that
slipped and fell on long fight OF sto1
steps, wet with the dew which had b
gun to fall. was not conscious OF M
serious injury from the fall, but when
brought up at the foot Of the stairs al
tried to regain my footing, ! found,
my despair and horror, that was ute
ly unable to move my limbs. ! was pa
alyzed.
The mental agony suffered Is inco
ceivable. Yet curiously enough spe
the first moments in specializing as
the exact nature of the injury | had 81
tanned. Had broken my back or sil
ply injured my spinal cords tried
recall what l had heard my doct
friends say about injuries OF SINH
character, but could not seem to reme
Der anything definite. The words, 1T
fifth pair" flashed into my mind ana
peared to connect themselves IN Sol
! way with my condition; but whether
was the fifth pair of nerves or ribs or
something else, could not make out.