The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-08-30
Deaths Counterfeit
OR
NV Wife'S Husband and |.
fCOPYRIGHT.l
CHATTER II.-Continued.

CHAPTER II.-Continued.
But what good did it do me: l even
regretted having pushed the knot out,
for now the dirt might -ift In upon me.
Another thought now flashed upon
my mind. 1t was to sound my coffin on
ali sides by tapping with my knuckles.
in hope, to ind some place where it
was Tot filed in. Everywhere the
sound was the same until 1 began to
test the end by quick, sharp blows
with my heel. Here l fancied there
was q dull. hollow sound. Perhaps 1t
was Only a different thickness of board.
The next endeavOr was to start board
somewhere. in some weak spot where
the nail, had not pierced evenly. At
that moment thoughts OF the hated
SlmOneau Tilted through my mind, and
nv whole face was bedeweu with cod
sweat AS pict Ired the tall, handsome
man bendkg over my beloved Mar
guerite. whispering words of cOnsOla-
ton in her ears, bidding her take
courage. that he would watch over her,
he would see that she lacked for moth
ing, ne wJuld be her protector. he
would make her life bright and beauti-
full again. | CRASHED my teeth with
rage until fOamed at the mouth. for
could hear the bubbles breaking ON my
lip-.
Cttering curses upon the head of the
hateI Simoneau gathered myself Cor
II might effort to break out of my
narrow cell. Upward, sidewise, length
wise, with hands and feet and head
and arms | strained myself in con-
vulsive struggles to start board and
make my escape. l was like q wild
bea t suddenly pinned down to earth,
aad twisting himself in terrible con-
tOrtiOns to snap the bands that hold
him.
groaned, wept, Kissed, prayed,
/ intonel psalm. laughed like Il luz
natic. IN vain, all In vain. My poor
bruised joints burned a. if Goals OF fire
were heaped upon them. My bones
cracked and bent under the strain put
upon them. l was buried alive. Eeath
would oe an affair of u few short
call for help. and although 1 felt that
these terrible efforts were fast weak
ening lie began t. yell like one pos
sessed; but the voice was n my own,
and the fearful exertiOn did not seem
to be willed by me. My mind in q
calm and calculating manner took note
of these awful cries for help, and
watched the struggles OF this poor
screatu to free itself from impending
death. And yet had no power to con-
troll this double self. which now
scratched furiously at the boards with
with its long nails, and bent and twist
ed its body like wolf in a trap. How
long this parOXysm lasted l know not.
tven now can feel the appalling So
lidity Of these walls, nor have tho Q
piercing shrieks and pitiful sroans yet
ceased to ring in my ears. In spite of
my efforts to obey the calm and Oft
repeated admOnitions of that mysteri-
Gus power regulating my thoughts l
could no.. 1t was impossible. and 1
continued to rage until, utterly ex-
hausted, fell back upon the pillow
placed beneath my head by directi II
OF tho tent e. and loving Marguerite.
In a condition of painful relapse |
awaited the coming of death. for my
coffin might as we'll have been of hewn
rock l felt that | should never be
able to force it open, and this terrible
con lusion robbed me Of all rOwer to
continue the struggle.
another pang was now added to my
Iii Of sufferings, for hunger's gaunt
and heshless hands were joined with
the icy palm of cold and the poisonous
fingers of suffocation-th three furies.
each mistress of the subtle and differ
cnt device, to wiring groans from my
poor parched lips. l felt that l was
swooning away from weakness, and ev-
cry minute this new pang gained in
sharpness. In my suffering thrust my
finger through the knot-hol and Dire "
in several pinches of eartt, which
began to chew. only to redouble my
Ii
long continued torture, like Il famished
beast set my teeth in my arm and
strove to tear the flesh in order to reach
a few dro, Of liquid to cool the teve,
which wa, devOurin- me.
~Ah, if death would only c. ma wa.
now the feeble cry which fell from my
lip. All my lite the thought of ami
hilation had weighed me down, bu,
now | wished for it. Now | yearn eC
for it. Let it come: it cannot be more
terrible than what am su iering now
How silly and childish to he afraid q
this sleep without dreams-this eter
nifty Of silence ana gloom. There is ,
mercy ana Il charm about death whe1
it puts a sudden end to life for
ever. Oh. to be Us clod. a stone
to mingie with the clay and wax,
no IN IRE. ha in a daze | had con
tinued to run my fingers ove- thes,
rough boar,ts. Sud- emily something
pricked my left thumb. and the shar]
pain aroused me from my letharsy
What had done it? felt again. an,
discovered that it was a nail which
the undertaker's men had driven il
crooked, and which had consequently
gone wide of the side of my coffin.
was very long and sharp pointed. TIL
head was still in the lid. but l foun,
that could move it. My only though
now was to work that nail loose Pas.
ing my right hand over my body. BE-
gan the task. 1t was a difficult one
and tired me SO that l was ofte
obliged t. change hands. While thu
engaged in haff-furious attempt t
twist the nail out of the iid--for
seemed utterly unable to do any,hin
.caimly-a plan of escape Iiashe
through my mind. That nail ma
save me-. must nave it anyway Bu
had l time and strength left t. carr
.out nv plan: Hunger was gnawiny q