Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-06-14
THE GOLD CHAIN.

walking with me saying:
'Do you observe that mani he has .
gold chain round his arm"
"Oh," replied, ''that's nothing very
wonderful"
"But this is," said he. SIT is fastened on
70 that It cannot be removed. It was put
ON him somewhere abroad, and he is bound
by it in some mysterious way SO that he has
to go there whenever he is called"
This was certainly something unusual,
and as my friend could tell me no more my
curiosity was reused, and I determined to
find out the truth for myself if possible.
There was no great difficulty in getting
an Introduction to the gentleman in ques-
tion. He was well known, and though
rather reserved was accounted q good fel-
low by his more intimate acquaintances.
We scon became very good friends, but
though was eager to know his story did
not venture to ask him point blank. as
could see that nothing could be got in that
way. So waited patiently, and at length
/ hit on an idea, which proceeded to carry
out ON the first favorable opportunity. One
evening brought the conversation round
to the subject Of hypnotisrn, and after a
little preliminary fencing asked him wheth-
er he believed in these so called mysterious
powers said to be possessed by some people.
Believer replied he, ''yes, l do, and in
truth have good reason to. And so would
you If you had passed through what have
suffered from these same internal powers
for that they are internal / am as sure as
that am at present in their grasp, into
which had the i'll luck to fall. Look at
that" said he, suddenly barring his right
arm to the elbow, "there is the mark of the
demons who have killed for me all pleas
ure in life. Would they had killed me
outrightp'
1t was certainly a most extraordinary
sight. Around his arm, midway between
the elbow and the wrist, there was deeply
imbedded in the flesh gold chain COM
posed OF massive links of very peculiar
pattern. At first sight it appeared to be
merely cleverly tattooed design, for the
links, though perfectly distinct, did not
appear to interfere with the continuity of
the skin, but closer examination revealed
their actual solidity. 1t was mystery how
such an object could have been 80 implant-
ed in the living tissues without, as he as
sured me, inconveniencing him in the least
at ordinary times. When had exhausted
my curiosity and sufficiently expressed my
establishment, he proceeded, though ap-
parently with considerable reluctance, to
tell the story connected with it,
This chain," said he, (which appears to
you mere object of curiosity, and the re-
suit of some mad freak on my part, is to
me a terrible badge and real bond Of
slavery.
"Ten years ago was in the West Indies
partly on business, partly on pleasure
had already wandered over q great part Of
the earth, and wherever I went l made a
point of examining as closely as possible
into every strange phase of human life, and
my cursed curiosity-I can call it by no
more dignified name-led me to visit Haiti,
that ulcer of the new world where the ne
gro has covered his native barbarism with
an all too thin veneer Of civilization. One
day l had wandered into the country, adj
mirin9 the rank luxuriance of the tropical
vegetation and, unluckily for me. having
gone too far, lost my way. Night, the
sudden black night of the tropics, came
down, and knew not whittier to turn.
I'm the wilds there were no signs of hui
man dwellings, but as l aimlessly STUN
,bled on, hoping sooner or later to light on
some trace Of human life or some track
which might follow, saw the glad gleam
OF lights at no great distance. fastening
on, l soon heard voices ana breaking
through some tnick uhderRrowth 1ouhd
MyseH at the entrance 10 small level
ciear space surronhaed Dy lofty trees. so
gIau was 10 oe, as tnought, withln reach
OF sheiter ior tne night that hastily ad-
vahceu u lew s.eps peiore glance at the
group OF wiiu hgures, now clearly llluml-
natea oy .he iiRht OF the hre' toid me that
nad broken III on an opeah ceremony:
wen knew the a'te that awaited un-
""1horiAeo ihtruuers on these horriu rites
anu Iurheu 10 nee out was 700 iate
h'u ueen opser.eo' anu cre 1 haa taken
couple Oh steps pack"aru par OF swarthy
negroes sprahg on me ana pore me 10 the
krouno' ihe,, Knives were already a' my
thrnat' Wheh the ieaoer Oh the panu-the
priest, suppose, II he can be called priest
who presides over these orgies-came for
ward and with word staid them. Set
on my feet again at his command, he eyed
me steadily for few moments, and If ever
devil looked out OF human eyes he did then
Such anotherdiapolical countenancel have
never seen.
lie appeared to cogitate few moments,
tnen speaking TO the negroes IN Jargon of
which all but few words were unntelligi-
80 Ia. .-I.