The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-01-13
when i thought OF this l became

JAL.
desperate. ! caught the floor with q
grasp which drove the blood from my
nails, and l yelled with the cry of de-
spair. I called for help, / prayed, l
shouted. but all the efforts of my voice
were, of course, drowned in the bell.
As it passed over my mouth it occa-
sionally echoed my cries, which mixed
not with its W sound, but preserved
their distinct character. Perhaps this
was but fancy. To me, l know, they
then sounded as il they were the
shouting, bowling or laughing of tl:p
iiends with which my Imagination had
pcopled the gloomy ave which swung
over me-.
In twenty minutes the ringing was
done. Halt Of that time passed over
me without power of computation
the other halt appeared an age. When
1t ceased l became gradually more
quiet, but n G fear retained me. l
knew that five minutes would clapse
without ringing. but at thc,end of that
short time tho bell would be run for
a second time for five minutes more. I
could not calculate time. A minute
aud M hour were of equal duration. l
feared TO rise lest the five minutes
should have elaps.l and the ringing
be again commenced. in which case |
should be crushed before l could es"
cape against the walls of framework
OF the bell. / therefore still continued
to lie down. cautiously shifting my.
self, however, with a careful gliding,
SO that my eye no longer looked into
the hollow. This was of itself n con-
siderable relief.
The cessation of the noise had. in a
great measure. the effect of Supplying
me, for my attention being no longer
occupied By the chimcras l had con-
jured up began to flag. All that now
distressed me was the constant expec-
tation of the second ringing. for which,
however, / settled myself with a kind
of stupid resolution. closed my eyes
and clinchea my teeth as firmly as it
they were screwed in a vice.
At last the dreaded moment came,
and the first swing of the bell extorted
Il groan from me, as they say the most
resolute victim screams at the sight of
the rack. to which he is for the second
time destined. After this, however, l
lay silent aud lethargic, without a
thought.
When it ceased WAS aroused IL little
by tho hope of escape. / did not,
however, decide on this step hastily,
but, putting up my hand with the ut
most caution, | touched the rim.
Though the ringing had ceased it still
was trcmulous from the sound and
shock under my hand, which instantly
recoiled rs from an electric jar. A
quarter of an hour probably elapsed
before l again dared to make the cx-
pertinent, and then l found it at rest.
l determined to lose no time, fearing
that might have lain then already
too long and that tho bell for evening
service would catch me.
This dread stimulated me, and l
slipped out with the utmost rapidity
and arose. l stood, l suppose, for q
minute, looking with silly wonder on
the place of my Imprisonment, pcne-
trated with joy at escaping, but then
rushed down tho stony and irregular
stair with the velocity of lightning
and arrived in the bell-ringer's room.
My hands were torn aud bleeding; my
hair disheycled and my clothes tat
tered.
I leaned against the wall, motionless
and deprived of thought, in which
posture my companions found mo
when, in the course of n couple of
hours. they returned to their occupa-
tion.-BiackUOoa'S Ma1asiRe.