Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-01-16

stood up. fell on my knees to pray.
When again stood upright, my head
struck the still descending roof. en-
deavored to stand straight, using all my
might to resist the downward pressure,
but In vain. Again fell upon my knees.
The weight reached my head and pressed
me farther down. was now lying on my
face. The air felt hot and Undesirable.
turned on my back, and with my hands
and knees tried to push back or at least
stop the farther descent Of that awful wall.
As did so thought l could hear a
chuckling noise, which sounded like
laughter. At length, in hopeless despair,
lay still and awaited the end. Ny body
was pressed gently against the floor. The
weight on my chest was SO great that l
could not breathe / made a violent effort
to scream; then moaned family, and that
was all was conscious Of.
That was not the end, however. The
bright sun shining into my place OF torture
and imprisonment reused me to conscious
ness and brought back the awful remem-
brance of the evening before The roet
had been raised to its original position,
and there was nothing to show that it had
ever moved Ny head throbbed with
fever, and o burning thirst parched my
throat and mouth. l cried aloud for some
one to bring me water, but there was no
answer.
Then I rose and flung myself with all
my weak strength against the holtcd door,
but it gave not an inch. l staggered to
the seat and fell upon it, with my face
against the stones in order to gain some
slight relief from the GOODNESS. plat I'd
my tongue and lips against the stone, but
it gave only momentarv relief
Hank What was that; Surely it WAS
the sound OF running water What other
torture would they offer me? | wondered.
How close the water sounded! turned
my head and saw, to my delight, streams
of pure water flowing from the holes of
which have already spoken. l flung my
self TO the ground with a cry and COM
menced to lap up the water which WAS fast
covering the floor. The fendi ii was not
water, but some fiery liquid which scorch-
ed and shriycled up the skin OF my mouth.
l flung myself back on the seat and re-
solved not to move again, but patiently
await death
But the water still kept on flowing.
What did it mean? 1t was creeping slowly
up to the bench Was drowning in this
fiery liquid to end my sufferings at last'
Well, l would lie still and let its mission
be accomplished without struggle. But
this was impossible. The instinct of self
preservation was still strong within me,
and | stood mp. The water was now up
to my waist. and rising fast. What would
be the Use Of prolonging life by swimming
In this liquidf ] might as well give up t
once and die. Still struck out with my
arms and tried to keep my head above the
liquid. In my feeble state it was
work.
l tried to float. My head sank, AMI
again I put forth my little strength
managed to keep on the surface for a
time. Then felt that couldn't hold OFT
any longcr-I sank once and rose agai
making no effort to save myself Thel !
sank and rose once more. Then l realized
that could rise but once again, and open.
ed my eyes to catch glimpse Of the sun
light streaming in at the other end of the
cell.
We'll, this appears to be the end Of the
paper" said Aunt Harriet. There must
be another sheet, Jack. Run up to the
trunk and see If you have not overlooked
it. This is the most exciting adventure !
ever heard Of! And to think that Grand
father d Almar should have kept it &C
quiet"
OF course Jack and Arthur rushed te
the attic and in few minutes they came
down hayin. found nothing but tiny
scrap Of yellowed paper.
II don't think this can belong to it,
Aunt Harriet, - said Jack. 1t is not the
same kind of paper, though 1t has few
French words written on it.
Aunt Harriet took it and read slowly:
To my intense delight I saw only 3
head Of beautiful golden hair, and a little
voice which came from the child who had
her arms about my neck. said; why,
papa, why do you shiyer and shake sc
when you take napf Come, leave yoII
old musty books and go down to the spring
with me to get a drink OF water. -
Aunt Harriet laughed. well, SO this
was grandfather IS advcnturei" she said.
Il think great grandfather D'Almal
was big humbug." said Jack and Arthur
together Press.