The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-27
An Awful Quarter Mile.

$50 you were afra:d2 1 wonder if you
ever knew real fear; fear that makes
solitude dreadful and silence a he'll ever
after. Such fear once came 20 me. had
always been brave before; had never
dreaded anything. but since that awful
night all tae horrors Of shattered nerves
have been mine.
Il was employed as nurse in the big
Hospital tina, you may see from the win
dow. and had grown 20 love my TASK OF
mercy and those 10 whom 1 minisIered-
However, the time came when l must
leave. and among the blessings and tears
OF many OF the patients 7 took my depart
ure, and just as The clock struck one
November evening I passed out of he
big door, which Jared heavily behind ME-
/ was so shor; distance TO tae place
1 was to make my home that l had de-
cided TO walk, and so turned TO the left
and started along the tagged walk, past
the high brick wall Of the insane ward
and along the hedgsd street which ad-
joins.
"A light, restless wind occasionally rat
Il ed the lesfess branches OF tie ma
pies. and made the gas lamps al the coz
ners flick yellow twists Of lame
The air was raw and the sky heavily
overcast with densest clouds. which per-
nitted never a ray of starlight 20 break
through. and SO between the feeble yellow
circles Of the gas lamps were long
sire tones OF darkness
II remember feeling of uneasiness.
as if all were not exactly right as 4
passed the gate at the end or the brick
wall of the insane ward. II seemed 10
me that the massive fabric of oak and
iron stirred slightly on its hinges: but
how could that De? 1t was always locked
and heavily barred after O'Clock, and
no one could possibly open it. The idea
was absurd. I looked along the street
ahead of me. At every corner l could
see the gas lamps fading into the perspec-
tive. l counted the first hour.
only 400 little yardsi Surely nothing
could happen to me in so short a dis
lance What fool I wasi i started at
a brisk pace Halfway to the first lamp
already, and nothing terrible rad happen
ed, yet my uneasiness grew upon me, and
the dry, harsh grating together of two
boughs directly overhead sent the blood
chilling to my heart. / cast nervous
glance behind me. Pshawi There was
nothing there. No, surely not. and /
started on again, and had passed the
first lamp, and was we'll on 10 the sec
ond, when the faintest sound from be-
hind caused be to turn like a fash, in
time to see a tall, shadowy something
glide from the illuminated circle 1 had
just left, and come straight in my direc-
ton.
Il nervously quickened my pace. at the
same time straining my ears for any sound
but none was audible In the silence, save
the gentle signing of the wind through
the branches and hedge. So. at slightly
Cr1fOlonAd L al he Ia,,,
post, passed through its Pickering rad;-
ance and paused in the darkness, and as
paused my blood stood still, for heard
three quick, cautious footsteps, and !
felt that back there in the thick, impene-
trable blackness, death was standing
waiting. Slowly and carefully, on, so
carefully and toward the circle of light
which l had just left. and in little time
l came to the third gas lamp, and, as
passed into its CHASTITY glimmer, a sud
den swift, dry patter OF feet came 70 my
ear; tall, thin form rushed through the
light, and with a frightened scream
turned and ran. Ran with all my might
from the horrible quick, shriu klop. klop!
klop! klop! on the pavement behind me.
was nearly home, and the sounds Of
quick, hard breathing came from behind
me.
II reached the familiar gap in the
hedge, darted through it. and-thank
God-the house door was open. AS I rush
ed in hand clutched the shawl from
my shoulders. I slammed the door behind
me with all my strength. slammed 1t
against something soft and yielding; had
a momentary glimpse of three long, crook
ed fingers, crushed and writhing Then
they were torn from the biting clutch
OF the door. AS l fell, faintng, I ,limly
heard the swift patter of retreating feet
outside.
When I regained consciousness there
was blood upon the door jamb."