The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-02
NV Friend From China.

My Friend from China.
In the fall of 1sT- was serving nay
time as apprentice for Mr.. B. house
painter, in the little twon of l.. It was
while there that this little incident took
| place which l am about TO relate, and
| although it happened years ago. is still
| fresh in my mind and indelibly impressed
| on my memory
! Ny father died when I was a lad OF
| about IS, but ere he died he called Mr..
! B, a dear friend from his childhood,
! 10 him and put me in his care, who in
| turn promised TO watch and care for me
| as his own.
Accordingly. it was decided I should re-
main and work with him and learn his
trade-that Of house painter.
There was 10 prettier piece OF land in
all the country around than that occu-
pied by the Suffolk County Asylum for
the Insane 1t sloped 10 the north. 10
be sure. and that did not add to the COM
fort of such as were able to work in
the winter, but in compensation it had
splendid woods and a fine river front
But it was not on account Of natural
beauty that this spot wherein stood the
Suffolk County Asylum had been select
ed. The town officers were hard. practl-
cal men, and did not care for such things
was a great surprise to every one in ths
community when it was at last decided 70
have this particular building repaiated.
Accordingly my employer was consulted
and promised to commence work the fol-
lowing week.
So that gray November morning, which
even now seems as yesterday, I was sent
on ahead with material and tools to re-
move the blinds. double windows and so
forth, and 10 make preparations for Mr..
B and his men, who were to follow
soon after. As ] drove along memory OF
my fathers Illness came back TO haunt
me He had been brought home from his
work insensible and when they at last
succeeded in bringing him to ne was ia
ken violently insane. Two strong men
had TO watch by his bedside. but 1t was
only in his dying moments that the light
Of reason at last rewarded his anxious
watchers Being naturally tinid, hts raw
ings had So impressed themselves on my
childish imagination that even now l re-
call that time only with a feeling OF hor-
ror. I tried to throw it off. and laughed
Al my childish weakness.
II was a low. long, rambling building.
and with the dead leaves flying about and
with the wind whistling weirdly about
the caves II looked in It's silence and DESC
l shivered as 1 neared the house.
I found | had either left my screw
driver behind lost it on the road. but
fortunately I happened to have a small
one with me, and soon set to work. l had
removed the storm windows and blinds
from the lower story and was about to
ascend the ladder for those above when
I happened to glance toward the gate THAI
connected this yard with the one adtoIn-
ing. Hatless, in half-clothed condition.
with shirt tapping in the wind, a man
was running toward me, and, yes, clutch
ed tight in one hand outstretched toward
me, shining blade Of steel The cold
chills crept down my back and l stood
rooted to the spot but only for an in
slant; with few bounds I was in the
road and running with all possible speed |
/ felt, rather than saw, that he was fol- |
lowing, for l dared not turn my head r. |
| could reach the river I would be safe
for l was an excellent swimmer. Oh, if |
had but thought OF that at first and |
made for the back gate, instead of the |
front If I could but get on the other |
side OF the fence. 1t was quite high; L !
should have to climb it. Delay just now
would mean certain capture, and perhaps !
death, for he was gaining on me- / could |
hear his hot, gasping breath close be- |
hind.
There was an opening a little further
along used for cattle, and this I exertad |
all my strength to reach. I threw myself |
on the ground beneath the bars, and roll
ing under TO the other side, was upon nv
feet again in an instant. l recall with
what feverish anxiety 1 hoped ne would
be delayed a second or two in getting
over; but no! with the agility and quick
ness of squirrel he jumped to the TOP
bar, and swinging himself over was again
close to my heels. But few more bounds
and would reach the river. Overcome
with fatigue and trembling with excite
ment, but with a heart full of thankful
ness, l made one last leap. caught my
toe in an underlying vine and fell head
long TO the ground. I lay for some sec
onds with closed eyes, not daring to look
up, but as it is natural to want to know
the worst even in the darkest hours of
peril, slowly opening my eyes. I beheld
above me the grinning face of a Mougo-
Ian, and in his hand. graciously extended
toward me, the long shining steel of my
screw driver