The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-05-11
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY, MD. FRIDAY, H. 1900.

Dut IN vain. FINALLY she reached the
shore where my boat was tied and, to
my surprise, scrambled into it. Think
ing that she was frightened, but sure
now that l should catch her, did like
wise. In some way the painter slipped
from the stake, and before realized it
we were drifting away.
The rest of this experience l do not
pretend to explain. 1 can only relate
it. AS reached forth to grasp Psyche
she sprang out of the boat into the wa
ter. Then she swan to where the
painter dragged and, taking it in her
mouth, started toward Deer island.
know that this was against strong
current and in the teeth of a heavy
windstorm and that it is unbelievable
that dog could swim a mile, dragging
a boat. In fact, that is why l did not
go upon the witness stand ard tell my
tale. No one would believe it, yet it is
the solemn truth. tried to pull her
back by the rope, but the effort was
useless. had no oars, so was power
less. After time we reached Deer is
land. Psyche at once started into the
bushes. Determined to see the affair
out, 1 followed till we reached a bit of
thicker brush, into which she dashed
and disappeared. l. forced my way
through, and there in the middle of
clearing l saw a CHASTITY sight. | saw
it clearly, for at that very moment the
clouds parted, and the moon lighted
the scene. Psyche was tied fast to
birch tree and lay dead, with a gaunt,
terrible expression in her eyes that
told me she had starved. Horrified
hurried back to the boat and jumped
in. The impetus pushed it out into the
lake, and the current, as has been cor
rectly testified, carried me south, land
ing me just at the dock, as the same
drift had taken the young miller's boat.
All night 1 tossed in restless delirium,
and early in the morning l must have
dropped into fitfGl sleep. know that
l awakened suddenly, and as the whole
horrible thing came back to me it was
impossible to say whether it had been
a reality or dream. In this mood
started for Deer island, taking Hamil-
ton with me. / asked him to get my
short oars and was surprised when he
reported that they were not in the boat
house. / was also astonished to find
them floating at Deer island. l discoy-
cred my poor dog tied fast to the birch,
just as had seen her the night before.
Then / knew that the villain Norton
had murdered her. l say murdered,
for to deprive a soul of it's earthly ex-
istence is to commit murder, and surely
my dog had q soul, else how could she
have warned me of her sad fate? l
was amazed but not sorry to see Nor
toms dead body floating near the shore.
There was a realization in my heart
that he had met with retributive JUS
tice in dying at the very place where
Psyche's soul had departed.
How he came to his death and how
he happened to be at Deer island l
know no more than you do. But If l
should venture upon theory it would
be that when came ashore he saw me
and fancied that I had been searching
for my dog. Thinking that might go
to Deer island, he may have determin-
ed to go there himself and remove the
carcass of the poor beast which he had
slain. Then perhaps he got my long
oars and went to the island. In some
way he was drowned, and the oars
fioated into the bushes and the boat
out into the lake till found by the mill
er's son. But, wonder, did Psyche's
SoIII 1IrQ him tO hiS donn,o