Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-10

NV guards crossed the river in the
neighborhood of palaces, and came by
many windings to a huge pile rearing It's
back near a garden place, and there was
turned over to jailers and darkness. Inc
entrance was unwholesome. A man at
a table opened tome which might have
contained all the names in Paris. He up
ped his quill and wrote by condlehght
Political offender or common Grim
inal?" he inquired.
political offender" the officer answer
ed.
What is he charged WITH"
Trying to assassinate the emperor in
his post-chaise'
Ga Ia. la the recorder grunted.
Another attempt! And gunpowder put
! in the street to blow the emperor up only
last week Good luck attends him-only
few windows broken and some common
people killed. Taken in the act, was this
fellow?"
with the knife in his hand"
What name?" the recorder inquired.
had thought on the answer, and told
him merely that my name was Williams.
Eth bien, Monsieur Veeleeum. Take
him to the east side among the political
offenders" said the master-jailer to an
assistant or turnkey.
But it's full" responded the turnkey.
"Shove him I'm some place"
They searched me, and the turnkey
lighted another candle. The meagerness
of my output was beneath remark. When
he had led me up flight OF stone steps
he paused and inquired:
Have you any money!"
mo"
$50 much the worse for you"
What is the name of this prison?'
asked.
"ste. Pelagie," he answered. IF you
have no money and expect to eat here,
you better give me some trinket to sell for
you"
81 have no trinket to give YOU"
He laughed.
Your shirt or your breeches will do"
Are men shut up here to starve?"
The jailer shrugged.
1.-THE bread is very bad, and the beans
too hard to eat. We do not furnish the
rations; it is not our fault. The rule here
is nothing buys nothing. But sleep in
your breeches while you can. You will
soon be ready enough to eat them"
1 was ready enough to eat them then,
but forbore to let him know 1t. The
whole place was damp and foul. We pass
ed along corridor less than four feet
wide and he unlocked a cell from which
a revolving odor came. There was no light
except what strained through a loophole
under the ceiling. He turned the key
upon me, and held my nose. oh, for a
deep draught of the wilderness!
There seemed to be an iron bed at one
side, with heap of rags on top. / re-
solved to stand up all night before trust
ing myself to that couch. The cell was
soon explored. Two strides in each direc-
measured it. The stone walls were mark
ed or cut with names 1 could dimly see.
1 braced my back against the door and
watched the loophole where a gray hint
of daylight told that the sun must be still
shining. This faded to a blotch in the
thick stone, and become obliterated.
Tired by the days march, and with a
taste Of clean outdoor air still in my
lungs, I chose one of the two corners not
| occupied by the ill odored bed, sat down
and fell asleep, dropping my cares. "A
grating of the lock disturbed me. The
jailer pushed a jug Of water into the
room, and replaced his bolts.
Afterwards l do not remember any
J thing except that the stone was not
warm. and my stomach craved, until a
groan in my ear stabbed sleep. I sat NJ
awake in every nerve. There was nobody
In the cell with me. Perhaps the groan
had come from a neighboring prisoner.
Then a faint stir of covering could be
heard upon the bed.
rose and pressed as far as could in
to my corner. No beast of the wilderness
ever had such terror for me as the I'M
known thing that had been my cell-mate
half a night without my knowledge.
Was a vampire-a demon-a witch-a
| ghost locked in there with me?
It moaned again, so family, that com
passion instantly got the better of super
stition.
Who is there?" I demanded; as IL the
| knowledge of a name would cure terror
of the suffering thing naming itself.
1 got no answer, and taking my resolu-
| ton in hand, moved toward the bed, de-
termined to know what housed with me
| The Jug of water stood in the way, and
I lifted it with instructive answer to the
groan.
The creature heard the splash, and
knew by it's rnutter what it wanted Crop
ing darkly to poise the jug for an I'M
seen mouth, 1 realized that something
| helpless to the verge Of extinction lay
on the bed, and l would have to find the
mouth myself or risk drowning IL. held
the water on the bed-rail with my right
hand. CROPPED with the other, and found
a clarnmy, death-cold forehead nose
and cavernous cheeks, an open and fever
roughened mouth. l poured water on my
handkerchief and bathed the face. That
would have been my first desire In ex-
IRENE moments. The poor wretch gave a
revivtng moan, so 1 felt emboldened to
steady the jug and let drop by drop CUR
gle down its throat.
Forgetting the horror of the bed sal
| there. repeating at intervals this poor
ministratior until the portfolio again
dawned and blackness became the twi-
| light of day.