Chicago eagle., 1903-10-24

around my body. after first putting on
my clothing. and. dragging mo from the
window. swung me from the balcony to
the ground below.
Carrying then my helpless form to
the lake. they there bound up my
wounds. stnunching the flow of blood.
which until then they had allowed to drip
MS it would. then turned and noiselcssly
bore me To u lonely cave. situated in the
heart of Demons Wood--a place never
frcquented. and. presume. the existence
of which was unknown.
This place had been prepared for my
reception. aud after fastening me firmly
TO a staple with u chain they had in
readiness. they left me. gagged and help.
less. then alone. for two days aud one
night. Twice they both came with food.
and. while one stood with pistol over
my head, TO prevent word. the other
fed Inc.
"On the second night they visited me
about midnight. and. merely saying:
"'All is now rely for your reception.
rise and go with u.s. they placed me in
n wagon as before and took me back to
the Hall
Leaving the wagon concealed outside
tUc U'tWP'U IIpW tUTTlel
me TO the ruined part. and. entering.
conveyed me into this. my prison. which
they had secretly arranged Tor my use.
| was not brought hero ut once. 1t seems.
because on the very night Of their daring
outrage they had discovered that some
revolving iron shelves they had fitted To
the entrance could not be- securely fast.
ened. rs the large screws to he inserted
were too short. Not wishing TO postpone
the horrible business. they had hastily
prepared the cave. and held me there un.
ill other screws could be procured.
Now all was ready and here. just
eighteen years ago. ! was thrust and kept
u prisoner by means of Il LONG Chain fast
cncd from my ankle TO an iron holt In
the wall was securely fastened. then
the gag was taken from my mouth and
the ropes from my limb.
From that hour have seen no human
face heard no human voice. These walls.
| know. are several feet thick, built So
thar no sound can issue from them. Not
n movement can bc heard. unless the pan.
els are open. and then but family.
"Oh. innocent. ruined brother! oh.
forgc,ful Constance. When shall cease
to think of these twoi'
Earle Elfcnstcin paused when he
reached these last words. and large tears
Of sympathy still rolled over his checks.
ns they had often done during the read
Ing. while every one of his intent listen.
ors were similarly affected. Conqucring
his emotion by an effort. he again read
ON:
MAY -. is Nearly seven years
since ] last wrote on these pages. Not
once during that time has there been n
change in my lot until tonight.
"ronight different hand opened tho
panels. l knew instantly that il was not
Rcginalds. Something certainly must
have happened to him. The jerk was
wanting.
~ soft. uncertain way of pushing
them apart attracted my attention. There
was n longer pause. u seeming study of
the modus opcrandi of the revolving
shelves. and slightcr push made them
turn more slowly. Yes. am sure n
stranger has been let into the secret of
my confinement; and that stranger,
think. must be- n timid woman.
".iunc q, Something terrible has
happened to my brain. am wild! am
nndonc. ! can remember nothing. Who
am !? Where am II All. yes: have 1t.
| was n peer; am ~ no longer.
Il am u poor minister of tho gospel.
coniincd here for the sake of religion. |
am. in short. Rev Edwin 4. Stiles. How
strange that am here. can remember
nothing.
but I have n bible. aud ! read and
preach long sermons, and pray continu-
| ally. Yes. some day | shall. ! think,
bc released. ! shall preach the gospel.
How strange my head feels. Sometimes
| think l nm going mad"
"July isl am preaching and pray.
ing constantly. Night and day ! plead
with God to scnd mo knife. Will my
prayers be grantedy Shall ! ever have n
knife? Can | ever cut my way out of
this weary prison. out To liberty. aud
preaching!"
"July i0.--Hallelijah! My prayer Is
heard! \ knife came to me with my
food: sent mo. | presume. by accident.
IL was forgotten. and now II Is mine.
! shall write no more. | shall instantly
get TO work: shall soon bc free man.
but these pages, written as 1t We're,
with my hearts blood, ! shall never once
leave out Of the reach of my hands. !
am Rev. Edwin &. Stiles, u minister 'ol
the gospel. and these lines are my dplo.
mas. my badge of office, la, ha; a knife
Is mine; my own. Aud now shall work
myself free"'
Elfcnstein paused AMI passed his hand
over his forehead IN deep thought. \
sudden idea had seized him; 1t was this
Ethel Ncvcrgail and he must have been
in the corridor when this poor creature
escaped, Yes: poor creature. These
last lines told that he must have been