Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-09-09
CHAPTER IL

Family, fearfully my spirit is futter-
ing in and out OF the deserted house
from whence it has been driven, uncer-
tain to go or stay, giving me the faintest
hint Of my identity, to leave me again
in darkness, yet returning each time
with greater confidence, until it finally
stays to feebly spread itself from heart
to brain, and l realize that l am I.
/ try to move, though it costs me an
effort. Ny body feels as if swollen to
an enormous size. l am oppressed for
space / strive to make elbow room.
What is this? 1 stretch out my stiifen-
ed arms. and come in contact with my
coffin! From all my pores the cold
sweat is bursting. My brain is OH fire
as recollection rushes upon me-the gal
lows, my death agony, and the appalling
conviction that l have been cut down
too soon and buried alive!
In my wild anguish / fight out madly
with both hands; but, strange, fight the
air! There is no lid, then, to my coffin !!
| writhe myself into a sitting posture,
and there dawns for me a glimmer Of
hope Cautiously / begin to feel about
me, growing every moment more mysti-
fed, for my hand comes in contact with
wooden surface, on which the coffin
evidently stands. Though I am in my
coffin I certainly am not in my grave!
A ray of light shoots suddenly from
behind me across the gloom, revealing
one side of the rough deal shell in which
l sit, strip Of the table on which it
rests, and facing me door. l follow
with my tortured eyeballs the beam, and
see that it is the moon shining through
SC
window, then, in my mysterious abiding
place! The hope leaps instantly into Wig
orous being, and with it the determina-
ton to escape. I feel strongly about
the second life of mine, that it is di-
vine gift direct from the hands Of God
To have to yield it up now would be to
die ten thousand deaths. My other life
I risked on a forlorn hope, and lost
There was justice in it. I knew the
penalty, and had counted the cost. I
suffered death in its most degrading,
most awful form, and have therefore
paid in full. l have satisfied the law,
therefore this life l hold is all my own,
and to the last drop of blood / will
protect and defend it.
am in some clubhouse adjoining either
dissecting room or the residence of
for dissection. There are two means
of exit, door and window. The for
mer will be certainly locked The win
dow turn toward it's a easement
Alas, for my broad shoulders; it is small!
However, it is my one chance. l must
try it. AS we are in summer when the
nights are short, it must be the dead
hour. | have no time to lose. / scram-
BILE out of the coffin. l drop my stiffen-
ed legs to the floor.
[ reel like a drunken mani make
the half circuit of the table, reach the
window, and seek with my shaking fin
gers for button or hasp, and there IS a
rush of cool night air on my brow It
reviyes me somewhat, and now for it!
/ set my teeth, and raise myself With
my hands by the Trace, thrusting out my
head and part of my shoulders. Then
pause to gather up my forces. Some
thing taps my crown, making my heart
leap to my mouth 1t is only the sway
ing bough of a tree! Another violent
effort and my shoulders stick fast!
And now commences a fearful strug-
gle. It is almost as bad as hanging
the sensations are certainly similar
eyeballs starting, skull bursting. and legs
plunging aimlessly, until a frantic Kick
backward brings my foot Unexpectedly
In contact with the edge Of the tible, and
Il get a purchase.
strain every sinew. There 10 q crack
Ing and crunching which / imagine to be
my shoulder blade, and am precipitated