The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-13
AN ADVENTURE
"A OF A MISSIONARY.

Copyright. 1908. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
After spending ten years In India as
0 missionary returned to America to
recuperate from the effects Of the In
dian climate. Arriving in June, went
on the LIST Of July to region Of high
altitude in order to get the benefit of a
bracing air. found the change very
beneficial. Instead of the hot Indian
mir breathed an invigorating atmos-
phere. From the date of my arrival /
gained strength.
At N, not far distant. there was a
church, and some of the congregation,
hearing that woman missionary was
at our hotel, sent me word that If
would give them some account Of my
work the next Sunday afternoon they
would take up collection for my mis-
sion. l accepted and Sunday morning
set out to walk to N. Those who had
invited me offered to send for me, but
preferred to walk.
had made half the distance when |
overlook a woman walking In the
same direction am one Of those who
take every opportunity to save soul.
so accosted her. She was fairly well
dressed and respectable looking. and
after few remarks about the fresh
ness Of the country ard the deep blue
of the sky entered on the subject in
which / was and am absorbed To ar
rest her attention | began by telling
her about my life as missionary. She
seemed much interested-indeed, so in
terested that whenever | attempted to
lead her TO the subject of her own
spiritual condition she would not per-
NIT, holding me to what to her was the
more attractive subject. Thinking 1t u
good opportunity to rehearse what |
intended to say In the afternoon, | did
sn When I had finished the woman
ASKED ne a number of personal ques-
lions such as my name and whether |
had met any of those | was about to
address. | told her my name and said
had never seen single person Of the
congregation or indeed any one at n
She remarked that she should think
would be embarrassed at speaking to
strangers, and replied that | was a
trine timid in doing SO.
As we walked on the woman at a
place where the path was narrow fell
behind me- Suddenly felt both my
wrists clasped in a firm grip, and be-
fore / realized 1t they were bound to-
gether at my back with handker-
chief. MY companion, who had done
this, then forced me on my back on
the ground, both arms being under me.
and, tearing my underskirt, she made
cords Of 1t and bound my ankles. Hav-
ing done this, she put me on her Shout
der and carried me into wood so far
from the road that I would not be
seen, put gag in my mouth. sat me
on log and, making cords of other
parts of my clothing. bound me to
tree growing against it. Then she left
me. telling me not to worry, for she
would come back to me before sunset
the same evening.
There was nothing for me to do but
wait. If the woman did not come back
/ would starve. If / was compelled to
stay even one night in the position she
had placed me | would surely be
wreck before morning. / wondered |
what could be her object Suddenly 1t |
occurred to me that / had heard Of a
large insane asylum IN the neighbor-
hood. Might she not be an escaped |
lunatic? l did not doubt that she was
and that she would probably forget all |
about me. The thought was madden
ing.
For a time I was not bodily suf- |
ferer, but after awhile sitting in the /
same position without being able to
change became very painful. My |
watch was in my belt, but l could not |
see it. 1 wished that might in order |
to know how fast or rather how slow
iy the time was passing. That the wo-
man had not taken 1t convinced me
that she was net a thief. but insane.