Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-25

/ WaTkeu OF cut with names / could dimly
see.
braced my back against the door and
watched the loophole where a gray hint
OF daylight told that the sun must be
sun shining. This faded to blotch In
| the thick stone, and became obliterated
Tired by the days march, and with a
| taste of clean outdoor air still in my
lungs, / chose one of the two corners not
occupied by the ill-odored bed. sat down
ana tell asleep. dropping my cares. A
grating OF the lock disturbed me. The
1ailer pushed a jug of water into the
room' and replaced his bolts.
Afterwards 1 do not remember any
thing except that the stone was not
/ Warm' and my stomach craved, until a
| sroan IN my ear stabbed Sleep l sat
| UP awake In every nerve. There was no.
oody In the cell with me- Perhaps the
groan had come from a neighboring pris-
! oner.
Then a faint stir of covering could be
heard upon the bed.
l rose and pressed as far as I could
INTO my corner. No beast of the wilder
ness ever had such terror for me as the
unknown thing that had been my CELL
mate half night without my knowl-
Was a vampire-a demon-a witcb-s
ghost locked In thehe with me?
II moaned again, so family, that COM
passion instantly got the better OF suner-
slton Vi super
Who is there?" I demanded. nc -
~ ei'e hloWIeuge or name would cure ter
TOT OF the suffering thing naming itself.
got no answer, and taking NV roso
luton in hand moved toward the hod
determined to know what housed with
me. The jug Of water stood in the >va,,
ana lifted 1t with instructive answer
to the groan. "''S"e'
me creature heard the splash, and I
knew by its mutter what II wanted
Groping darkly to poise the jug for an
unseen mouth, / realized that Something
helpless to the verge of extinctIon IaY
on the bed, and l would have to find the
NOUN myself or risk drowning IT, I
helu the water on the bedraIl with NV
right hand, groped with the other. and
round clammy, death-cold forehead. a
nose and cavernous cheeks, an open and
teVer-roughened mouth. 1 poured water
on my handkerchief and bathed the face
That would have been my first desire
In extreme moments. The poor wretch
gave reviving moan, so 1 felt en-
boldened to steady the jug and let drop
by drop gurgle down its throat.
Forgetting the horror of the bed sat
there. repeating at intervals this poor
ministration until the portfolio again
dawned, and blackness became the tyyi-
light of day.
My cellmate could not see me 7
doubt II he ever knew that a hand gave
MN water. His eyes were meaningless
and he was so g&unt that his body
scarcely made a ridge on the bed.
Some beans and mouldy bread were
put In for my rations. The turnkey
asked me how / intended to wash my
self without basin or ever or towels. and
inquired further If he could be of service
In disposing of my shirt or breeches
What ails this MANI?
He shrugged, and said the prisoner had
been wasting with fever.
You get fever In Ste. Pelagie," he
added. especially when you eat the
prison food. This man ought to be sent
to the inhrmary, but the infirmary is
overfiowing now"
who Is hep
"A journalist. or poet, or some miser-
able canaille of that sort. He will soon
be out of your way" Our guard craned
over TO look at him. "Oui-dal He is
a dying mani A priest must be sent to
him soon. 1 remember he demanded one
several days ago."
But that day and another dragged
through before the priest appeared. I
sent out my waistcoat, and got a wretched
meal, and a few spoonfuls of wine that
used to moisten the dying mans lips.
His life may or may not have been pro-
mouth repeatedly and took the drops. He
was more my blessing than 1 was his.
For had an experience which has ever
since given me to know the souls of
prisoners.
The first day, in spite Of the cells
foulness. / laughted secretly at jailers
and felt at peace. holding the world at
bay. / did not then know that Ste. Pc
lSgie was the tomb of the accused. where
more than one prisoner dragged out years
without learning why he was put there
I was not brought to any trial or exam
ination.
But gradually an uneasiness which
cannot be immagined by one who has
not felt It. grew upon me. 1 wanted
light. The absence of II was tortured
Light-to Vivify the sitting air. which
died as this man was dying-as 1 should
die-in binding mirki
Moisture broke out all over my body.
and cold dew stood on my forehead. How
could human lungs breathe the midnight
Of biackening walls? The place was hot
with the hell OF confinement. said
over and over-"o God. Thou art Light
In Thee Is no darkness az ALI"
This anguish seemed a repetition of
something / had endured once before.
Tho body and spirit remembered, though
the mind had no register. / clawed AT
the walls. II slept. It was to awake
gasping. fighting upward with both
hands.
The most singular phase was that I
reproached myself for not soaking up
more sun In the past Oh, how much
light was going to waste over wide nelds
and sparkling seasl The green woods.
the green grass-tney had their MI OF
sun, while We two perishedl
l remember creeping out OF glare under
the shadow OF rocks. and wondered how
! could have done III II l ever came
10 the sun again ! would stretch myself
and roll from side 10 side. 10 let Il bum
me weili How blessed was the tan we
got In summer from sleeping In light
Looking at my cell-mate / could have
rent the walls