Year: 1860

formed supposition in my mind that if
TIRED there would come upon me an on
set by the incubus that I could not with
hold this hesitancy to action | partly
overcame by the circumspect rising Of my
left arm-it was free. | moved my right
and cotemporaneously with that
ent the weight upon my face was
removed to my neck. A little more
stealthy nvestigation, still fearful of an at
tack by an insidious enemy, and found that
my right hand, and the arm, as the elbo'
was temporarily paraiizel, or in that cor
dition called asleep" that the hand was
cold and without sensibiity, and it was
that object l had rested upon my face.


Of course was much elated at the dis
covery, and ashamed that had been so
easily alarmed at an accident that was
susceptible of SO easy an explanation. In
order to give my wife an account of tie
absurd occurrence, | turned over, my
present position being reclamation upon
my back. In my relief, consequent upon
what | had considered a correct explana-
nation of my fright, the weight upon my.
chest had been forgotten now, the change
of my position recalled it very unpleasant
y and inopportunely, even before had
touched my wife.


"Imagine, if you can, the result OF this
sudden knowledge that my oppressor had
not been explained away. Think bow
quickly all the reasons which had been
carefully revolved from the mental per-
ple2ities in which had been entanged,
were efectually controverted, and how
absolutely mystery and frantic horror
again swayed the sceptic. There was,
then, being or thing in the room that
did not belong there, never had been there
previous to that night, and my deductions
were faulty. The result was that | lost all
control over my passons-that | was
lashed into fury of despair, by the fear
of the presence of supernatural being.
| Clasping the object upon my breast
with my left hand, with my right nerved
with terror and knowing no restraint, and
numb to all sensation Of pain by reason
of its paralysis struck heavy, treacher-
Gus blows. 1t had soft hair, and at this !
pulled and tugged, in this paroxysm of
horror. In my great agony of mind |
shrieked for notwithstanding | en-
countered no resistance-and called Jessie
to awaken. There was no response. The
passive submission to blows of the object
grasped in my left hand was extraordina-
ry-the silence of my wife unaccountable.


Then, for the first time during the strug-
gle did [ think Of Jessie's remarkable
sound slumber, and connect herewith the
burden. | could not separate the identi-
ty Of my wife from that of the object of
my vengeance. Pushing the weight aside
leapod from the bed and lighted the
gas.


My wife was dead.


It was her heal-that had so often
fondled, playing with its siIken tressess-


kissing those dear Ii lips-looking into those
lustrous eyes-that had so confidently re-
posed upon my breast. Yet not more than
five minutes had elapsed since my awaken
ing.


| can't believe that | am her murderer,
even though the law seals me with the
crime.


Duv The arm, now so shriveied and
withered into its present form, came not
so by punishment from Heaven. After


my condemnation, doubling as | did my


agency in her death, yet hating the in
strument that had known no pity or gen.


teness in It's blows, held it, that arm, as


a sacrifice TO my dead wife, in the fire, un-
{ til the flames sapped its life, backened its
beauty, and burned out of it all semblance


of human form.


These are the reasons why hate it land
have hated it since that night | am


thankful that my stay upon earth is so di-
minished When you have lived life oi
solitude such as mine with doubt such


as mine for an invisible companion, you
too would gladly seek its conclusion.
3 X ::
The convict died that night. The prs
on warden confirmed the truth of the con
victs narrative. adding that the marks o.
blows upon the body of his wife-the alb
sence Of all cause to create sudden death
D and the unfavorable testimony of mant
Of the witnesses who had interrupted thei


amusements the evening previous to hi
> wife's decease, wer formidable argument
against the innocence of the convict. f..
: If the convict's story, and | had no rea
, son to believe it was false, it was certainI,
j an instance Of remarkable completely 0


circumstances sufficient to embarrass boti
t judge and jury. 1t was doubtless a casc
unintentional murder, committed by The
d convict in state of phrenzy-originate,
e and finished under the influence of su
perstitious mind, too easily excited BY
e such situation as that in which lie haC
d been placed.


e GRANMATIcAL.-"S Sammy" said faith
4 er TO his son who was just studying Eng
: llsh grammar, =" our cat caught rat--ir
< which case is the noun cat in this sen


tence ~