Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

2 24 RHYS LEWIS.
and I having wished Miss Hughes "good night" and retired
to our room, Will, in a spirit of mischief, insisted upon placing
Jones on his trial for the murder of a creature which I need not
here name. Will acted as counsel for the prosecution and
judge. I, who was the jury, found the prisoner guilty, and he
was duly sentenced to be hanged. Jones enjoyed the joke im-
mensely. In the top of the door was a large nail for hanging
clothes on. To this Will tied a cord with a noose at the end.
Jones, who was made to stand upon a foot-stool, placed the
noose about his neck, with a laugh. Before we could look
around, and by a pure accident, I believe, the stool overturned.
For some seconds we thought Jones was only pretending
to hang, just to keep up the fun. Fortunately, however, I
noticed that the stool lay on its side and that Jones's feet were
a couple of inches off the floor. I never was so frightened in
my life. In less than no time 'I cut the cord and Jones
came tumbling down, in a faint. Will, equally frightened,
trembled like a leaf. We lifted Jones upon the bed, and I can
never describe our joy on finding that he breathed. My
conscience was ablaze at the idea that I had been within an
inch of taking the life of one of the most harmless creatures in
the world. When Jones came to himself he perceived my
alarm and grief, looked at me compassionately, and said he
forgave us both for everything. That, however, did not calm
my conscience and my fear. As to Will, no sooner did he
receive Jones's solemn promise not to mention the matter to
any living soul than he jumped into bed where, five minutes
later, was fast asleep.
For me there was no sleep. Jones would fall into an uneasy
sort of slumber, lasting hours, and then wake with a start of
terror. And so, many times. A hundred diS'erent thoughts
crossed my mind, and I felt myself undergoing some important
change of condition. The room was dark and the night
seemed long. Shortly before dawn, so I took it to be, I
suddenly lost sound of my bedfellows' breathing. Both lay as
if dead. The silence was painfully oppressive. I saw the
room becoming alight, but not with the light of dawn. It
was swifter, and to my mind, if I may be permitted the
expression, softer and more tender, like the approach of the