I walked on in the direction of the barn; I would not pause to listen or to cast a backward glance. Doubtless, my relative told them of my previous futile attempt to poison myself--perhaps became so interested in relating anecdotes of her nephew's peculiar temperament, that she forgot the present danger which threatened him. At least, it was some time before she troubled herself to follow me to ascertain if my threat meant anything serious. When she finally arrived at the large double door, standing wide open for the entrance of the loaded wagons, she gave a sudden shriek. I was standing on the beam which supported the light flooring of the hay-loft; beneath was the threshing-floor; above me the great rafters of the barn, and around one of these I had fastened a rope, the other terminus of which was knotted about my neck. I stood ready for the fatal leap. As she screamed, I slightly raised my hand: "Silence, Aunt Jerusha, and receive my parting instructions. Tell Blue-Eyes that I love her madly, but not to blame herself for my untimely end. The ruin of her dress was only the last drop in the cup--the last straw on the camel's back. Farewell!" and as she threw up her arms and shrieked to me to desist, I rolled up my eyes--and sprang from the beam. For a moment I thought myself dead. The experience was different from what I had anticipated. Instead of feeling choked, I had a pain in my legs, and it seemed to me that I had been shut together like an opera-glass. Still I knew that I must be dead, and I kept very quiet until the sound of little screams and gurgles of--what?--_laughter_, smote my ears! Then I opened my eyes and looked about. I was not dangling in the air overhead, but standing on the threshing-floor, with a bit of broken halter about my neck. The rope had played traitor and given way without even chafing my throat. [Illustration: "I STOOD READY FOR THE FATAL LEAP."] I dare say the sight of me, standing there with my eyes closed and looking fully convinced that I was dead, must have been vastly amusing to the two young ladies, who had followed Aunt Jerusha to the door. They laughed as if I had been the prince of clowns, and had just performed a most funny trick in the ring. I began to feel as if I had, too. Aunt rushed forward and gave me a shake. "Another blunder, John," she said; "it's plain as the nose on a man's face that Providence never intended you to commit suicide." And then Blue-Eyes, repressing her mirth, came forward, half shy and half coaxing, and said to me: "How my sister and I would feel if you had killed yourself on our account! Come! do please show us the way to our boarding-house. Mamma will be so anxious about us." Cunning witch! she knows, how to twist a man around her little finger. "Come," she continued, "let _me_ untie this ugly rope." And I did let her, and picked up my hat to walk with them to the Widow Cooper's.