Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-12-09
pAYHTTE 7 LILLE, TENN,,

ry Christmas, lest she should no
have the chance next year. Wha
: followed from that time, shall de
scribe as it was afterwards told me
After little chat with Helen, Fan
my had sunk into a slumber. How
: long she slept she knew not, but, oil
awakening, she missed her companion
: from her side, and on sitting up |
| bed and looking around her, she saw
, Helen Warrington pacing along tht
other side of the old fashioned bed,
room. 1t was beautifully bright
} night, and the light Of the moonbeagns
shone full upon the two windows O.
the room, and upon Helen walking
there in her night dress, her cap off,
and her long black hair streaming
over her shoulders.
Helen dear, come to bed! You
viii catch cold; are you ill.,
The white rob4d figure stopped in
its paclngs to and fro, came up to the
bedside.
Helen, what's the matter? low
strange you look! You must be H
! For Helen stood there without
speaking, but looking fixedly at Fan
ny, with a strange wildnces Of express
sion. Fanny began to thro W off the
clothes to rise from the bed to assist
her friend, believing her to be i'll. L
Then Helen spoke
Lie still, Fanny! / am not Ill, but
I have come to put an end to your
life. | must kill you!l'
And her words came in ] ow, but
distinct v Whisper, strangely at y ariance
with her lsualquick manner Of speak
ing.
Fanny tre,nbled in spite Of her
self, and she said, with half fear in
tone,
Come Helen, what nonsense!-
Come TO bed. We will act charades
Tomorrow night
Still the wIlte-robed figure stood
there at the foot Of the bed, glaring
with its yes.
4 tel you, girl it said, you have
but q few minutes ia liyei Saw YOUR
prayers, and make your peace with
God. He has sent n e to destroy
you.
In an instant crowd Of thoughts
rushed unanimously through Fam
ny's brain, the conversation round I
the fireside-the tale Of the madmah-
the insanity of Helen's grandfather, {
and a hundred other things, all with
speed, linked themselves
together in her mind, and she felt
that Helen's long-sealed hereditary /
malady had burst forth, and that she
was mad!
Even then she dld not lose her
presence Of mind; and with forced
laugh, she said, /
Come, Helen, dear come back to I
oed>y you know you cannot do what
you are testing about +
mot kill you! Think you so? You
IRE deceived, girl, said the white
.obed figure. 4 provided for all that
lours age. Look here and, raising
ler arm high in the air, the moon
light flashed on the shining blade Of
large knife. With the cunning Of :
usI,nity, She had contrivod, unseen,
d take it from the supper table and |
conceal it within the folds of her
lress.
When the poor girl saw The knife,
lie sprang from the bed, and with a
oud scream, reached the door, md !
to open it. 1t was lock- !
d, and the key removed. She then, {
n a delirium Of agony, turned and I
led to the Fireplace, to seize the s
'eIl-rope and alarm the house, bat {
My to find the rope severed and |
Iseless. During this brief space the |
Thite-robed figure stood and watched i
ler actions-apparently enjoying I
,er despairing disappointment with '
wild satisfaction. t
Now, girl, it said you see all es- a
ape is hopeless: 50 you have now G
lothing to do but to die And sbe i
dvanced with her uplifted knife, and v
,leaming eyes. ic
'Oh, len--Helen-spa my life. 4
Help and Fanny shrieked in r
gouy. AS she turned half para j
yzed with fear to Fly wildly about the e
oom, she espied q closet the door Of +
Ihich stood ajar; and into this she h
prahg, and with the rapidity Of a Il
udden thought. drew too the door, S
hrie king loudly for help. There vas il
ut little hope left for the poor giyl. r