Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-14

,,.;,h ON escaned convict. An inward inVoca-
Win az ese~ e. aid rose from her heart as,
sr;th ~ whole force Of her intellect, she en-
W. w " s,,,,o, the danger of her position,
- =. .L;rt Of the most persuasive WORDS sne
,S ~ - - tbe man into whose power she
~ ~ st,onocly fallen. For the present, how
~, ,,,,st be still she must make no
'.,e1.,no,nt 70 betray herself and perhaps he
,uicbt overlook her presence untn oay-nSh
rnme and with it, possible help. Inc night
snust he far spent; she must walt, anu nope'
She had not to wait long Inc creature
moved again-stood upright-slagSereu 70
wards the bed. For one moment-one uieae-
o,tshe saw his face his pale, pinch
~ soat,,res his flashing eyes, his bristling black
-. hnt thank God he did not see her.
Sba SHRINK behind the curtains headvanced
- tho brd. slowly, hesitatingly, and the elank-
~ so,,nd of the broken chains fell menacing-
=, o1 bpr ear He laid his hands upon the
.s,,,+p;ns. and for few moments fumbled to
fpd the opening. These moments were allin
III m Ellen Sterling. Despair sharpened her
seners she found that the other side of the
Nod was not set so close against the wall but
that abe could pass between. Into the mar
raw snacc between, she contriyed to slip noise
lessly. 80 :.
Sbe had nearly accomplished the difficult
frat. and SHELTERED herself behind the curtains
when the creature flung itself on the bed, and
drawing the bed-clothes round him, uttered
sound more like the whinnying of horse
Than the laugh of a human being.
For some time Miss Sterling stood in her
hiding-place, trembling with cold and terror,
fearful lest some unguarded movement should
betray her, and bring down on her fate she
dared not contemplate. She lifted up her
heart in prayer for courage; and when her
composure had in some degree returned, it oc-
cured to her that if she could but reach the
window, she might from that position, possi-
bly. attract the attention of some passers-by
and be releaed from her terrible durance.
Very cautiously she attempted the pe-ilous
exneriment; her bare feet moved noiselessly
aero tae ,or and a friendly ray of moon
light guided her safely towards the window.
AS she put out her hands towards the curtains,
her heart gave fresh bound of terror, for it
came in contact with something soft and
warm. At length, however, she remembered
that she had flung down her fur cloak i'll that
spot. and it was mercy to come upon ltnow
when she was chilled to the bone. She wrap
peditround her and reached the window with
out further adventure, or any alarm from the
oceupant of the bed; whose heayey regular
breathing gave assurance that he was now
sound asleep. This was some comfort, and
she greatly needed it. The lookout from the
window wes anything hut inspiritng. The
stars still shone peacefully on the sleeping
earth; the moon still showed her pallid visage;
not sight or sound presaged that any one was
astir, and after long listening in vain for any
sign of life in the outer world, she heard the
stable clock strike four.
Only four.
She felt as if if were impossible to survive
even another hour of terror such as she had
just passed through. Was there no hope:-
None
The clock struck five.
Still all without was silent. Suddenly, a
mans whistle was heard in the court, and the
driver of the mail-coach, lantern in hand,
crossed the yard toward the pavilion. Would
to God she could call to him, or in any way
attract his attention! but she dared not make
the slightest sound. He looked up at the
window, against which he almost brushed in
passing. and the light he held flashed on Miss
Strings crouching figure. He paused, look
cd again, and seemed about to speak, when
she hastily made signs that he should be 81
lent, but seek assistance at the house. He
gave her glance of intelligence, and hastened
away.
How long his absence seemed! Could he
have understood her: The occupant of the
bed was growing every instant more and more
restless; he was rising from the bed-he was
gropir round the room. They would come
too late, too late.
But no! steps in the courtyard-the key
turning in the lock-the door opens-then,
with yell that rang in Ellen Strings ear
until her dying day, the creature rushed to her
dashed the slight window-frame
to pieces, and finding himself banked of his
purposed escape by the strength of the iron
bars outside, turned, like wild beast, on his
pursuers. She was the first on whom his
glance fell. He clasped her throat; his face
was close to hers; his glittering eyes were
glaring at her in frenzy-when blow from
behind felled him.
She awoke from a long swoon to find herself
safe in Mr.. Atherton's dressing room, and to
hear that no one was hurt but the poor maniac,
and that he was agaiE in the charge of his
keepers, from whom he had escaped few
hours before
1t was not all past. One enduring effectre-
NAMED, ever after, to imprint it on Ellen Stir
hng's memory. Such had been her suffering,
anxiety, and terror, that in these few hours,
her hair had turned as white as snow.