Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-10-06

y
robed in thunder garments-see ~
lcapcd up from the ground gazed at
! him
He threw off his hat wildly, and it fell far
down in the abyss. lie flung off his coat and
threw it away.
"Signor," said I, in hope. that mild tone
might make him calm" Signor, the wind.
obey you. Let us CO.
Go Where Is this not my home Is
not this my palace Saw you not my SER
wants You are my guest! ~
Will you not sit down and tell me about
your home !" said |, shuddering
| No there are secrets that can never be
spoken. Can you understand them, Who
are you, mortal. that you dare to ask -
| walked slowly toward the narrow pas
sage of land--the bridge. But he saw me,
and stood upon it. ] could not go.
" Can this all be pleasantly !" thought [.
An awful thought passed through me, which
froze my hearts blood.
| Pleasantly There he stood, my wild COM
panion, his eyes blazing, fixed piercingy on
me, his hands clenched, his mouth foaming,
every sincw in his body worked up, he stood
screaming, laughing. o God was alone
| with maniac.
You are to go with me-" he cried.
| Wherel"
]
home" lie pointed with a cold snaky smile
down toward the unfathomable abyss whence
ascendcd the terrible column of inky and suf-
locating smoke.
gazed at him for there was some element
of fascination IN his CLASSY stare, which forced
the, compelled. to gaze. There was a cold
smile upon his lips. which were oil bloodess
and disclosed, as they parted, his mouth and
tightly shut teeth.
There is my home-thcre; and | have
come to take you with me Ha ha How hap
py you will be Come"
Still gazcd, whric ny heart throbbcd with
slow but terrible pulsatlons
lie advanced one step towards me.
| looked all round. The spell was broken
which enchalncd my gaze looked all around :
at the blue sky above, at the scorcEing earth
around. at the horrible chasm beneath There
was no hope. Oh! could hut leap the space
which separated me from the main cliff? Could
| but do it----but | could not There was
10 hope
"Wha, do you no, answer" he cried,
suddenly lnshrd into fury by my silence, and
stamping his loot in frenzy npon the rock.
" DO you not answers Then must carry you
with mel
The maniac sprang toward me
With all my energies reused INTO frantic ac-
ton, 18th every sinew braced and musc cor
lraced, planted my foot backward against n
small angular rock which projected above the
loose, sandy soll, and endeavored to meet the
shock. " th wild scream, which arose
thrIlhngly into the air, his eyes all blood.hot
his mouth foamiug, on he came. He struck
me-hls arms surrounded me in fearful en-
bracC-hls hot breuth came burningy upon my
cheek. ] stood firm Tor de- pair and all the
bitterness OF death, had given no place to fear
and ,imdity, but had bestowed upon me the
GOODNESS OF one in an ordinary situation.
threw my left arm beneath his, my right
passed over his neck and around upon his back
thus seeking 10 press him to the earth.
1t was moment of horror such as no mora
tangue could ever tell. A struggle with the
moniac To be ON a small surface of a rock,
while three thousand feet below lay the abyss
of untold horrors! At this hour my heart
beats more torcbly even as think upon the
time.
Thus we stood, breast to breast, face to face
the madman and l-he with his arms encir-
cling me ; seeking to save myself He
pressed Inc toward the ed - Of the cliff. lie
| plunged his feet deep into the ground he
laughed mocklngIy, and screamed, as he at
tempted to destroy me. But against The rock
my feet were firmly bracvd: aud held him
| tightly and ! sought to hnrl hun from me
llur hun from me as well might the hungry
tiger be hurled from his prey.
! On the agony of that struggle | know moi
! how long 1t was. hut to me 1t seemed like many
| hours. The wild eyes Of the madlnan gl,rct
.at mine all the time, and found it impo,sib !.
to look away. Ills fearful face, all white, al
ghastly, was up,urned tome, as he shouted il
his fendish, mocking laughter.
80, Heaven! Oh! horror! Can this, viii
this endure forever?" cried in the agony o
my fear. The maniac howled with derisv'
shouts. | elt that was growing weaker
But he was maniac and would he grow
| "CdhrI -ioo 4 thnusnnd thou ghts fit through
me.
Suddenly the maniac gave one fearfu
plunge. 1t wns with the strength Of a gian
that he seized me. lie raised me from NJ,
feet. The rock, the saving rock-l had lost 1t
| w,s going. | threw my arms high into IN
air, and my scream of terror ascended IN uni
son with the maniac's mocking yell,
Down! Down! to the boiomless pit! II
The home OF fire and birthstone! To the end
less horrors Of burning lakes" he screamed
as he gave bound toward The edge OF tn
cliff
Inspired by sudden gin Of superhunar
Strength hy partial possession of even mad
/ ''hhs power "aught him BY the throat an
I even on the very edge even when in sight
, tha abyss | sprang back s bore hlln back
brought HIM 10 the ground. Fan.nu heavil
upon hlln, held his throat still IN the ferc
:, grasp, while his own arms were wound ,irhtl
: aronnd my neck, and his legs around mine.
Il felt the hot breath from his open mouth as m
4 cheek lay pressed against his face | hear
i them crate harshly, and drew my head violen
h ly away, as he sought to seize me with h
- sharp teeth.
- In our frantic struggles on the ground. "
rolled wildly about, and The dust from suph
"A and from pumice stone ascended aronnd us
suifocaling clouds was half.insane. W
a fine cbokng dns; n,.' and r,bhed !, voo,,,, n",
- his open mouth 1t went INTO his nostris a
N lungs lie gave a jerk forward IN agon
Amid the cloud of dust around could not 8
where we were. lie held me BY the haIr
ia he sprang; moment after, and fearful for
was stralning there, holding my head dow
with irresistible force. Another moment
" arose while wild and high rose the shrl
no OF the maniac, ss he fell down down. into /
h. abyss !-knickerbooker for .4ugus'.
NO a STRoNG-MINDED CANDIDATE FOR MAT
soNY.-A lady advertising for "A husband
IN the Wafer Cure Journal, gives the followi
ot description OF herself She certainly
re some hne points"
am just twenty, but will not marry bef
ng am two years older. | am graduate
the Marietta Seminary. can do, and |,
4 IL. r