The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-28


get money2 You will see presently. did
not mean to die, ouknow, 50 ate more now,
and got better. 1t is not every one, let me tell
you, that is brave enough to endure starvation
as I did. Madmen are no towards! Well,
they used to let me walk in the garden after
awhile, but with the keeper always beside me.
BY and by the doctor began to speak of my re-
lease as Of thing that might be in time-then,
although the end for which had been working
was almost within my grasp, | felt an irresisti-
BILE power compelling me to escape, and not TO
wait for their tame deliverance Day and night
l waited and watched to do it.
1.-THE opportunity came seon. One morning
when l was walking with the keeper in the gar
den, who should come out but the doctor, and
what should be do-the senseless fool but
order the keeper to 60 in, saying that he would
walk with me this time Oh, how my heart
leaped and danced within me when he said it |!
But kept very stiIl--yery still and calm, lis
tening to the mans footsteps on the gravel walk
till he was quite gone. / have told you that
the railway crossed the bottom of the garden
Well, towards this spot went (carelessly, as if
by accident, you know and he with me.
"'This beautiful day will do US all good, Mr..
B, he said to me, in his smooth, deceitful
voice
''He was walking with bis hands in his pockets
i mixing the gold coins as he went--that gold l
needed
81 hope that you may soon enjoy the summer
on your own estates he continued.
HE looked SO sleek and self confident and
smiling as he spoke then, that hated him more
than ever.
II did not dare to trust my voice in answer,
or suffer my eyes to dwell on him. Could he
but have seen them for an instant, be would
have read my purpose. Just then we reached
the extremity Of the garden and stood looking
down from the high bank upon the level train
lines below. There was nothing but low hedge
between us and the road in an instant turned
upon him.
"'Dier I shrieked Die now! am mad,
I am mad and | have sworn to do it!'
Il had the strength of ten in my arms. l
seized and closed with him, and dashed his skull
against the tree trunk by which we were stand
ingi Oh, it was glorious vengeancel beat
the smooth smile out of his face till his own
children would not have known him, and then
| stamped and danced upon him and laughed
loudly, loudly! Suddenly heard the distant
whistle of the train at the village station far
away. There was not a moment to be lost |
tore the watch from his pocket, and took the
purse with the gold and then, ha ha ha l
flung the body over upon the lines, and the
train came swiftly on and on, and crushed bin
as he lay! Was not that a revenge, and would
any but madman have thought of it? Tell
me that tell me that!n
I was so frozen with horror that / sat as if
petrifed, and could not utter word.
''Now you want to know how l came here y
continued the maniac more quietly, after mo-
mentary pause. ''Well, he had his cloak on be-
fore the struggle. wrapped it around me and
went straight through the gardens and out OF
the gate, past his very odge-keep; and, thanks
the high collar, none of them knew me-for we
we're much of height, the doctor and me-
Once out Of sight Of the house-the dreary,
cruel house IL seemed as if had wings upon
my feet, fed away so fast. The people in the
streets of the town stared at me, but what mat
ter? | did not care for that. / mingled with
the crowd at the station and paid my fare like
the rest with-hai ha!-with the docters
money! But there was blood on the gold.
tried so rub it of, but could not 1t came
again as fast as l removed it, and | thought
they would see it when l put the money down;
they did not, though, and here | am free, free
Now, answer me, do you believe that I'm
mailman ?"
He put his face quite close to mine as he said
this. and his voice passed from its former level
tone to a quick, harsh, exulting calibre that
thrilled me with dismay. 1t was now almost
dark, too, and bis eyes shone with cold unna-
tural lustre like the phosphorescent light which
is thrown off from fish in state Of putrefaction.
# was clear that must make some reply; even
while / hesitated he repeated the question, and
this time more impatiently.
"Wen, yes" said at last, with quivering
Inns: 'I-I think you must be mad"
sPl prove it TO you" he whispered, bending
still closer to me. ''HoH do you think I'll
prove it, now?'
| shook my head.
81 cannot tell, said family.
"Bv numbering you as l murdered him -
What did YOU think that meant to let you live,
when | told you all about it? Live to betray
me, and take me back to the. No. no!
Madmen are brave, madmen are cunning, mad
men are strong! !"
saw that force could avail me nothing here.
In great emergencies | always regain my pres
ence of mind. This time it did not fail me, and
was cool in an Instant
STOP said calmly, fixing my eyes full
upon him. you have not told me all yet. Il
YOU are determined to have my life, it is only
fair that you should finish your story first"
"Thafs true, said the madmen, with an ap-
pearance of curiosity. "What have left out?
g You have not explained to me about lord
Palmerston and the ace of clubs"
Il didn't think you'd care to hear that, said
he, doubtfully.
"Pd rather hear that than any other part.
It was SO dark now, that nothing Of the coun-
try beyond was visible, and the lamp cast a
sickly glare through the carriage. knew that