The Shasta courier., 1866-05-19

the mOOuUeuIuS SllttcIcu biuSOuoiy.
:. Beautiful, isn't ~ he muttered, as he
stroked and seemed to fondle it, turning it
from side to side. ''True steel-the real
for those little devils that cling around you,
and prevent your coming with me. I'll set
you free, Pll-" and he lapsed into inarticu-
late murmurs, still stroking the knife
Never, in all her life did Lizzie Stuart for
get the sensations of that moment, but she
could not move her heart seemed to stand
still, and her brain to reel.
'' The youngest first" he whispered at
last, and leaving her suddenly, he dartcd
towards the hearth. For one second the
knife cleaned brightly in the moonlight as
he brandished it aloft; the next he had
plunged it deep into the bassinet. Oh, God,
there was no cry
wild shrek rose to Lizzie's lips Re
pressing it with violent effort, she collected
her senses and walked to his side.
g | must kill the others myself" she said
with an unfaltering voice let me do it-they
would not be quiet otherwise"
The maniac turned towards her a horri
BILE face of triumph.
claimed enthusiastically. 1.-The Young Nav
'iooh 10 iONe. he glow worm 5
lamp is cleaning, love. How sweet to rove
no that's not it-So she killed her gown
o green satin, and tuck't up to her knee
Lizzie Lindsay-that's you-Lord Ronald
Clan Donald-that's me. Won't we be hap.
py? Now, then ~
He stopped to draw the knife out of the
bassinet.
mo, don't do that" she whispered forcing
herself fO Low l.
turning away her eyes. lest the sight that
met them should unnerve her, Il have
fancy for doing it differently
He stood upright again and motioned her
to go, and only as she moved where the
other children slept. she remembered with
sick horror that there was no door between
the rooms. Despair gave her courage, she
quickened her pace; he did not follow her
there was moments respite. Softly and
rapidly she threw a coyerlet over the two
fair sleeping heads, and she flew to the bell.
violent pull-another- the bell rope
broke in her hand. Would any one come ?
The madman heard the twang of the wires
and suspected treachery. He spraug towards
the room, but Lizzie was too quick for him.
She sprang towards the doorway with dilat
ed eyes and upraised hand.
ed in solemn voice 1t is all done. |
forbid you to enter here''
For moment the lunatic covered before
her, awed by the light in those cleaning
eyes, then he sprang at her throat like
wild beast. An instant's struggle, an in.
stant's agony like unto death, and with a
mighty crash the door burst open, and DR..
Holford, with the exertions of his whole
strength, dragged the madman from the
choking girl. To hold him sngly was i'm
possible. He broke from the doctors grasp.
threw up the window, and, with a loud
laugh, leaped into tie garden below, where
the dull thud of his fall was heard just as
the assistant whose carelessness had per-
mItted him to secrete the knife appeared
upon the scene.
Go down, go down ~ cried the doctor,
pointing to the window. The assistant look.
ed out and hurriedy disappeared, and the
doctor gave all his attention to Lizzie She
had not fainted-she could not do so-not,
at all events, with the dreadful news untold,
but she was gasping for breath.
The doctor bent over her. Lizzie, dear
Lizzie, look up. l saw how it was. You
were defending my children You have
saved their lives. Try to look up, and tell
me you are not hurt"
But Lizzie shrank from the tender words,
and covered miserably in her chair. She
strove to compel her parched tongue to speak
and tell him that by her folly she had caused
the death of his baby, but Kissing gurgle
came instead of words, and ended in hys-
teric shrek. The servants, and the nurse
among them. had come crowding in bv this
time, and a loud exclamation from the latter
startled them ALL
Gracious powers! what is this ?" and
she drew forth the knife from the bassinet.
and held it up inview of the rest, Its polished
surface still undimmed
Well, the Lord be praised for his mercy
1t were his providence, that it were, that
put into my head all of a sudden to-day,
that baby were growing too big for bas-
slnet, and put her into the old cot by my
bedside, and drawed my curtains around
her, and there she is, the precious lamb,
awake and smiling at all, as good as
sugar.
Lizzie heard the words, or rather some
dim idea of their meaning penetrated to her
brain, but the relief was too sudden to be
realized at once. She understood that con-
fession was not needful, but remorse was as
bitter as ever. She stood up and held out
her hands imploringly.
Can-yvu forgive ?' she whispered
pteously, and fell forward in dead faint
upon the doctors shoulder
For many, many months DR.. Holford
tended Lizzie through the nervous fever
that followed upon her swoon At one time
he almost despaired of her recovery, but
youth and a sound constitution conquered.
and she rose at last from her sick bed. the
shadow of what she had been.
The doctor pronounced change of air and
scene to be absolutely necessary during her
convalescence, and simultaneously discover
ed that he had been working too hard. and
required holiday and month or two
abroad. Rrmor states that he imrarted
these conclusions to Lizzie Stuart, and made
sundry other condolences to her. during one
very long and earnest conversation which
they had walking slowly up and down,
her feeble steps tenderly supported by his
arm under the old hawthorus, brilliant BY
this time with autumnal berries.
You have seen Mrs. Iolford. Do you
wonder now at tue strange look in her eye +?
Walter Stone fractured his skull IN his
fall. He was insensible for many days, but
at length consciousness returned. and those
who watched around his bed, thanked God
to see that all traces of insanity bad disap-
reared. They looked forward hopefully to
the future, but bis career on earth was ended.
lie sank gradually, and died in few weeks.
He lived long enough to be deeply thankful
to have been spared from the guilt of the