Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-07-16

"kept the even tenor Of his way" uncon
scious, or apparently so, that he was attract
ing any attention. He said nothing excep
what was necessary to procure what he wish
ed, and every morning, were the elements
propitious. be started out, taking sometimes
his gun, sometimes his fishing rod, and al
others a singular looking portfolio or carpet
bag. 1t was ascertained by laudable per-
severance on the part of some individuals,
that his name was Frederick Mortimer; but
that was all, and there seemed to attach to
him kind of fascination, which extended
some distance from the village, reaching,
among the rest, our fair Elinor. She heard
about him from her few female friends, and
had met him once while returning through
the fields from the river, where she frequent
ly resortcd to row or fish, He looked at
her, and she went home knowing we'll whom
she had met, and feeling very much as ii
the sun had shone too brightly in her eyes.
A few days subsequent she launched her
boat as usual. and while trying to push her.
self up over shallow place where the water
was very rapid, the paddle slipped from its
hold, to save herself she was compelled to
relinquish it. Left to itself, the little craft
went whirling and eddying down the cur
rent, while Elinor, pale but collected, sat
helpless in the stern. Just as she approach
ed dangerous portion of the stream, known
as 'Roes Eddy" there was splash at her
right, and she saw him with the eyes COM
ing towards her with strong, rapid strokes.
Elinor hardly knew which she dreaded most
the eddy, or salvation at the hands OF
Mortimer; but she had little time for refcc-
ton, for he soon reached the boat, and turn
ing it about, swan towards the shore, push
ing it before, him. Neither spoke until they
reached. the bank, when Mortimer asked
elbow came you to be sailing without any
oar %
II lost my oar, sir" she replied, while
trying to push myself up the current; it
slipped, and was compelled to drop it. y
| And then she tried to thank him for the
valuable service he had rendered her, and
asked him to walk to the house with her and
procure some dry clothing He did not re-
ply, but after taking a hurried survey Of
himself, walked in cozy silence by her side.
Thoy soon reached the house, and Mortimer,
after changing his dripping broadcloth for
some Of Farmer Weston's capacious gar
ments Chat sat on him about as the skin Of
the fat gentleman after he had slept in the
excellent bed just over the oven''), sat
down and it was soon apparent that Fred
erick Mortimer could talk if he only had
the inclination to do So The countries he
had visited, politics, literature and science
followed each other in rapid succession; and
after he had discoursed some time on the
latter subject he paused, and as Elinor, with
heaving bosom and glowing cheeks, looked
up at him, seemingly anxious that her fasci-
nation should continue, strange, uncanny
light came into his eyes, and turning to her
abruptly he asked
''Do you believe it possible for human
being to exist without any heart 2"
Elinor hesitated as Il she did not under
stand, and not waiting for reply he laugh
ed slightly, and making some inaudible re-
mark, hurriedly withdrew from the house.
From that time his visits were frequent,
and it soon came to be known that he was
Elinor's accepted lover. We cannot enter
into the details of their courtship, but never
before was maiden wooed as she. Some
times he was sublimely oblivious Of her pre-
.ence, at others would lavish upon her all
the wealth of love that his intense nature
prompted, and still at others would silently
clasp her in his arms and hold her there un-
til she thought her heartbeats must be audi
BILE throughout the room. She loved him
passionately, and his rapid transitions from
one of his characters to another kept her in a
continual state of feverish anxiety.
At length they were married, and their
welded life, to all appearance, was as hap
Ply as that of others. Sometimes that
strange light cleaned in his eyes, and he
wonld frequently bring rabbits, frogs, &C.,
to the house, which he subjected to vivisec-
ton. When their child, whom they called
Freddie, was born, quiet and peace settled
upon the Mortimer household, and the COM
munity, in the rush of business cares and
individual responsibilities, forgot almost
their existence, until one day number of a
party going out for a hunt, and waiting near
the bank Of the river for their comrades to
join them, heard smothered scream in the
direction Of the river, and rushed down to
the bank, pushed aside the thick alders that
fringed it, and peered through.
What sight met their gaze! Crouched
in the stern ola boat that was drifting down
the stream, sat Elinor Mortimer, pale, and
looking up to her husband, who stood erect
in the boat, his black hair hanging wildly
about his face, his eyes cleaning until they
fairly glowed in their sockets while in his
right hand he grasped long knife Brand
ishing this he cried.--
CHOW, my love, my queen, you shall be
a sacrifice to our beloved science, and future
generations will bless you, while I shall
show to the world the truth of my grand idea
that man can exist without any heart"
While he had been saying this he gradual
ly approached Elinor, and his gaze went
burning and searching to her inmost SOUL
Nearer and nearer drew the fatal circles,
until, grasping her hair and drawing back
for the final act, tongue of fire leaped from
the bushes. followed bya sharp report
The knife fell into the water with a quick
thug, and Elinor was saved!
Harry Wilton Gan old lover of Elnor's, J
unable to bear the sight longer, had brought
his following piece to his shoulder and fired
When the smoke cleared away the maniac
was seen lying across the body Of his wife
(who seemed as lifeless as he, with his arm
hanging over the side Of the boat, In the
current, and the blood flowing from several
wounds in his head. The aim had been but too
sare End End BY epe IF these '|sss psefntabe provi
dences which often govern events, the results
of this unheard of tragedy had been re-
versed. Both were borne tenderly to house,
and while one was consigned to the resting
place that knows no disturbance. the other
was living over again in delirium the fear
full scenes of those moments.
Afer her RECOVERY Elinor sold the home,