South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-11-18

destruction Come with a force sufficient to save
me and capture him.
'Wbat have you written 2 inquired Stan.
ley, whose attention had been for the mo,
meut only diverted to the deg, perhaps
little fearful that in spite Of my ready com.
pliancc TO his wishes might yet play him
false.
Listen, Il replied and I will read it to
you, and held up the note, aud read from
it.
Mr. Brown Please send me nice piece Of
tenderloin steak. have unexpected company
to-day,an wish to provide a dinner worth Of my
guest. LAURA MORGAN
| troubled violently as l read, for saw
the maniac was still little suspicious of me-
With every Increment | was in momon :ary
expectation that he would snatch the paper
from me, to ascertain for himself if had ia.
deed read II as it was written and knew
well that the detection ofmy deception would
be instant death. Hastily folding the note
L dropped it into the basket and placed it
before the dog.
Il believe, Mr.. Stanley said, shat
you have the key to the door in your pos
session. Do mo the favor TO unlock it, if
you please, for Neptune to pass out
Therequcst was made politely, aud Stan
ley equally politely opened the door for the
dog Hope once more entered my heart
My dreadful situation would soon be known,
and help might yet reach me.
An half hour passed, and Neptune had
not yet appeared. Stanley grew impatient
at the long delay. Again he drew his knife
FROM his belt. Let the marriage vows be
| consummated, and let the marriage feast
60 be said angrily. But ! skifuIly and
adroitly managed to draw him into CONVEX
sation upon old times, when was the fame
OF his youthful ambition. told him seve-
raj little stories and amusing anecdotes OF
my childhood; spoke Of my schooldays and
his college life, and the honors he had won.
At last steps were heard on the piazza.
| distinguished my husbands voice, aud the
heavy tread Of half dozen men. Stanley,
too, knew that voice Its rich, melodious
tones had years before grated harshly on his
jealous ear. SpringinR like tiger upon
me, he shouted in voice of thunder:
'My keepers have come, but they cannot
capture me they will fluid me a cold, stiff
fened corpse. My spirit will have gone to
the eternal world, to enjoy its celestial glo.
ries with you, my beautiful bride p Aud
again the same wild, fiendish laugh rau
through the house, and the bright steel oil
the bowie-knfe glittered in the sunbeam
| a cold tremor ran over me, bat cour-
age did not desert me. With IIercuIeau
strength and energy | seized the madmaE's
arm aud averted the deadly blow; then
with the agility of a panther l sprang
through the open window and rushed at
Lightning speed around the house.
Taken completely by surprise aud Devil
dered at my unexpected flight, Herbert
Stanley stood for moment undecided what
course to pursue. He next found himself
violently assailed by half a dozen men. The
uplifted knife was knocked rudely out oil
his hand strong rope was dexierous;
thrown over his shoulders and drawn tight
/ ~ around him, and IN spite Of his despe
rate struggles to free himself, he was cap
tured. My hour of peril was over. NJ,
life had hung as 1t were upon a thread, anc
my soul bad been fortified for the emergen
cy, but nov came reaction NV brair
whirled film came before my eyes, anC
fol senscless into thearms Of my husband
At last | aWcke 10 consciousness. az j
from dream. Lifo and It's blessings wer,
mine once more to enjoy, and from the We
/ ~ depths Of my soul I brcathed forth
/ prayer Of unspenkabIo joy and tbankfulnas
to the most high God FIR my unexpected
dcigerance. Herbert Stanley was taker
back to the Asylum from which be had es
capped, and IN a few mouths after completed
his miserable existence