The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-18
Her voice had sunk to low muttering
she was feeling Of the hatchet again, cast

the nlght-dreSS had on secmeu Datneu 10
q chilly sweat, I'VE won't lot them come.
Hand me my clothes that lie on that chair.
Sairy,' To my surprise she obcyed me,
and l dressed myself. hardly able to stand.
For, think what II was, girls, for young
thing scarce twenty years old, with a
young baby. besides, to be In the power
Of woman like this!
When I was dressed. we went down
stairs; first. for 50 she ordered me. D.
the horror Of hearing that creature steal
AFTER mo n I went down with Willie in
my arms, not daring to look behind, and
dreading every moment the fall OF her
hatchet on my neck! But We got down
safe enough.
What day that was, girls! Not mo-
ment would the creature leave me; not
one step would she allow me to take out
side. though the poor cows were lowing
In most pitiful way for some one to
come and milk them. Not door or a
window would she allow to be opened. /
walked up and down with Willie. crying
and fretting all day. nearly, poor little fel-
low, and racked my brains for some way oil
escape from her hands. But lcould think
Of nothing. o. IL some Of the neighbors
would come! But no ono came, and rs
the day wore on grew desperate. The
night should not find Us again alone with
this creature!
'Sairy.' said I, very quietly, after think
ing minute, I'm going upstairs to lay
tho baby on the bod And with that I
walked to the stairs, she following mo
close.
.Hark. harkr said l. Suddenly stopping,
when halfway up, what noise Is that in
the front room! Run. rum
spoke like one in terrible fright and
itinfected her. With wild cry she rush.
ell TO the room-a small one adjoining the
kitchen. At the same instant ran for
my life upstairs. All! girls, I've run that
race over again many night in my sleep!
Before I reached the door / heard her
mad yell. and the flying of her feet after
me. Gasping for breath, l reached tho
room, slamed the door, and bolted 1t Just
in time! Then stood. painting and listen
ing to her outside. She was rsving. now !;
bowling and springing up against the door
like some wild beast. Then. again, she
would rush up and down the hall, crying
out in the most mournful way, till all Of q
sudden she would stop by the door again.
and batter against IL till | feared she would
break 1t down.
At last she grew quiet and stole away.
muttcring softly to herself. placed poor
little crying Willie on the bed, and gave
him toy to rlay with to keep him quiet.
Then I crept to the window, and looked
out. 1t was twilight now; every thing
seemed still rs death.
What is she going to do" I asked my
self. .Will she set the house alircr And
half dead with fright at this thought, 1
began 10 think what I should do. My
window overlooked lane running past
our house. It was no great height from
the window TO the ground. Should l lot
baby carefully down. and then risk leap
myself
1t was forlorn hope. but there seemed
no other way. was just tying baby into
large basket I had found in the closet,
when heard the clattcr of u horses feet.
The rider. whoever he was, was coming
up the lane. Springing up, | rushed to
the window. 1t was Dan Wilson. our
'.neighbor's" youngest son, u lad of thir-
teen, como probably on some message
from his father. He halted with an aston
ished look rs he saw my face.
Hush! hushr said, fearfully; then
stretching ont my hands to him: Dan,
Dan. ride home quickly. Bring all the
help you can; Sairy Is down stairs raving
mad For the love of God, save my poor
baby and me!
Dan turned rs pale rs myself, fancy;
but he gave me nod, and galloped OIL
like the wind. took poor Willie out of
the basket and. sitting down with him,
kissed him again and again, anil began to
cry n little. was feeling weaker now
than all along. Some little time l sat so,
when sudden ban on the door made mo
Jump up with n scream. IL WAS Sairy,
again; and she'd got something heavy In
her hand-the axe, pcrhaps-with which
she was pounding on the door. It was y
very strong door; doubt IL she could
have done much harm. with all her pound
ing; but in the dreadful state was In, 1
expected nothing else.
stood there q minute, helpless and
moaning; and then. with sudden
thought, I darted into the closet. where,
when went for the basket, had spied u
great iron bar. seized this and came
out with it. WAS in n sort Of wild
fury now, against this fcnd who had tor
mented my poor child and mo so all day.
But my mind was made up; tho moment
that creatures head appeared, would
dash her brains OUT. IL II was possible,
thought, for was In kind Of despair.
I thought God had forsaken me; and. In
my madness, accused Him, and my hus-
band. and every body else, OF cruelty to-
ward mo.
Suddenly, heard the horses feet again
and ran to the window. There was
young Wilson again. and large party
with him. told them where She was,
and 10 be very cautious; and then. having
no power tn say any more, started To
the bed. still holding the bar, and, sinking
on the bed. drew Willie toward me very
fcebly, for began to feel as weak rs wa
ter.
Sairy was listening now-shc was quiet
rs death. But, all Mt once. we heard the
bursting open Of door below. then low
voices. and the treading Of feet. And.
with that tho poor creature gave one ter
rible cry of.
The evil spirits arc coming for me-
and ran. like q hunted thing, along the
hall.
That cry went through and through
me. like q dozen knives, my nerves were
so unstrung; but struggled, and kept
myself quiet, for poor Willies sake. Then
tho voices rose again, mingled with the
cries Of that poor creature, and sprang
up. stopping my ears, and holding down
the choking In my throat, till Willie, who
had been quiet lately, began to scream,
frightened by the noise outside. and, half.
distracted rs was, soothing him quieted
me down little. :.
At last. the noises ceased, and there
came shaking Mt my door. Mrs. Ken
nody r cried Mr.. Wilson'S voice. open the
door, 81
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