Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-08-10

ment, and for some months he had been
regarded as hopelessly insane. He had
now escaped from the asylum where he
pay visit to me, the subject OF his
early love. His head and feet were
bare. A pair of course blue pants and
plaid calico shirt were his only attire.
His long disheveled black hair fell far
down upon his shoulders, and IN the
red leather hunting belt which fanci
/ fully encircled his waist, a pistol and
bowie knife were distinctly visible.
A fierce CLEAN OF wild delight shot from
his dark eyes at they fell upon me.
Selling the knife in one hand, he
| brandished it over his head, and with
laugh, loud and diabohcal, he drew
! it several times across his throat and
/ forehead, and was in momentary ex-
1 pectation of seeing frightful wound
1 inflicted
"Laura Moore he exclaimed,
| Moore was my maiden name) when
you were young and handsome, / loved
you adored you as no man ever before
/ adored woman but you scorned my
love, you spurned me from you; you
smiled graciously upon my hated ri
val and you gave him the precious
treasure of your heart, but I've got you
now, You refused to be my BRIDE on
earth you shall be mine in Heaven
Thither / am going, and you shall ac-
company me Well consummate our
vows here, and to the celestial abodes
of Paradise we'll go together Here is
the instrument that will take rs
there
Saving this, he advanced with rapid
strides toward me, secured me by the
arm, hourished the deadly weapon dex-
terously over my head, brought the
blunt edge directly across my throat,
and fell back to the door, and stood
gazing upon me with those wild, glaring
eyes of his until the blood froze in my
veins.
| essayed to rise, but terror rendered
me powerless. 1t seemed as II every
muscle denied me. Iglanced toward
the door. Herbert Stanley must have
interpreted that glance.
You cannot escape" he exclaimed
exultingly; II have taken care to pre-
vent that I've fastened the east door
and there is the key to the front.
And he took from his pocket a large
brass key, and held it up triumphantly
before me.
All possibility of escape was thus cut
of. was in the power OF a desperate,
merciless mailman, bent on my des-
truction, as he had expressly avowed
it, and that paralyzed every nerve and
muscle
"God help me in this hour of peril !"
was the prayer that arose in my soul,
for ! knew no human power was near.
Again the mailman advanced with the
glittering blade qmvering in his hand.
| felt the iron grasp of his hand upon
my shoulder. saw the bright blade of
the howie-knife pointed directly at my
heart, and stood powerles, aud motion
less as statue,
But with this hour of peril came
strength adequate to the emergency. -
The courage which had for moment
deserted me revived, and triumphed
over fear. | knew that to plead for
mercy, 10 sue for life would be in vain
Ny treaties would be mheeded, and
perhaps instant death would be the con-
sequence. My only hope then laid in
stratagem. A plan whirled through
my brain with Tightening speed, and
upon it | determined to act.
" Release me, Herbert, | said with
/ as much calmness as | could command,
and come and sit down by my side.
/ want to talk to you"
/ He obeyed.
"You will be my wife" he said.
| 1ou accept my proposition"
/ | bowed an assent A triumphant
smile lighted up his features.
! " Herbert began, You offered me
4 the rich treasures OF yoru heart, but /
bhndly and foohshly refused it, !
recklcssly threw away my own hap
/ piness but the act was thoughtless, an
unprecedented one, and | have never
ceased to regret it. This time you
shall not sue In vain.
Another wild, shril laugh resounded
IN my ears, and the maniac's eyes fash
ed with additional lustre
Il knew, he said, proudly brushing
back the long black locks from his high,
broad forehead, Il knew your woman's
heart could not a second time with
stand the powers of my charms. La
ules Ni"hNS touItcu auu admired me L
have been for years the centre of uni
versal honor and homage, and though
age is creeping on apace, | can creep
into the heart of woman as slyly and
suhtly as in the days OF my early child
hood
Herbert, | viii, rs | said, be the
bride Of Your future life, The unseen
lows of tbp eternal world we will share
together But no bride ever leaves her
= fathers home without making prepare
ti0us; neither can | leave the abiding