The Lincoln County herald., 1872-05-23
I've not told Miss Claudia, vet.

l We nOt tUIu UIob SlduuIa, yets
This morning? repeated the man.
"Why I've just left him he brought me
part way in his carriage, not an hour
ago." f.....,t ".T IL.
Leonard took out the lettsr and tried
to read it again by the struggling moon.
light. ..'
ut must be q forgery" said he.
Then, he knew not why, the conviction
flashed across bis mind that it meant
har IN to Claudia. He turned and dashed
wildly away from the astonished farmer
and disappeared IN the direction from
whence be had come -
He found tho house shrouded in dark.
neas, and rang the bell violently, but no
answer came to his summons. lie had
hardly expected one, but he thought IL
Claudia were really in danger, 1t would
assure her that help had come. He then
went around to her window, and called
"Claudia, it's Leonard let me in"
A piercing shriek was the only an.
swer. He hesitates no longer, but clam
bering up by the rose lattice, he peers in
at the window, and sees in the dim light,
two white. struggling figures. In an
instant he dashes glass and sash to pieces
and springs into the room. Another
moment aud the fierce maniac 10 securely
pinioued. She struggles desperately with
Leonard, and in her frantic efforts pulls
down the wooden figure, which falls
heavily across her breast, crushing her to
the floor. .
Lifting up the fainting Claudia, Leon
ard places her on the bed, and bathss ber
pale face.
AS soon as she rcvivss, she remembers
the PROSTATE woman, and urges Leonard
to lift the heavy statue from the unfortu-
nate girl. She was bruised and blood
stained, and seemed to be in a faint.
They applied restoratives, but without
avail. She was dead the image Of
Silence had silonced her forever.
Wrapping a shawl around the trem-
bling and horror stricken Claudia, he led
her into another room, and soothsd and
comforted her until the early dawn crept
through the windows.
The morning brought Grandfather
Veuner. who was overjoyed to find his
darling safs after such a night Of peril.
The unfortunate Sylvia was tenderly
laid to rest by kindly plying hands. In
searching her room afterwards, scraps of
letters were found addressed to Leonard,
whom, 1t seemed she had silently and
hopelessly loved though unknown to him.
Little presents he had made her at holi-
day times, and bunch Of pansies that be
bad let fall from his coat, were carefully
put away. The flowers were faded and
withered, but tenderly preserved
She was the writer of the note to keep
Leonard away while she fulfilled her
deadly mission. While Claudia had
walked in tho garden at dusk, she had
removed the heavy statue, with tho
strength of insanity, placed herself on
the pedestal, and her accurate position
had deceived Claudia.
How Claudia shuddered when she re-
membered bonding over the flowers at the
feet of the mad woman, who was then
armed with the knife | What mercifuI
Providence that the air had been go heavy
that she could not sleep. Aud the "dsar
statue" it had saved her life II should
always stand in the hall of her house (not
this house-uo, never y and though
muiilated and broken, should be priced
always. .... .f..g.. -.
The old house was so dlstateful to
Claudia after this fearful adventure, that
the wedding day was hastened, and the
grandfather went with them to Merton,
where they settled in as pleasant and COM
Portable house as the one on the hill.-
Elina Westlake, in The Balance. .