The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1873-01-30


tiOn denied me. | glanced towards the
door. Herbert SIsnely must have inter
preted that glance, You cannot escape.
he exclaimed czultiuglE "I'Vo taken care
to prevent that Ivoh fastened tho back
door aud the east door upoO the outside
and here is the key to the front" f" Aud
be took from his pocket large brass key
and held it up triumphnutly before me-
All possibility Of escape was then cut
of, | wos 10 the power Of desperate,
mcrcilcss madmau, bent upon my destruc'
ton, us he had expressly avoWedi aud that
thought paralyzod every nerve and mus
Gle.
God help me in this my hour Of per-
ill., was the despairiug prayer which arose
iu my soul, for | knew no human aid was
near,
Again the mndman advanced with the
glitlcriog steel quivcriug III his hands !
felt the iron grasp of his hand on my
shoulder, saw tho bright blade Of the bow
ie.koife pointed directly to my heart, nnd
stood powerleSs and motiouless as a stat
ue,
But with this hour OF peril came
strength adequate to the emergency The
courage which had for moment deserted
me revived aud triumphcd over fear !
knew that to plead for mercy, to sue for
life, would be 10 vain, My cntrenIics
would be uncoded, aud perhaps instant
death would be the consequence, My on.
y hope then lay in Stratngcm, A plan
whirled through my brain with tho rapidi-
ty Of lightning, and upon it | determined
to act
Release me, Herbert, +. | said, With as
much cnlmucss as | could command,
''aud come sit down by my side, | want
to talk to you"
He obey,d. "You will be my wifyT
You accept NY proposi'ioD?'
bowed an assent A triumphant
smiled lighted up bis features.
Herbert" ! began, years ago you Of
fcrcd ne tie rich treasures of your heart
but | bliudly and foolishly refused it.
.yecklsssll .llisev aEsy NY own happiaegs,
but t6e act'9Es atliodghtlcss uuprcmedit'
ptcd ono, atd | never ceased to regret it
This time you.will not sue in vain.
Another Wild, sbrilI laugh rcsounded
in ny ears and the maniac'S eyes gIarGd
with additional lustre
~ knew" be said, proudly brushing
back the long. black locks from his high,
broad forehead, Il knew your woman'f
heart could not a second time withstand
the power of my charms, Ladies have al
ways courled and admired me. have
been for years the center Of universal hor-
or and attention and though uge is creep
ing on apace, | eau slip into the silly heart
ofa woman as slyly aud subdy as in the
days of my early manhood
Herbert, will, as | said; be the bride
Of your future life The unseen joys Of
the eternal world We will share together
But no bride ever leaves her fathers home
without making preparation, neither can
| leave the abiding place Of my earthly
husband without making some arrange.
ments necessary for bis comfort and hap
pipess. | will prepare dinner TO be
ready against his return and for the little
ones God has given me. While am III
The flesh must be faithful to the vows
made in the flesh. We will refresh our
bodies before starting upon the long jour.
ncy. II shall be our marriage feast; you
will be the bridegroom and the honOrcd
guest. My husband will be there to Sec
the happy change / have made.
Thus | ran on, betrayiDg neither BY
look nor by act the mental terror of my
soul. The eyes Of the maniac glarcd less
fercely, the knife was replaced in tho belt
| had touched a right chord 10 bis breast;
bis vanity had been dattered by my praises
and readily acceding to my wishes, and for
the passing momontI felt the danger was
avertcd.
Determined to follow up the advantage
| had so unexpectedly gained, | arose
calmly, and with force smile, said, q
will 60 nov aud prepare tho diHner-Our