The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-08-31
ALONE WITH A MANIAC.

Ihaye been asked by many why am
prematurely gray, and j will relate the
thrilling circumstance again, as'I have
done q hundred times before.
Hair has often turned gray in o night,
but mine turned to silver threads in
the broad sunlight Of MONDAY, with o
thousand upturned faces on the crowd.
ed street OF o city gazing in wonder and
horror at my helpless and fearful situa.
tion, all paralyzed by the sight, and
none thinking or able to help me. Alone
] Isuffered, and alone / triumphed, but
added a half century to the locks that
shaded my brow. gt n
I was employed with Lightning
Rod Company, and was ordered to re-
place the old broken rod Of ST. Pauls
church, in the city q 30, with one Of
told my roommate Of my detailed duty
for the next day, and I noticed his
strange keen eyes light up with some
secret pleasure, but / Thought nothing
Of II at the time. What strange crea.
ture he was an italian landscape
painter, man Of middle age, who had
seen some deep sorrows in life, but
whose secret l never knew. ] only
guessed 1t was some family difficulty,
the memory OF which at times soitened
his flashing black eyes, into all the
dreaminess Of o lovers, and at others
filed them with tho glance Of frenzy,
under which he would act SO strangely
that I thought at those times his reason
was partially dethroned. But the cloud
OF the past would dispel itself, and in
the sunlight Of the present he would
be Us genial Us ever. He used 10 show
me all his paintings, and took pleasure
in my high praise OF them; but one he
guarded with the most jealous care,
and once when Icame In unexpectedly
upon him, and caughta glimpse Of 4
as he was giving some finishing touches
to 1t, he sprang to his feet, threw the
curtain over 1t, and with o fearful gleam
in his eyes, pushed me from the room.
Isaw that It was the portrait OF o beau
tiful woman-with the dark eyes and
hair Of Itaiy, and the soft tinge Of her
sunlight and genial cline.
He met me in our room that evening
as pleasant as ever, and nothing was
said OF his strange conduct, and so, with
me, IL was soon forgotten. 1'.
Two weeks alter, T knocked OF the
door OF his studio, and receiving no IN.
swer, / opened the door, and there, as
before o shrine, he was kneeling before
the portrait, and seemed to be obliyious
Of my presence. Never before had ]
seen such IN expression Of mingled de.
votion and agony on the human face as
his bore but o, the portrait ! Istood
spellbound and drank in the rayishing
beauty Of that sweet face, with the.
yoluptuous smile, and the soft light Of
love beaming from the eyes in all the
animation Of living creature. turn
ed to leave, when in an instant he sprang
forward and grasped me by the throat
and dragged me before the portrait,
drew out o poniard and raising 1t high
above me, exclaimed:
Genoyia, Genovia, accept this sac.
rihce Of blood" when, as II by mira
Gle, the curtain fell over the face and
lowering his hand, he said, sadly, "No,
no, baseborn wretch, goi Your blood
would be On unworthy sacrifice to her;
twill be some other hour your time
will come y and with o theatrical -four.
ish he pushed me from him, dropped
his poniard, and folded his arms in q
melancholy manner. 'fl N
needed no spur TO hasten me away.
but got out as quickly Us could, and
resolved to change my room OF once,
,vbtaI, a olxa T ,vS,t,ld i,nva M rrs al q, t,
execution, but be met me at the sup.
per-table so genial and kind that / for.
gaye him, and regarded II hut as the
strange freaks Of his love for some one
in the past, and / simply resolved not
to 10 into his studio any more.
When the morning arrived for me TO
60 to the church, he requested that he
might accompany me, as he wished 10
study celebrated painting there, and
would remain in the church until /
came down. To this I willingly assent.
ed, and looking the ponderous door on
the inside, I left him below, while !
ascended to the topmost window OF the
spire. and arranged my ropes and pul.
leys for descending on the outside. A
great crowd gathered in tho street be.
low 10 watch my movements, and with
some pride that / was the center Of at.
traction, / had lowered myself until tho
old rod was oil detached and cast down,
and had drawn myself up within ten
feet OF the window, when, upon look
ing up, / saw the italian at the window,
looking down OF me with the fearful
glare OF maniac in his eyes. He hiss.
cd through his clenched teeth:
"Your hour has come. have sworn
that no man should look upon her face
and live. am going to cut you down !"
and to my horror, he drew great cary-
ing knife, and began slashing at my
rope. He could not sever the rope at
one blow, and I saw that my only hope
OF safely lay in paying out rope 50 fast,
that he could not cut twice at the same
place. In this ] succeeded, until the
cut strands reached the pulley, where,
catching for o moment they gave him
time for cutting the rope It was the
end held 10 my hands, and with fear
full rapidity the rope rushed through
the pulley, until a broken strand again
caught 30 firmly that IL would 90 no
further. Inow saw that he would cut
the remaining rope, and send me TO de.
struction, two hundred feet below.
A cry Of horror came up from the
crowd In the street, aH they now real.