The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-24

y
absent look in her ewes that filled me with
compassion. 81 viii vrt ont some men
and scour the whole ncighborhood before
uiChtlail. She will surely hc found
But it was nearly DARK tylorc | could
gct efficient help. About seven o'clock,
however. time men node away in different
directions. while | look the road to ia,
bridge ON foot
\ thunder storm was coming up; it was
almost dark, The lightning that cleft the
heavy purple Of the sky Was sharp and 'ig
sag.
had nearly reached the bridge The
thunder clouds gathered so thickly in the
SKY tina, almost entire darkness cnyclopcd
me. | hurried ON, bat stopped upon the
bridge with = hand ON the railing. In
spite of thc rattle of the now fast de,ycud-
ing RAIN, ] could hear the soft gliding of
the water that GOULD hardly Sce, aud
i8uctcj Jhcrc WAS am omiuous Significance
I'm that almost uaudiblr dow listened,
>huddCriug al the loneliness, and sgraiutug
any lrowutug gaze into the black tide.
\ savage clutvh---iaSt, turiou, blows
raining upon my dcicu>clesS head. into my
ewes, upon my gasping mouth was down,
and b,aten blind and deaf before could
make a stroke Of resistance. So powerful and
overwhelming WAS the attack.
can >oem 60 see what never knew go
my enemy raising my passive body, and
casting il over the railiUCol the bridge into
the water, the lightning PLAYING over us,
and She solitude 81 nature around.
came 10 my senses making hall ttlrctual
efforts a. swim. Having bVyn an adept 40
swimming irom child, think 10 Was
almu-, impossible 60 drown me, hall dead
as Mas, padded about in q hal!-uucou-
>tious state ior while Al last, nv sense,
clearing, rvaliscd nay situation, aud struck
oui collecIedly, bat iccbly, for the bank.
When | grawlcd up the grassy slope | Put
my hand 90 my temples, which icll strange
IL, and found them slimy with my own
warm eia,Iiug blood.
| s,ooj icv a while unable 90 tell which
Way TO ~, and still somewhat dazcd. did
NOT even have the thought 10 fear the rc-
appearance OF NV enemy. only lclI dc,-
pcrately the need Of place Of rest and
refuge, and unable 10 tell my location.
stumbled bliudly and dizEily about in the
dark until 81 stroke Of lightning showed me
. winding path in tie hillside leading 20 a
raad above.
pulled myself up by the bushes and by
nervou, excitement and sheer force oi will.
| worked nv way back 10 the hotel. stag
s,rrd up % the door, pushed IL open into
the hall, and lly iirs, words wvrc--had they
found Nclon
The group who stood there talking cried
out and rrcoiied. Ny face WAS like a hor-
rible mask. literally coyrrvd with my blood.
Ny clothing was wet, muddIed aud tern,
and they told me atterward that my ewes
glarrd like a Wild mln's
was very much excited, ioT | Was in The
first stages oi brain disorder, and wandered
rrsllgSSly about the rooms but | rrcollrei
seeing Helen weeping and beseeching them
10 take care OF me. Al is as n dream from
that time, but | was put TO bed, and phy-
sician sent for.
Not until / was entirely recovered, and
able 70 leave NV room, ami then they were
forced 70 il. did they tell me that the body
of beautiful Nelore Nere had been found in
the woods, near the bridge. utterly without
lie; and, when examined, discolored marks
about the throat showed that she had been
strangled 10 death
This was six weeks later. The body had
been taken 20 the Nerc burial place. but
her bvtruthed, 9 noble gentleman. the ser
wants said had come down 10 Wesgwold
and taken charge Of everything. though
greatly rackei with grief Mr. We're had
been taken home very i'll, and Helen had,
OF courSe, gone also.
Ny love dream had turned into a horri-
bic nightmare, and ended in an awful re
ality.
\ year passed. As was natural, the first
sharp shock OF this most painful experience
had worn of, More immediate occurrences
occupied my thoughts, but ! could never re
call that fatal time without 3 shudder.
One night n a sacred concert, saw the
face Of Helen We're. IL was more beautiful
than ever, matured by the chastoning in
auenoe OF suffering. She was dressed in
deep mourning, and by her side sat a man
OF peculiar elegance and dignity
As | watched Helen We're , sharp jeal-
ousy Of her companions attentions stole
over me. There seemed between them, TO
my attentive eyes, the familiarity Of 4 close
sympathy. | saw her slip her little black
glovel hand within his; | observed when
she grew weary that he supported her
When the concert was ended | hastened
to approach them. Helen seemed startled
and agltated by my appearance, bat gave
me her hand and introduced me to Mr..
Alfred Sutton. 4 few words aside inform
ed me that this was Nelore's betrothed.
She urged me 10 visit her. | did 30.
Her father was dead. She lived in her
beautiful house alone. How greatly she
had changed from the gay little schoolgirl
Of hardly D a f...-1- l.. !
lost all the abandon Of girlhood, even the
bloom, bat she was very lovely, and as |
watched her a new pang Of jealousy Of Mr..
Alfred Sutton rose in my breast
But in a little while l understood her
better. Her feeling for her sisters betroth-
ed husband was only sisterly; his love Tor
her only brotherly. Carefully, tenderly /
sought and won her
SIX months after our marriage a gentle
man came in 3 carriage TO my house, and
asked 10 see me alone. | conducted him 10
the library, and closed the door.
lie was a man Of polished address, and
evidently Of strong character He intro
duced himself as DIR. Naux Of the private
insane asylum At Hillside. At this an
nounoement / ielt a slight CONSERVATION
and bewlderment, that / think was appa-
rent in my manner.
About 4 year ago said he, after some
preliminaries, " received a patient whose
name may not be unknown to you--Mr.
George Sloewickn
Good Heavens | cried.
" You know him?H
have known him very WELL
Ies. He was placed in my care by his
father; pronounced insane BY his family
physician. have given his case the best
care and particular attention, but he is in
durable. At present his physical strength
Is fast failing; in short, | fear he IA DYING.
But as life fails reason returns, and rs
now consider his state perfectly natural,
and his reason lucid, / feel REQUIRED 70
treat his wishes with indulgence. lie de-
sires to see YOU, and have come for YOU. ("
! rose and began looking for my hat.
When a servant had brought it, | followed
DIR. Nau1 to his carriage
was too confused to observe what course
we took. | only realized, with a sudden
thrill, that We stopped at last before the
portals Of the asylum. Ny companion
gave me some reireshment, for | was, con-
iess, very nervous, and then followed him
through several light, pleasant corridors to
the door.
" l. he quite prepared to see me p |
asked.
He il waiting" was the reply.
j was ushered into chamber Of mod
crate size. The light was subdued. A
woman stood at the side Of a bed tanning
the ghastly face among the pillows. The
head was shayen, the cheeks deeply fallen /:
! | never should have known George Sloe-
wick, not even by his voice
" Come close - he said, in a strained whis-
per, motioning me to the bedside.
Dr. Naux placed chair for me, and