The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-06-29

| O-
having heard her.
Marion left the ward with q shocked
and anxious face.
Let me know if there is any change,
or anything I can do" she said to the
doctor.
But at dusk the physician was called
away by serious illness in his own fami-
,ly, and near midnight the assistant going
his rounds, found Aymer Preston dead
in his bed.
"Its either make believe or heart
break" DR. Putney said, sharply, when
word was brought him, and he ordered
Prestons body should be kept wrapped
in blankets and not removed till he saw
it.
The order was faithfully obeyed, but
when three days saw no change in the
form, DR. Putney having meanwhile e1-
amined it, it was removed to the dis
secting room.
Marion Hyde's window commanded a
view of this mysterious and horror
inspiring apartment. As she stood at
the window that night, she ti,ought,with
vague thrill of pain, of The one coldstill
tenant of that terrible room.
She was not a timid, supcrstitious
creature; nor by any means given to
nervousness; so when she saw the win
dow of the dissecting room slowly lifted,
and a gaunt wild face appear at the
openinginstead ofscreaming or running
away, she stood still. She knew her
heart was throbbing wildly, but she
also knew that it was no phantom she
looked upon. DR.. Putney had been
right all the time; Aymer Preston was
not dead, and thus he was making one
wild effort for his liberty. Marion
stood and watched him.
She could not have called out just
then if he had been the most desperate
aud hardened criminal within those
walls. Besides, the poor wretch was
only mocking himself. He could not
escape, even now. unless by miracle.
She saw him stop presently beside a
window which opened into an upper
hall, and after an effort, raise it and |
slowly drag himself through.
Obeying an impulse which she could |
not at that moment control, Marion |
softly opened her door and passed on
without her crutch, for fear of the |
noise. She reached the ball just as this |
poor wasted creature, after brief
rest, was urging his half paralyzed
limbs to renewed effort. At the sight |
of her he gasped and dropped In a
swoon, and Marion hurried to his side.
She dared not leave him, SO she wait
ed. rubbing his cold hands between
her tender palms, till be at last opened
his eyes, and she made him compre-
that she wanted him to come with her.
Il won't 60 back to prison." he
whispered between his set teeth.
"You need not" she said, simply,
and led him to her own chamber
There was positively no other place
that was safe from tue strict search
that she knew would be instituted as
soon as he was discovered missing.
She procured him some garments
which had belonged to her broth, r. and
she got him some food that would be
safe for him to eat after his long fast.
He regarded all her movements with
the incredulous wonder of a child.
What has been the matter with me?"
he asked, after while "I could not
stir any more than though was dead,
but l knew all that was going on about
me. Ugh! it was frightful waiting there
in that dessecting room. Ibelieveit was
only the horror of it helped me to break
the frightful spell"
Il suppose you were all in sor; of
trance" Marion said, thoughtfully.
What are you going 10 do with me?"
he asked again.
"I don't know, | am sure" she said,
with a sigh. "But You are safe here till.
L can think"
Il don't expect you to believe me, but
| am as innocent of the crime for which
| was brought here as you are"
Guilty or innocent, l pity you, you
are so young"
Concealing him till the hue and cry
was over, Marion smuggled him through
the gates in a womans dress and with a
basket of soiled linen. And so the mys-
terry of Aymer Preston's escape re-
manned.