Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-05

| Cnng 10 IL SO.lOUS, dIlu ludI Is, the VaGoS
of heaven would not open to receive
me unless you were by my side, so I
have come for YOU"
In that moment I knew the truth
knew that this man by my side, quiet
as he was, was indeed mad, and ready
at any moment to throw off this mask
of sanity, and seize me in his powerful
grasp.
Once more l glanced around my
pretty room.
My husbands eye looked into mine
from his portrait on the wall, as if to
say, For my sake, darling. keep calm.
All rests with you. Do not let me re-
turn to find desolate home, with your
blood staining it's Threshold"
Victor" said, suddenly, "before
we go on this journey, tell me of your
seif-of all you have been doing"
"Of myself? What is there to tell?"
he questioned, with rising passion in his
voice.
"Of what I have been doing 1 shall
indeed tell you! Working for this hour,
shaving for it, enduring for it, with but
one ambition in the wretched struggle
| they call life-to meet you face to face.
to look into your eyes as they rested on
your work, to tell you of the burning
brain which could find no relief in tears,
the weight of iron breaking the heart
on which your hand has placed it. All
it is a little hand, white and fair D
clasping it within his own" even to
| lift so monstrous a weight, yet you
placed it we'll, not missing single
| II o1>
SO cruel Elsie, have you no remorse?"
;'Nictor: you are the cruel one; you
do me an injustice unworthy of your
self"
cay, injustice What do you know
of the word? You who sit here in your
beautiful home and let the world go by
UNDECIDED and uncared for, what men,
DRY had you for the man you had DOOM
ed, whose struggles, whose agonies you
could watch as the cat playing with a
mouse? l saw him kiss you last night,
the man you call your husband, forget
ting, in the sight of heaven, that you
are my wife. You rested in his arms,
you laid your head upon his shoulder
| looking with adoring eyes into his facet
You whispered words of love
in his ear, but for the last
time 1 would have killed him, but
that [ wanted you alone in that other
world to which we are going. Elsie,
darling, you do not fear me?" his voice
suddenly sinking from frenzled anger to
its old tenderness.
At any moment he might draw the
concealed weapon from his pocket-at
any moment plunge the dagger, into
my heart.
A scream, a struggle, would but make
sure my fate.
What was to be done?
Victor" l said, with cunning match
ing his own, let us not die but live. In
death all is uncertainty; in life we have
each other and love -
He glanced with keen suspicion into
my face.
"And you love me?" he questioned.
How dare you, then: give your
kisses to that other-the kisses which
belonged to me? Listen! We have no
time to spare. Already they are or my
track Tonight [ saw them, but their
eyes failed to find me. They call me
mad, yet outwit them. Nor do [ find
it such a difficult task. Yet, if once
they seize me they will bear me back
to the place from which have fled !;
but not alive-oh, not alive See, FL
sie!" throwing back his coat, and dis
closing the long, narrow, cleaning blade
he had concealed there. First your
heart, then NINE You grow pale; you
tremble 1t will soon be over, A mo-
ment's pang; eternal happiness
His arm is thrown tight around me.
| [ am powerless even to struggle in
his iron clasp. His words fall Kissing,
one by one, on the still air. Darkness
is gathering around me-the darkness
of despair.
The little clock upon the mantel
chimes eleven, and [ remember, with a
thrill Of horror. it is the last time shall
ever hear it strike, when outside sounds
CHEEKY whistle, and a step [ recog-
nize as my husbands upon the pave
ment.
Its firm, manly tread is unmistakable
[ can fancy his glancing up at the light
ed windows shining forth their welcome
| for him. Another moment his latch
key will be in the door.
"Victor," exclaimed, 81 hear them
coming. He, the spy, is on your track.
| Conceal yourself where you were be-
fore. | will mislead him and return to
you. For my sake, be quick"
| At these last words his hold relaxes.
The old GINNING leaps to his eyes.
For you sake,' he whispers.
With a sudden spring he is again hid
den behind the folds of the curtain, and
in that moment my husband entered
the room, and rushed to the shelter of
| his arms.
| Behind him follow two men.
My darling, what is it?" Will ex-
claims. What has happened? found
these men watching the house, and they
insist mailman entrusted to their care
has entered here. [, of course, have
given them permission to search"
try to speak, but cannot. e-trg
The words die in my throat as point.
tremblingly, to the curtain where can
discern, peering through, Victor's
cleaning eyes. 81 - ...EEt
"Traitress p [ hear him exciaim
| ard DC tho mon Sprapu fOruard RI ORC