The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-24

squire had dispatched across the creek upon
his first arising, returned with the informa-
ton that Mr.. Taylor-the gentleman whom
the stranger had left at his gate on the
road-would be over Immediately after
breakfast.
Upon the arrival of Mr.. Taylor, he and
the squire retired for consultation, to
which they after while called Randy, the
vagrant. They then returned to the trav-
eler, and, after hearing his account once
more, and comparing the time of his leav-
ing Mr.. Tayler with that of his arrival at
the squire's, they proceeded to the creek in
company.
Upon the arrival the squire addressed the
traveller:
f I have taken counsel with Mr. TAYLOR
touching this case, which seems a deep
mystery, after all the information we have
been so far able to gather; the lady seems
unknown even to Randy, who visits every
house in this and the adjoining counties,
| and you are equally stranger to us. con-
slider, however, that you have been fully
discharged from any connection with this
affair. We must first attempt to gather
something from the lady herself"
| At this point the doctor came out of the
sick-room. He stated that the lady had
greatly improved during the night and that
the wound was, in all probability, not
serious; the lady had even recovered, in a
measure, the control of her mental facul
ties and language, though she was not fully
conscious or coherent as yet.
The squire, Mr.. Taylor, the traveller, and
the doctor together proceeded to the bedside
| of the unfortunate woman, the stranger
being assured of his release by the words OF
the squire-frst ordering a servant to bring
his horse to the door before leaving the
| piazza.
Upon reaching the bed the woman opened
her eyes, and, seeing the kind, manly faces
of the squire and Mr.. Taylor, she family
smiled, and ran her eyes over the rest of the
group.
She passed the doctor without any vari
ance of expression, and then rested them
upon the face of the stranger.
The eyes became set in a horrible stare
the light fersook them, the pupils dilated
she raised herself to sitting posture by
convusive movement of the arms; then
crouching to her knees and throwing her
self wildly down upon her face, she shrieke6
out with a curdling moan:
"Oh, oh, Dupuy! don't don't" and con
sciousness once more left her.
Despite his self-command the traveller
paled. He at once retired with the gentle
men, however, to the piazza, and the docto
moved to assist his patient.
In short while he, too, joined the part,
on the piazza. Nothing had passed betweel
the group until the doctor broke painful
constraint which had fallen upon ALL
Gentlemen" said he "the worst mis-
hap that could befall this unfortunate lad,
has just occurred through her having seel
this gentleman, Mr.. Durer. She is a ravin
maniac. She may die, she may recover afte
lingering illness; in any event, she vii
be fortunate if she ever RECEIVERS her reason
Darkness had settled upon her brain for
, long night, which may never be followed b
, dawn"
"To what, DOCTOR" asked the squire, " d
: you attribute her shock ?''
, "She was evidently stricken with horro
at the sight of Mr.. Durer, whom, from M
) knowledge of the laws of the human brair
she has in some way associated with tn
violence which has been done her, to he
great terror"
There was pause, painful lull.
/. Then the squire spoke to Durer.
/ "The case, sir, has taken new turn. Yo
a will not be surprised that l conclude it M
! duty to commit you, to await further deve
. opments in the matter"