The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-06

peal; and then, turning, saw the wom-
an kneeling beside her victim, her white
robe and gray hair dabbled with gore,
placing round her skinny throat the
blazing diamonds, with a look of insane
triumph, and signing to me, as if she
wished me to approach and admire the
baubles.
NY peal speedily reused the slumber-
ing household, and Herbert, followed
by the valet and butler, rushed into the
room.
whats the matterP'' he began;
then, starting back with an exclamation
of horror, he cried, "she has done it
at last, thenr'
With a wild yell the woman rose,
dashing down the necklace, and would
have fled, but was seized and held till
another woman, and one whom l had
never observed before, entered with q
s.rait-jacket, in which the maniac was
| imprisoned, and then carried away to a
distant part of the mansion, shrieking
and raving wildly, while we busted our
selves with trying to restore animation
to Willis.
loo late, however. When the doctor
arrived he at once pronounced life to be
extinct. The blow had been given with
such strength that the sharp blade had
pierced the mans heart Just as he must
have imagined he had safely possessed
himself of the coveted Jewels. He had
been struck down by the hand of the
mad woman he had tended for years,
Just as he imagined he had achieved
riches, and that a life of ease and plenty
lay before him.
| Poor wretchr' said Herbert. 81
believed him so true, so honest, so trust
worthy. He has had charge of that
poor maniac yonder ten years and
more"
"Who is she, Herbert?' asked. "I
have a strange tale to tell you, and
should like to know"
"You shall hear" replied he, taking
my arm, and leading me into his dress
ing-room. "She was a distant relation
of my uncle's wife, and we;.t mad from
disappointment in love. Her in
tended died suddenly on tina morning
of their intended marriage. believe,
though, there was hereditary madness
in her family. She had been the bosom
friend and companion from childhood
of my aunt, who would not allow her to
be taken to an asylum, and made my
uncle promise to keep her always at
the Hall. When he died he made me
promise the same to him, telling me
Willis and the woman you saw, who
brought in the strait-jacket, had tended
her for years, knew her ways and
whims, and, in her worst and most vio-
lent fits, could always manage her.
"Her apartments were at q distant
angle of the hall; though l have con-
stantly visited her myself, l and her
two attendants were the only people,
besides the doctor, who knew of her
existence. Her fits had grown worse
of late, and to steal those diamonds
Willis must have left her alone, and
| she took the opportunity to follow and
murder him, for when the fits were
coming on she often showed great ami
mostly toward both her attendants.
Poor, miserable creature! the doctor is
with her now. l don't know what to
do with her. However, there will be
an inquest of course, and probably the
matter will be taken out of my hands
altogether; hope so, am sure, for
should never feel easy with her in the
house again, after this. Now what
have you got to tell me, BrandonP'
| "a queer tale. l can't make it out
a bit," said, and told him all that had
happened.
He was as much struck and puzzled
as had been.
cit is most inexplicable," said he, al
length. ''On the first night you saw
the figure-her figure only-the door
was bolted; no one could have entered.
On the second occasion, the body you
saw on the ground must have been an
illusion, even if the woman was by your
bedside in the flesh herself. / can't
make it out at allr'
Neither can l." replied; and to
this day the mystery is unexplained-is
a mystery to me still, and to my friends
also.
A gloom, which made it anything
but a merry Christmas for us all, was
cast over the Hall by the tragical scene
that had just been enacted beneath its
roof, which was increased by an an
nouncement from the doctor that the
maniac was fast going, and that in a
few days she would be no more. In
flammation of the brain had set in, and
erelong the poor creature breathed hel
last.
After her death the secret of heI
hatred to her keeper soon became ap
parent. The poor, worn body bore
marks of cruel blows. Starvation had
done its work, and neglect. The body
was terribly emaciated, and only the
strength of madness had enabled heI
to follow her keeper and take revenge
on him, aided by the cunning for which
maniacs are so famous.
The dagger with which she had killed
him she had snatchcd from a trophy oi
curious arms in the corridor down
which she had crept, as she stealthily
followed in the wake of her victim.
After the funeral of Willis and the
unfortunate woman we all left the Hall
and came to London, and y few months
afterward married Kitty. but could
not induce her to wear the diamonds al
the wedding, though had iem beau.
tifully reset. She preferred modest
set of pearls had given her, rnd which
became her fair complexion perfectly,
and lovelier bride has seldom been
seen.
Herbert is married now, and often
over the fire at Christmas time, in the
old Hall, have had to repeat my tale
of mystery to my children and his,
while the famous diamonds glitter and
blaze away on my wife, fair form, and
we all puzzle our brains for a satisfac-
tory explanation of what will ever re-
main to me a profound enigma.-En-
gtish Magazine.
Country Doctors Horses.
The physician who practices his pro.