The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-03-12

\ Ipefate, nerciless madnjan bent o.
my destruction, as be had expressly
avowed it, and that paralyzed every
nerve and muscle.M
"God help me inIthis hour Of per.
i'll" was the prayer@ which arose up
in my soul, for I knew that no hu
man aid was near.
Again the madman advanced with
the glittering blade quivering in bis
hand. | felt the iron grasp Of His
hand upon my shoulder, saw the
bright blade of the bowie knife
pointed directly at my heart, and
stood powerleSs and motionless as d
statute.
But with this hour of peril came
strength adequate to the emergency
The courage which had for a moment
deserted me, revived and triumphed
over fear. / knew that to plead for
mercy, to sue for life, would be in
vain, My entreaties would be un-
needed, and perhaps instant death
would be the consequence. My only
hope then lay in strategem. A plan
whirled through my brain with
lightning speed, and upon it ! deter
mihed to act.
"Relcase me, Herbert" | said, with
as much calmness as | could com,
mand, "and come sit down by nay
side. | want 10 talk,to you"
He obeyed.
"You will be my wife?' he said
"You accept my proposiiion?"
bowed an assent. A triumph
ant smile lighted up his features. I.
ec-'Hefbert, III began, "'yoasoflefed
me the rich. treasure of your heart,
but blindly and foolisllyrefu fused it,
| 'recklessly threw away my own
happiness, but The act was thought.
less, anunpreceden one, and lhave
never ceased to regret it, This time
you shall not sue in vain"
Another wild, shrilllaughresound.
ed in my ears, and the maniac's eyes
shone additional luster.
81 knew" he said proudly, brush
ing back the long, black locks from
his high, broad forehead, ~ knew
your woman's heart could not a sec.
ond time withstand the power Of my
charms. Ladies have always court
ed and admired me. | have been for
years the center of universal honor
and homage, and though age is
creeping on apace, | can slip into the
heart of q woman as slyly and sub
tly as in the days of my early man
hoodl"
Herbert, | will, as I said, be the
bride of your future life. The un-
seen joys of the eternal world we
will share together. But no bride
ever leaves her fathers home with.
out making preparations; neither
can l leave the abiding place Of my
earthly husband without making
some arrangements necessary for his
comfort and happiness. | will pre-
pare a dinner to be ready against
his return, and for the Titles ones
God has given me. While lam in
the flesh / must be faithful to the
VOWS made in the flesh. We will re-
fresh our bodies before starting upon
our long journey. II shall be our
marriage feast; you shall ethe bride
groom and the honored. My hus
band will be there to see the happy
exchange | have made"
Thus | ran on, betraying neither
by look nor act the mental terror o.
my soul. The eyes Of the maniac
glared less fercely the knife was re
placed in the belt. | had touched
the right cord in bis breast; his van
ity had been Aattered by my praises
and by readily according to his wish
es for the passing moment, | felt thu
danger was averted.
Determined to follow up the ad
vantage | bad so unexpectedly gain
ed, ! arose calmly, and with fore
ed smile, said, al will go now anc
prepare the dinner-our weddin!
feast. We will eat for the last tim,
with our fellow-mortals, and take o
them an affectionate FAREWELL"
$50 we willF' replied Stanley, gai
ly $50 we will, 1t shall be a mar
riare like the marriape of Cana