The Osceola times., 1881-02-12

with him in the early days Of our hap
/ piue-s. i had now grown 20 be q piti-
iui coward aud dreaded the very sound
Of his io1istepl
"'Iiue feathers for @ p3uper" lac said
at I.I, snecriugly. j want them. Go
put ou YOUR mcaugst dress, and look for
servants place / want no more of
your SD yelling. I've enough to do TO
take care Of myself
"Wiih these words he turned and left
the room.
"Scarce Y conscious Of what ! was do
ing, / changed my dress and went out
as ] had been bidden. II WAS growing
dark. | looked about me in dull, diz-
~ trance Of horror twas so terrible to
feel myself a homeless wanderer in the
streets of the great. merciless city! |
raised q mute prayer to the God of the
tatherles5 for succor. 1t was answered.
In that, the crowning hour of my sorrow.
a good angel directed me toward the
steps of sister Of the benevolent order
10 which / now belong. ! told her my
story, and she took the poor, stricken
one home TO the fold. From that time
., this | have been as though dead to
that husband who, while as beautiful as
the angel Lucler before he fell from
heaven, was also cruel beyond the power
Of mortal to conceive
1t is now two years since heard Eve
lyn's narrowing story. During that time
| ave not often seen her, though know
where she is, and that in her benefcent
work among the suffering, she must at
tain, at last, TO the reward which is
promised to whomsoever shall give even
a cup Of cold water in Christ's name.
NEIL's STORY.
"lloW strangely link fits within link in
the subtle interests Of lfe's wonderful
Chainl Yesterday, as with one of the
keepers | made the usual rounds of the
lunatic asylum, my guide paused at the
entrance Of the corridor leading to the
cells where the dangerous patients are
confined.
"'Wc have a new case, sir; and long as
I've been here, he beats any one I've had
to deal with. Some of the time. barring
the lurking devil in his eve, he's a fine
and solt-,Pol,en as the biggest gentleman
out. Then again his curses would chill
your marrow; but here we are
"llc unlocked the door and entered
the room. | WAS about to follow but he
motioncd me back, SO ] remained stand
ing outside.
"The inmate Of the cell rose and fast
ened his eyes intently upon the keeper
as he said, pleasantly:
"'Well my friend, how are you to-
day?'
"Ihe answer came low, but distinct:
" 4 can tell YOU better when | know if
You have kept your word. Have You
found her for me? If not. how dare you
come near me? Al" with rising passion.
Won haven't. ! see it in your eyes,
tell you Iyc killed my man before now,
and I'll nave no trItliug, DyOu hear,
Dead men tell no tales, they say. but it
is false, lie stands there now! Go
away and the madman sank down upon
the floor in the most ahject terror. He
saw with his disorlcred vision sights
not visible to us
suddenly his mood changed, and he
started up eagerly.
Have YOU seen my pretty Evelyn,
whom ] drove out into the night? Al,
she WAS mated to a bird of prey, and he
tore her happiness into shreds, just as
viii pull you limb from limb"
"With wild cry he sprang forward,
but the keeper was too quick for him,
and lac found the door shut and bolted
in his face.
"Ilc turned to me; Isn't he a terror,
dnG0I|
"But that nsme-Evelyn-had reused
train Of thought in my brain that shut
ont the keepers words
"It was Louis Beauehamp. At last
held the key TO the mystery which had
biiehicd that young wife's happiness.
He was undoubtedly mad even at that
early period.
81 leh directions with the keeper to
telegraph at once to me if anything oc-
cuuei-as in his frenzy, no doubt, some
fearful scene would eventually be en-
acted.
The summons came very soon. The
unhappy mIn had inflicted fatal injuries
upon himself, and was falling rapidly.
81 Went at once to his wife and stated
the facts as briefly as possible. She
turned very white, but she did not faint
Take me to him. She said as soon
as her pale lips could frame the words
We We're soon on our way, and reach
ed tie asylum in time for her to see him
alive.
"What passed between the husband
and wife will never be revealed; but as a
few hours later | stood and looked upon
his dead face. knew by the peace which
rested upon its worn lineameuts that his
tortured soul had been soothed and
strengthened in its journey into the nm
seen world hy the loving pity and un-
hesitating forgiveness Of the woman he
had SO deeply injured