The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-27
rHE TIMEs. NEW BLOOMFIELD. PA. DEoEMBER q. lssl.

public domain, instead OF the suite OF
apartments allotted to the incu mbent Of
his Office within the prison walls; though
TO them he had ready access by flight
of steps rudely cut in the preclplce and
terminating at minor entrance, which
was ordinarily used In preference to the
grand gateway facing the village.
Amidst the comforts of his quiet an d
pleasant home poor Jane found kindly
welcome, but neither the fatherly atten-
tions of the good sheriff, the gentle SYM
pathy of his wife, nor the cheerful socle-
ty of his young family, ever banished,
for a moment, her mournful detection.
Her bodily health soon gave way under
her mental suffering, and though no
complaint ever escaped her lips, and she
was still able to move about the house
performing such little domestic duties as
she fancled, she declined SO fast that it
was feared she might not survive until
the term of court, during which she was
to act SO conspicuous part. The
thought of a human life dependent upon
the word of this frail woman seemed
ever present in her mind. She would
gaze silently upon the grated windows of
the Jail and turn chilled and trembling
away. So distressing had the subject
become TO her after the conference with
her legal advisers, which followed her
public accusation, that 1t was necessary
to avoid II in her presence.
Meanwhile George Slade had preserv-
ed his reckless bearing, boldly asserting
the continued insanity of Jane, and
protesting to treat the evidence of the
handkerchief, of which he had been
informed, as one of those strange coinci-
dences for which there is no accounting.
But when the time of trial was near at
hand his demeanor changed. He be-
came restless and morose, and on the
evening of the day preceding that on
which the session of the court was to
commence, he was remarked by the
subordinate, whose duty 1t was to see
the prisoners secured, and to deliver the
keys to the sheriff, pacing his cell with
pale face and his brow contracted as if
from pain.
That night came upon him the utmost
agony of terror at the fate which seemed
inevitable. Midnight found him still
busy with the troubled meditations that
allowed him no thought of rest The
light of the broad, full moon lay silvery
white upon the floor, checkered with
the shadow of the heavy grating, that
would have made hope of escape dream
of madness. He walked to the window
it secured and opened the sash to catch
the cool breath of the autumnal air, and
he clenched with painful force the rusty
bars, as If to vent in physical action the
unquietness of his spirit. Suddenly his
eye fell upon an object moving in the
shade cast by the wall into the jail-yard.
1t advanced into the moonlight, and
presented the outlines of a female form,
but so spectral with its white dress and
gliding step, that his flesh crept with q
sensation of superstitious dread. 1t
paused opposite to his window, and for
an instant thin, pale hand was raised,
and death like face turned toward him.
The gesture must have been intended
for his eye, for of the few inmates of
the prison, he was the only one occupy
ing that side of the building. How
could any living being find entrance
into that strong inclosure 7 He drew
his hand across his eyes to clear his Wis.,
ion, and when he removed it the strange
visitant was gone. He tried to assure
himself that in his excited state, an illu-
sion had deceived him, yet he leaned
his face close to the bars to be satisfied
that it had quite disappeared. But now
his ear could not be mistaken; there
was sound, scarcely more distinct
than his own breathing, at the door OF
his cell, and that of key applied to
the lock. The hinges family creaked
and the same unearthly figure stood in
the doorway, in strong relief against the
darkness beyond. The moonlight shont
full into the large sunken eyes, ant
upon the long, fair locks that had escap
ed from the snowy adcovering, ant
| he doubted, scarce less than before, the
evidence of his senses, that it was
| Jane.
Without giving him time to recover
himself, she stepped backward into tht
passage, and whispering the single mon
osyllable "Comel" she beckoned hin
to follow her. Hardly conscious of hi
own movements he obeyed, and guided
by the moonbeams, which through tn,
open door, family lighted a long vista