The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1881-01-16
A TALE OF TERROR.
story OF n Lady's Adventures in New
York studio.

few days ago, while a lady Of our city,
of artistic taste and habits, was walking
leisurely along Fifth avenue, she noticed a
sign of an artists studio, whereupon she
entered an open door, assembled one flight of
stairs, raped at the artists door, heard the
words leone in, " and entered spacious
room elegantly furnished It's high windows
were richly draped with heavy curtains, fine
pictures were hung upon the walls, and
standing on the floor Is an easel, after the
fashion Of most artists. In the room sat
man alone, with overcoat and hat on, i'm
movable, and with eyes glarng fercely on
his visitor as II enraged at her intrusion, but
not uttering a single word. few moments
passed she made a casual remark in regard
to some picture, when he suddenly jumped
from his seat, rushed upon her, seized her by
the throat, his eyes glazing wildly, and his
features indicating the iercest excitement,
and exclaimed madly "Now have you
having been looking for you for the last
ten years, and now have got you at last
and I'll kill YOU At first the shock to her
was terrible and overwhelming, and she be-
came quite unconscious but, recovering
herself a little, she struggled, screamed, and
entreated, but to no purpose He chung TO
her throat with one hand, and with the
other tried to fill her mouth with her cloth
ing. Finally, having loosed his hold, he
rushed to the door, locked 1t, seized knife
and began to sharpen 1t upon his shoe, tell
ing her that her time had come and she
must prepare to meet her God; that he was
going to cut her into inch pieces She fell
upon her knees, prayed, entreated, told him
of her husband and child, and wept in the
widest agony, fully believing that her time
had come, that she must die, but with no
avail. He continued to make his preparations
in the most violent excitement. lie told her
he should put her body in the large stove in
his room to burn 1t up. Finally, overcome
by excitement she sank upon the floor.
At this the rage of the mailman seemed
to subside little. Still, he continued |
his threats and preparations. After having |
recovered little from her exhaustion, having
now been in the clutches of the lunatic for
over two hours, during which time she had
suffered untold agony, she now entreated
him to give her some food or something to
revive her. It was now about G o'clock in the
evening. lie went to the door, saying that
he was going to get something for himself,
unlocked it, opened, went out, and locked
the door behind him. Alone in the room,
she screamed to the top of her voice, hoping
she might bring some one to her rescue, but |
to no avail. He soon returned, still threat
ouIUB HeT WIFI Instant ueatu IL SIG was not |
silent. The iend seemed TO have no other |
purpose than to torment her, or to take her |
life. Finally he told her that IL she would |
take his arm and 60 quietly down stairs. she |
could go. Hope now dawned upon her. She |
told him that she would do anything. He |
accordingly made her walk down with him
into the street. She felt inexpressible relief,
having gotten out of prison. Here she
strove to eXtricate herself, but he threatened
to dash her brains out against the walls of
the building unless she went along quietly. |
She told him that she wanted to take an
"up-town car" He said I'll go with you.
I'll follow you to the ends of the earth. He
entered the car with her, sat down by her
side, and appeared perfectly sane. He paid
her fare and never uttered a word until she |
got out of the car. He followed her, and on
arriving at her residence said to her, "y you
must be at my place to morrow at l. o'clock
shall follow you. You can't live without
me-" She then opened the door and closed
1t upon him with unutterable relief; thus
she was once more free from the clutches of |
a maniac, and had escaped impending death.
The affair occurred near the Fifth Avenue |
Hotel. The man was thin and spare, above |
the medium height, of sandy complexion,
bald, wore a mustache-she thinks-was
richly dressed, wore diamond bosom studs,
and nicely fitting buff gloves. These he put |
on carefully whenever he went out.-Prori- |
dence Journal, Dec. 81.