The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-11-05

nothing save the hands upon his throat
and the dead body beneath him! Even
hearing nothing save that stifed moan
ing In the distance. Can the widest
flights Of fiction show q parallel to my
casep
Since that night have quite disbe-
lieved in the possibility Of peoples hair
turning suddenly gray. If such thing
can be 1 must have left that room with
the locks Of an old man.
can only say that even now as, after
the lapse Of years, write this; even as
I see everything around me safe, still
and at peace; even though / know the
ones love are close at hand, my pen
trembles. my blood feels chilled and q
faintness steals over me as the recollec-
tion Of the most terrible moments in
my life comes to me with vividness l
can not describe.
1t was well for me that could keep
still and cry again and again: 81 am
blnd-look and seer' My quiescence,
the tone OF my voice, may have turned
the balance on which my life hung
may have carried conviction to my
hearers. Presently the strong light Of
lamp was perceptible to my obscured
vision; a lamp placed so close to me
that could feel its hot glow upon my
face; and was aware that some ono
was STOPPING or kneeling down and
peering into my eyes. His breath
struck against my cheek; short quick
excited breath-how could it be other
wise after the deed in which he had
Just taken partP
At last he rose, moment afterward
the restra ming hands moved from me,
and then, for the first time, began to
hope that my life might be spared.
And yet none of those around me had
spoken. Now heard voices but whis-
pering SO softly that even my sharpened
ears could not catch the purport of q
single word, although l could gather
that three persons were engaged in that
hushed consultation.
All the while, like dreary and fit.
ting accompaniment, could hear that
stilled moaning "a woman's stiiled
moaning. | would have given all !
posessed-all save life-in exchange fol
a minutes sight, that might have been
able to comprehend what had passed
and what was passing arodnd me.
Still the whispers continued. They
came thick and fast, running into and
interrupting each other, as from men
in hot but guarded discussion. It need.
ed little Intelligence to guess the sub
ject of that debate! Presently they
died away altogether, and, for q time.
the only sound that | heard was that
terrible, mullled moan.-that continued
with dreary monotony.
A foot touched me.
"You may stand up" | heard some
)pe say.
When l burst so recklessly into the
room | fancied the exclamation with
which was greeted came from foreign
lips, but the man who now addressed
me spoke in pure English. BY this
time | was beginning to recover self
possession, and was able TO make a
mental note of these facts.
Thankful at being allowed to quit
my CHASTITY couch, rose. As | could
think of nothing better to do, 1 stood
motionless.
"Walk this way-straight on--four
paces," said the voice. / obeyed.
The third step brought me in collision
with the wall. No doubt this was an
extra test rs to the truth OF my state
ment.
A hand was placed upon Sy sboul.
der, and was guided TO q chair.
snow, sir" said the speaker who
had before addressed me, "tell us, in
as few words rs possible, who you are
how and why you came here. BE
quick, we have no time to spare"
we'll knew they had no time to
spare. They had much to do-much
To hide. Oh, fer the gift Of sight for
one moment! would purchase it,
even II the price were years of dark
ness!
Shortly and simply as / could, l told
them what had brought me into such
straits. The only thing I concealed
was my true name. Why should these
assassins know it? II | revealed II,
they might set watch upon me, and
at my moment their safety demand
cd it | might share the fate OF him who
lay within few feet OF my chair. So
gave fictitious name, but everything
else told them was true.
All the while | was speaking l heard
that distressinE sound at the other end
OF the room. 1t drove me nearly mad.
believe, could have made sure of
reaching through my darkness and
catching one of those men by the
throat, with the certainty Of crushing
life out Of hun, should have done So
even had such an act sealed my own
fate.
When my explanation was over
another whispered consultation took
place. Then the spokesman demanded
the key which had so nearly cost me
my life. l suppose they tried 1t and
found 1t acted as said. It was not
returned TO me, but heard &e voice
once more.
fortunately for you we have de.
cided to believe your tale. Stand up"
l did so. and was led to another part Of
the room and again placed In chair.
As, after tho manner OF the blind, |
stretched out my hands, found was
in n corner OF the room, my face turned