Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-06-18
Gates aud Skftthes.
BURIED ALIVE.
lcontinue,: from vesterday. }

Int soltIy across the gravel walk 10 the
door. where for moment | paused and
listened. A fooistep was ascending the
creaking staircase. WAITED until heard
| il on the second flight before l tried the
door. / found it open and entered softly,
closing the door behind me- Before pro-
ceeding further, | cautiously took of my
boots. and then assembled tine cold, clam
nv stairs that smelt of the tomb.
| From the second landing there opened
| suite of apartments, which | remembered
had been called the strong rooms because
they were in the very heart OF the build
| ing, had few windows. and only one door
| for ingress or egress. The heavy oak
door that opened into these rooms | found
was ajar. and bright light streamed out
between the opening. To my great aston.
ishment, when ! entered the room, heard
voices in the apartments beyond. AT first
| was so amazed that | could not distln-
| guish a single word that was spoken; but
as became calm. and after drawing close
! to the door of the room from which the
sound proceeded l distinctly heard
woman's voice in fearful accents saying
20, if YOU love me, deliver me from this
place What have l done that l should
be forced to bear this punishment Have
not loved with true woman's love?
Speak to me. Do not look at me with
eyes so CLASSY that they seem to see not.
Give me one word, that may hear you as
the same Stephen that you were before
this fearful malady overlook you. Let
me again see the light of heaven and the
faces of my friends
| erept softly nearer ID the door and got
into position from which | could partly
distinguish the occupants of the room and
their surroundings. 1t was handsomely
furnished apartment, half boudoir. half
drawing-room. Every luxury which the
heart or brain could desire was scattered
about in endless variety. In the centre of
the floor stood nv brother, but with such
a strange, wicked, frenzied expression on
his face that, had not known his features
well, should have thought it could not
be he. Before MIN knelt woman whose
face was buried in her hands.
You shall not leave me thus ~ she
said. as he turned to go. Il must, | will
have my liberty J"
She had started to her feet and ran to
the door. But Stephen, still without any
change in his fixed, staring countenance.
seized her roughly by the arm and pushed
her from him. and walked quickly toward
the door. | had hardly time to draw back
into the shadow of heavy curtain, when
he entered the room where was and walk
ed quickly across to the landing, closing
this last door after him and locking it.
Thus found myself also prisoner. l
heard his footstep descend the stairs and
then the sound died slowly away.
For a few moments stood puzzled as
to what course should pursue. | knew
it would be useless to attempt to force the
massive lock. or when morning came to
try to attract the outer world; for. as |
have said. the rooms we're strongly built
and situated in the very heart of the west
wing, and the few windows which had of
yore let in the light of heaven to them had
been filled up with strong masonry.
was aroused from my thoughts by sob
from the occupant of the next chamber.
Going up to the door which Stephen had
closed after him knocked and then enter
ed. My tap had evidently not been heard,
for found the graceful form seated in a
chair. in an attitude which betokened
despair, her arms upon the table, her head
leaning forward and her beautiful dis
hevelled hair falling in waving folds
about her.
Madam"
had walked up to her and placed my
hand upon her shoulder.
"Oh!" And she turned towards me
her pale. fearful, horror stricken face.
then shrank away in fear. '.Who are
you? Pray do not hurt me. know Am
helpless"
1t was some time before | could con-
vince her that was really friend; for
so long had she been buried in these
rooms that her mind had become almost
unhiDged, and her sense of perception
blunted. By degrees. however, made
her understand who was. and how had
come there and then, in answer to my
questions, CLEANED the history of her
captivity.
| When my brother married her she was
handsome young girl oil Is, and he was
verging on the period of middle age. For
/ three months after their marriage he had
been kind and attentive-all, in fact, that
wife could desire of her husband. Just
at the end of that time, however. he dis
covered accidentally, several letters which
had been written by her, before her mar
riage. to former lover; and for some
DAYS afterw ards he was moody, Jealous
and strange in his conduct One night he
entered her room with that fixed, frenzied,
wicked look upon his face which she had
never seen there before. but which had
married his features in all her interviews
with him since. and directed her by signs
to follow him. mandate which in her
terror she readily obeyed. He conducted
her to a gloomy chamber, lighted only by
small oil-lamp, and then left her, lock-
/ ing the door behind him. At intervals for
/ intervals. for some weeks afterwards. he
visited her. bringing food and clothing
with him; but always coming in the night,
and bearing himself in silent, changed,
peculiar manner. At length he led her
back again to her own suite of apartments
Chose in which l had discovered her,
where during her absence all the windows
had been built up. thus cutting off commu.
nication with the outer world Here he
had visited her almost every night since,
bringing her the necessaries of life, COM
ing like an apparition and going as he
came.
II think those foolish letters of mine, I,
she said in conclusion, written before
had learned to love my husband, have
1 &xx~ x,<zlk g h~of