Smyrna times., 1884-06-18
SMYRNA DEL. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON JUNE 49, 1884

ture, as l imagined the boys would
! tease me.
At breakfast some one proposed that
we should spend the day with Cousin
John in the city. The plan was unani-
mOusly agreed upon, and by ten o'clock
we were off.
We had a delightful time, returning
early in the evening. The air seemed
heavy and oppressive, which told of
coming storm, and now and then
flash of lightning and low rumbling
roll of thunder broke the stiffness.
We sat on the Yeranda and told
stories-ghOst stories some of them
were-until the storm drove us in
doors. | had been so interested that |
had quite forgotten two letters and
paper l had received as we stopped at
the post Office on the way home After
/ reached my room l greedily deVOur-
ed the letters and then turned to the
paper. Almost the first thing that met
my gaze was the following:
ESCAPED. Last night from the
asylum, one Of the male inmates He
is tall and dark, with long chestnut
hair and brown eyes. Can be readily
detected, as he has but two fingers on
his left hand. No efforts will be spar
ed to arrest him, as he is at times raw
ing mad"
Oh, how my heart sickened! grew
faint, and shook as though | had an at
tack Of the agUe. Tall and dark
Yes, that must be the very man / had
met that morning. lie might at that
very moment be around the premises,
or even in the house, having gained an
entrance during our absence in the
city. | thought | would 90 down and
inform the folks Of my surmises and
suspicious; but, ! reflected, it was nc
doubt only my imagination. My
nerves were all unstrung, and how the
boys would tease and worry me about
the matter! So | resolved to forget all
about it, for no doubt the old man
thought crazy was only a neighbor, OF
some one out for morning walk.
So l quickly closed the blinds anC
locked the door, preparatory to retir
ing. Then ! turned out the lights. II
was now stOrming furiously. Th,
wind blew, and at times the thunde
was almost deaiening.
| closed my eyes, but only to see tn,
man, with his long, chestnut hair carl
ing about his neck. In vain l covered
my head; distinctly saw the great
sad eyes.
The storm was raging without, ant
| lay shivering within. | heard tn
clock strike eleven, twelve, one. Th
fury Of the storm was abating. | wa
just falling into Il very sound slee
when heard a low sound, as of som
one breathing, which seemed to pro
cced from Immediately under my bed
| was wide awake in an instant, almos
paralyZed with fear l held my breat
to listen. Surely l heard some on
ie breathing!
l. Oh, if l only had not locked the doc
o l might possibly escape The breath
e ing became louder and louder; finall
d there was a movement as Of some on
d stretching himself, then a long sigh.
y was mute with agony; l could bea
ie the suspense no longer. raised my
1t self slowly up, leaned over the side
a, the bed and peered into the darkness:
For a moment l could see nothing
IS but as my eyes became more accuston
)r ed to the darkness, / saw, to my horro
n two blazing balls of fire which soon b,
gan moving toward me. The ga7
st was magnetic. The face with the eve
to of fire, drew nearer. | could hear I'll
II. movement on the floor. | felt the Ii,
O. breath upon my cheek, then all gre
le black, and | knew no more.
When | returned to consciousness
h. was in my aunt's room, and heard IL
r. boys at breakfast Upon inquiry
b. found that uncle had been awakenC
lie toward morning by hearing fall al
ne the barking Of Prince, the sound col
ed ing from my room. He hurrit
at thither, but finding the door locked ]
nd was obliged to enter by the veranC
tn window. There upon the floor !,
I'll in a dead faint, with Prince, the lar.
Newfoundland dog, keeping safe qua
er over me-Prince being the innoce
ng cause of all the disturbance and n
in hours of agony. Uncle told me tn
ne when Prince was quite a small dog
to had been out in a severe thunderstorl
lie. and had ever since been very unfavC
to ably impressed in regard to thundC
IN storms in general, and made it Il speci
point TO seek the seclusion of sor
re accommodating bed during tn,
to progress.
to My supposed lunatic proved to be
Do. lonely professor who spent his SUI
nd mers near uncle's house, and loved
4 wander through the wood and amo
di- the hills. lie was very wise and goo
Ike though a little eccentric. But | Il
ng both him and prince to thank for &" I
ng night of terror