The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-10

fear Of her own shadow--it became my
business to solve this reason.) What
bafiled me most was the fact that while
1t was Crawford himself who primarily
excited this terror, she was undeniably
fond of him. Indeed, the word "fond'
is hardly suitable, for she simply adored
him. I never heard him express the
slgh sest wish as to the household ar
rangements butit was instantly fulfilled;
while every whim-and he was
the most whimsical Of men
was implicitly obcyed. In fact,
at the end Of week I was
precisely in the same state as when I
first entered the house. But that my
amour proprc was piqued, and felt
angry at my non-success, / should have
been paying a very enjoyable visit. Ar
thur Crawford made a capital host; and
although, as have already said. he was
very whimsical man, and was subject
to unaccountable fits of depression, he
and l got on excellently together.
At the end of the week something
happened which had the double effect OF
lowering me several inches in my own
estimation, and of placing matters in q
totally different light. II was an ex.
ceedingly hot night; and after we had
all gone to bed, 1 was tempted to leave
my room, and seating myself by the
open window in the corridor. to indulge
in an extra cigar. The fact that it was
fine moonlight night, and that while
the corridor window boasted lovely
view. that of my own room looked into
the stables, amply justified my choice
of seat. had been there for perhaps
an hour, when | heard the Crawfords
talking in their room. which was on 0
level with my own. The tones were
excited and eager; and fearing that Mrs
Crawford might be lashing herself into
fury, and that her husband might bt
ignorantly increasing it, l stole down
to their door and stood listening.
"Arthur, dear, give it to me. Yo,
don't want it tonight. Why not wal
until the morningP"
These were the first words that
caught spoken in Mrs. Crawford usual
ly gentle tones.
"Givc it to you?-No; not 1! know
trick worth two of that. All, yol
think l don't know that you and tha
confounded mealy-mouthed doctor ar,
in league against me.'
CrawfortFs voice, shrill and mocking
but undoubtedly his. Good heavens
was the man drunk? There was a mo
ment's pause, and then he began again
this time more gently.
"Come, come, Beatrice. Drop thi
stupid joking. I only want to have
little cut at BERTHE, just little cut; ant
look! the knife is so bright and sharp, i
can not hurt him much"
The wall seemed to reel around me a
l leaned against it for support. In
flash of revelation that nearly blinde,
me, as 1 realized the full horror of tn
situation, understood for the first tim
how matters actually stood. Crawfor'
himself was the madman, and the de
voted wife, whom 1 had been taught t,
look upon as insane, had known tn
truth all this time; and knowing it, TO
some inscrutable woman's reason, hat
shielded him, perhaps ut the cost of he
very life. In a moment the meaning o
his many whims, his loss of memory, hi
fits of depression, were made clear t
me; and as thought of the martyrdon
through which his girl-wife had passed
l cursed myself for the readiness wit
which had been duped.
While these thoughts were rushin
through my brain, 1 had noiselessl,
opened the outer door, and now stoo
in the dressing-room, peering into tn
bedroom beyond. The door betwee
the two was standing open; but heav
curtain hung in the aperture, and b
making a little slit in it by means c
my penknife, was enabled to comman
a view of the interior. At the farthe
end of the apartment lay Bert;e aslee
in his cot. Standing before him, ella
in long white wrapper, and with he
auburn hair flowing over her shoulder
was the young mother herself; while Il
some PAGES from her stood Crawford
still in evening dress, and balancing i
his fingers long, glittering dagger
that l recognized as one that usual
hung in the library below. BY this tim
he had dropped his angry tones, an
was speaking in his accustomed pleasar
fashion. "You know, DEAR" he wa
saying. sit really is necessary that W
both drink some. Half Il glassful G
young and innocent blood, and W
both shall keep young and happy fol
ever"
Wont my blood do?" asked til
girl, desperately. She stretched her bar
arms toward him and forced smile t
her poor, quivering lips. ''You ar
much fonder of me, aren't you, dear
l shall do much better"
He laughed softly. "No, no, m
darling; not you. wouldn't hurt yo
for all the gold of all the Indies" II
stopped suddenly, as if struck by HI
own words. ''Gold?" he repeated
"Ah! yes, of course, must have golc
Where did 1 put it now?"
! He retreated few steps, looking III
easily from side to side.
''Perhaps you left it in the library
Ring for James. Or go to Mr.. Lenno,
Arthur; he will help you to find it"
He laughed again-a low, monotor
laugh, to which my hospital work ha
but too well accustomed me, and the
he moved nearer her, still balancing tn
dagger in his long nervous fingers
That terrible knife! If he had only pr
it down for a. moment, could hay
rushed in and secured it before turnin
to him; but as matters were, cruel Q,
perience taught me that the instant h
caught sight of me, he would rush
the child to carry his dreadful purpos
into effect, and that the mother in a
probability would fall the victim. o
the other hand, dared not quit m
post to summon assistance, and so leay
Beatrice entirely at his mercy. Iglance
round the dressing-room, and the viii
dow-cord caught my eye. 1t was ne
and strong. / cut it rs high as coul