Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-01

short almost in gasps. and i heard
stealthy movements. The rest of tho
hotel was wrapped in sleep. | rose
to my feet. feeling sure that something
was wrong. when heard short
struggle. heav fall. AMI wild
piercing scream. in II woman's voice.
that haunts me still. | rushed to the
door and was met on the threshold by
l knew 1.-THE man / had seen in
my vision before. He was in evening
dress. much disordered. his shirt-front
and right arm were stained with blood.
and in h.s right hand he grasped
razor. from VIII ch some CHASTITY drops
still tricked. The light OF insanity
shone in his eyes rs. with dcmouacal
shrek Of laughter, he flung himself
upon me.
Now began most fearful struggle
for life. The maniac seemed to have
the strength OF ten men. while the
whole Of my being seemed conferred in
the intense desire to rush past him
to the Dom, only the instinct to self
preservation causing me to hold the
arm in which he held his weapon.
However | was soon REINFORCED by n
hurrying crowd Of servants AMI visitors.
ali in the most grOtesque attire, T.th
horror depicted on their faces.
lie was dragged from me by main
force and held down by many hands.
while / burst open the next door and
entered. All! A flood of remorse came
over me as recogn zed tho scene
had feared. nay. knew. | should see.
The moonlight pouring in at the
window revealed to me the whole trag-
edy. There. half on. half OF, the bed
lay that inanimate form. blood-stains all
over the clothes aud floor. The peo-
pie who had crowded IN after me stood
dumb. as n IA sort of stupOr. | APP
preached the bed. and recognized the
features of her whom | had known AS
Agnes Hhlyard.
The rest of my story is soon told. |
had TO rive evidence before the magis-
trates rs to what | had seen. and the
unfortunate Lovett who had sunk into
IA state of nsensibility. was removed to
the nearest asylum. pending the arrival
of his friends.
found that | had received in my
struggle With him q severe wound in the
shoulder. the loss of blood from which.
acting upon II highly excited brain.
caused a severe illness which confined
ME to my room for many weeks, dur
ing much Of which time | was deliri-
Gus.
When at last, much reduced in
strength. and with nerves cons .derably
shattered. crept out into the sunshine,
| felt that NV youth had left forever.
was ordered long sea voyage. and
NY brave and loving Mabel insisted up
on immediate marriage, so that she
could accompany and nurse me To
/ her unselhsh care | owe not only nay
/ life. but what Was thought most
/ doubtful At one time, my reason; for
/ the m sery OF regret ! suffered, added
1 to the horror OF the events proved
/ upon my nerves to such an extent that
/ | was nearly sinking into state of set
/ tied melancholi,-
However, change OF scene, and her
bright.and tender conpanionship act
eel ike charm. and before many
months my health WI. re-establishcd,
but my haunting sclf-rcproach can new
er he stilled.
Had it not been for NV cowardly fear
of rid cue perchance this terrible TRACE
dy IN ght have been averted, Even if
| had been looked upon "a II visionary
1t m ght have come to light that there
was insanity in the Lovett family Gas
4 have since learned was the easel and
the poor girls relations might have
/ delayed or even prevented the marriage.
/ Who knows? i can not enter into the
veXed questions Of psychcs. All
/ know Is that these events happened TO
me exactly rs | have written the IN
down. and if / did not act upon the m
it was not because | had not been fore
warned. -LoHdos Society.