Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-28

voice rang clear. yet still nothing to the
point of the matter on hand, no information
in fact. i was sensible OF certain impa-
thence. had not come there to be har-
angued with platitudeS.
I've might have known we should be
let In Tor sermon when we had parson
| at the head of affairs" whispered a lively
little lady at my elbow.
Hush , his voice had different tone in it.
He was describing the awfulness of sudden
death; lower and more imprisoned came
his words. would not spoil them by gar
bled extracts 1t was impossible not to lis
ten intently. Scorn and anger flashed out
as he spoke Of the dastardly cowardice that
could strike harmless victim. Then, with
a pathos had never heard equaled, he de-
scribed the grief of the unknown sorrow
stricken ones, who might be left to mourn
their loss. Suddenly he stopped. and the
abruptness made me look up; his eyes were
fixed on the prisoner's-then he said, hur-
riendIy: I'VE are ignorant of much that
surrounds the history of this awful crime
all that we have to connect us with the vic
tim lie here" He threw open the large
door and disclosed the bathroom, whose
concrete flosr sloped upward from the en-
trance on account of the occasional over
| flowing of the spring; on it lay a hat and
cloak, belonging to the murdered woman,
and the much-talked-of Paris flowers, scat
tered about just as they had been left.
Mr.. Ho!dfast stopped and picked up large
| pink flower. The fixed eyes of the prisoner
followed his, then she rose and went slowly
toward himA-we followed according to his
direction. Was she-were we going to ex-
a m tply ha ~ he
place!-enhanced by the mOckery of those
tawdry flowers. The door had been closed
upon US, and the room was almost dark
what light there was struggled in through
the rough venetian shutters. We stood,
huddled together, about the door, the ac.
cused woman standing alone in the middle
OF the room. \ beam of light struck some.
thing glittering on the floor. Icould hardly
repress my inclination to call for the shut
tiers to be opened-the twilight was almost
painful-yet felt that Mr.. Holdfast would
not have permitted any thing. unless he had
some design in choosing it to be so.
The tall figure in the center bent down
and picked up the shining something and
and raised it high above her head it was 6
long knife Of peculiar construction. At las
the silence was broken, and she was about
to speak-but no! the sounds that came were
more like means than articulate words; the
sounds grew louder, they rose and fell like
an Indian chant, while she whirled the long
knife slowly round and round her head
Two or three OF those nearest her rushed te
the door; the sudden light revealed Mr.
Slater, the draper, whose curiosity was as
great as his cowardice, suspended, like
Mohammed's coffin, between earth anG
heaven, his body and legs safe outside, and
his head still stuck in round the door.
could not have moved if had wished it:
that whirling blade fascinated me. yet the
sight of Mr.. Slater made me laugh.
But the voice was rising louder now. ]
could hear, or thought heard, these words:
The east wind blows. it brings O word;
Awake, my blood-bedabbled sword,
The words spark that lights flame,
Was kindled at a noble name
Which coward Death, from Rumor heard,
Then wake and rise, Avenging Swordr'
At the last line her voice rose to a wilC
scream. and she ran in frenzy toward the
bath. Just at this moment the door was
opened from the outside and an old man with
streaming gray hair rushed in. Mr. Hold
fast went to meet him, and laid his hand OF
his arm. The old man shook him of.
My daughter! where is she. Who dares
accuse her of hideous crimes!"
Herself" answered tae ,lergyman, 'and
yet not herself"
He took the old man gently aside and en-
deavored to calm him an / tell him what
had passed.
The old man turned his head, and wher
the clergyman had ceased speaking he
came forward to US, with gesture full OF
dignity.
"My friends-this gentleman, to save my
daughter from a shameful death has proved
her-mad The frenzy could only be re-
produced by restoring the outward circum.
stances Of the last, the fa'al one. thank
him for the attempt. thank you for your
presence here. Had there not been the
semblance Of trial to set her suspicious at
rest, it might have failed Yet think of the
awful fate reserved for one who during long
intervals is as conscious of her condition az
yourselves!'
He was hardly able to go on, but turned to
Mr.. Holdfast.
"You meant it for the best-the best no
doubt, but was not any death better than
such fate!'
Mature is kinder than we, in our igno- |
rance, can be-" he replied; "she has finished |
the work she began-your daughters |
death"
We learned afterward that the poor girl |
had gone mad from the shock of hearing of |
the death Of the man to whom she was |
shortly to have been married. He had been |
murdered by dacoits in Burmah, and his last |
letter to her, which she never could be in
duced to part with for moment, had been |
much occupied in describing the luxuriant |
growth oftropical flowers which surrounded |
their future home out there. After the ter
rible news she remained for week without |
noticing any one scarcely tasting food then |
they missed her.
Some strange connection must have |
haunted her at the sight of the gaudy flow
ers of the poor pack woman. whom it was
afterward remembered she had been seen to |
have followed all the previous day.
Mr.. Holdfast's interest had first been |
aroused by the lady's likeness to relation
Of his own who had died insane. The idea
occurred to him as possible solution of a |
strange case, and he tried the experiment at
the express wish of the prison authorities.
My aunt says: ut really is comfort to
know there were two policeman and doe
tor in that hateful dark bathroom. I'm
sure wonder you didn't all die of fright"
And she draws a little red worsted shawl |
round her and shivers in a way that re-
minds me strangely of little bird.
Somers Day ne Belgraria.
OddIy-Shaped Straw Bonnets.