The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09

"Now / could have killed her without
struggle; but the house was alarmed. heard
the tread of footsteps on the stairs REPLACED
| the razor in its usual drawer, upfastened the
door and called loudly for assistance.
"They came and raised her and placed her
on the bed. She lay bereft of animation for
hours, and when life, look and speech returned
her senses had deserted her and she raved
wildly and furiousy.
doctors were called in--great men who
rolled up to my door in easy carriages, with fine
horses and gaudy servants. They were at her
bedside for weeks. They had great meeting,
and consulted together in low and solemn
voices in another room One, the cleverest
and most celebrated among them. took me
aside, and bidding me prepare for the worst,
told meme, the mailman that my wife was
mad. He stood close beside me at on open
window, his eyes looking in my face, and his
hand laid upon my arm. With one effort, 1
could have hurled him into the street beneath.
1t would have been rare sport to have done
1T; but my secret was at stake, and let him
60 a few days after, they told me 1 must
place her under some restraint; I must pro-
vide a keeper for her. /! / went into the
open fields where none could hear me, and
laughed till the air responded with my shouts
She died next day. The white-headed old
the proud brothers dropped tear
over the insensible corpse of her
whose sufferings they had regarded in her life
time with muscles CT iron. All this was food
LOT my secret mlrtn, ana laughed Denlnu the
white handkerchief which 1 held up to my
face, as we rode home, till the tears came into
my eyes,
killed her, was restless and disturbed and l
felt that before long my secret must be known.
could not hide the wild mirth and joy which
boiled within me, and made me, when l was
alone at home, jump up and beat my hands
together, and dance round and round, and roar
aloud. When l went out and saw the busy
10 htIrr inn OH ha .fr 10 tha
theater, and heard the sound of music, and
beheld the people dancing, l felt such glee that
l could have rushed among them and torn
them to pieces limb from limb, and howled in
my feet upon the floor and drove my sharp
nails into my hands. / kept it down; and no
one knew was mailman yet.
81 remember-though it's one of the last
things l can remember; for now I mix up
realities with my dreams, and having so much
to do, and being always hurried here, have no
time to separate the two, from some strange
confusion In which they get involved--I re-
member how I let it out at last. Hal hs
1 think I see their frightened looks
flung them from me, and dashed my
clenched fist into their white faces, and then
flew like the wind, and left them screaming
and shooting far behind. The strength of
giant comes upon me when ] think of it.
There--see how this iron bar bends beneath
my furious wrench. I could snap it like
twig, only there are long galleries here with
many doors-I don't think I could find my
way along them; and even II could, / know
there are iron gates below which they locked
and barred. They know what clever mad
man have been, and they are proud to have
me here, to show.
"Let me see yes, I had been out. 1t was
late at night when reached home, and found
the proudest of the three proud:brothers watt
ing to see me--urgent business he said: re-
collect it well. hated that man with all
madman's hate. Many and many q time had
my fingers longed to tear him. They told me
he was there. / ran swiftly up-stairs He had
word to say to me. dismissed the servants
1t was late, and we were alone together-for
the first time.
kept my eyes carefully from him at first,
for knew what he little thought--and glo-
ried in the knowledge-that the light of mad
ness CLEANED from them like fife. We sat in
| silence for few minutes. He spoke at last
| My recent dissipation and strange remarks,
made SO soon after his sisters death, were an
insult to her memory. Coupling together
many circumstances, which had at first escap-
| ed his observation, he thought had not treat
| ed her well. He wished to know whether he
was right in inferring that meant to cast a
| reproach upon her memory, and a disrespect
| upon her family. 1t was due to the uniform
| he wore to demand the explanation.
"This man had q commission In the arrny-a
commission purchased with my money, and his
sisters misery This was the man who had been
my wealth. This was the man who had been
the main instrument in forcing his sister to
wed me well knowing that her heart was given
to that pulling boy. Due to his uniforml The
livery of his degredationl / turned my eyes
upon him--I could not help it--but spoke not
O word.
II saw the sudden change that came upon
him beneath my gaze. He was bold man,
but the color faded from his face, and he drew
| back his chair. l dragged mine nearer to him !;
and Qo I Il UNA Than It
saw him shudder. felt the madness rising
within me. He was afraid Of me.
"'You were very fond of your sister when
she was alive'-I said-'Very.'
"He looked uneasily round him, and saw
his hand grasp the back Of his chair; but said
nothing.
"'You william said I, Il found you out I
discovered your hellish plots against me;
know her heart was fixed on some one else be-
fore you compelled her to marry me. know
i'll know it,
"He jumped suddenly from his chair, brand
ished it aloft, and bid me stand back-for
took care to be igetting closer to him all the
time l spoke
II screamed rather than talked, for felt
tumultuous passions eddying through my
veins and the old spirits whispering and
haunting me to tear his heart out.
"'Damn you, said i, starting up, and rush
ing upon him; i killed her. am mailman.
Down with you. Blood will have it'
81 turned aside with one blow the chair he
hurled at me In his terror, and closed with
him; and with heavy crash we rolled upon
the floor together.
1T was fine struggle that; for he was
tall strong man, fighting for his life; and /, a
powerful mailman, thirsting to destroy him. I
knew no strength could equal mine, and was
right. Right again, though q madmanl His
struggles grew fainter. / knelt upon his chest,
and clasped his brawny throat firmly with both
hands. His face grew purple; his eyes were
starting from his head, and with protrudcd
tongue, he seemed TO mock me. / squeezed
the tighter.
1.-THE door was suddenly burst open with
loud noise and crowd OF people rushed for
ward, crying aloud to each other to secure the
mailman.
"My secret was out; and my only struggle
now was for liberty and freedom. l gained
my feet before a hand was on me, threw my
self among my assailants, and cleared my way
with my strong arm, as II bore Ratchet In
my hand, and hewed them down before me.
gained the door, dropped over the banisters,
and in an instant was In the street.
"Straight and swift ran, and no one dared
TO stop me. j heard the noise Of feet behind,
and redoubled my speed. 1t grew fainter and
fainter in the distance, and at length died
away altogether; but on L bounded, through
marsh and riyulet, over fence and wall, with
q wild shout which was taken up by the strange
beings that fiocked around me on every side, and