Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-12
PREFERRED BY FATE
BY EMMA s. sOUTHwORTH.
Copyright 1888. by IAird | ALs&

V0pyf1gnt lt0Us Oy AAHO 6 L0os otherwise alled her bsaln, and. a che compre hended what @ terrible state her affairs were in, sho can be pardoned for weeping bitter, scalding tears.
 Many women would have given up in sheer despair, but that was not her way, for she possessed @ most determined na- ture.
 Examination showed to her that there was no hope of escape so far as forcing 8 way out of the asylum was concerned; whatever she did would have to be ac- complished by subtlcty and cunning.
 The doctor had been careful enough to have the bars at the windows secure enough to resist the efforts of the widest maniac, and her puny strength would have availed nothing. True, she had a small bottle of aquafortis secreted on her person, which she had secured whom free, so as to bo ready in case of recapt- ure and incarceration but her cell was quite 6 distance from the ground, and she could conceive no way of lowering herself. even should she be SO fortunate a to break the stout iron bars with the use of the acid.
 Thus 1t was she saw no reasonable plan open before her by means of which she could hope to escape from the demons who held her-escape from the terrible fate that, like Q great abyss, seemed yawning to enguh her.
 She saw tho sun sinking toward the west with mingled feelings. such as can only be experienced and appreciated by one who stands behind prison bars, look Aok~ rounded by all the horrors of private madhouse.
 Her meditatiOns were interrupted.
 The rattling of key in the lock brought back to her the immediate situa- ton, and sho turned just in time to see the door open and the figure of @ man enter.
 He was . new hand-at least she had never ssen him before during the long period of her stay at the asylum. though he may have been engaged during her absence.
 In stature he was rather tall, and his dress proclaimed him @ ruffian, while there was something about his language that spoke of previous acquaintance with the ''ould dart" namely. the Green lsle.
 His face was dirty and red, the latter probably the result of debaucherv. and there was a half-comical, half-devilish lssr In one of his eyes that would have mode some people laugh, and others shuddes. according to their disposition.
 Nora could not understand the trem. bling that seized upon her as she gazed upon this terrible looking creature.
 What did it moan?
 Was intuition telling her that she was to meet her death at the hands of this villain7
 He advanced toward her. and she shrank back apalled. What new systez4 of torture was about to be applied. to herr
 She watched him with startleS eyes as he held up his hand. pressed ks finger to his lips, uttered the ono ford ''hist ," end then, gliding to tko door, bent his hsad in a listening attitude. Did he mean to murder Ger, and was he listen in8 ts mako sure that no one ap- proached1
 AeAiR he turned and advanced. Was that . grin of devilish triumph on his 4ace2 She tried to cry out. but her opnave clove to the roof of her mouth, aad her limbs seemed paralyzed. Oh, God what sentence was he about to pro- aoQuoe upon herr d2loyAr'