The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-15

bound, looking up at the sky with a
beating heart, and longing for the next
appearance of the rolling moon. One
angry cloud had already released her,
but / saw that yet another must pass
over her face before her blessed light
could reappear, and it was the strangest
cloud l ever beheld, being the exact
shape of a mans hand, with one bony
finger stretched out q fancied) IN warn
ing. The moon seemed tn roll slowly
and painfully between the fingers, l,ok
ing very pale and faint the while but
at last, with bound. she emerged from
the shadows, shining with a wild and
happy brightness, as though rejoicing
to escape from the clutch OF the hpnd.
~ also was inexpressibly relieved and
rose quickly from my seat, Intending to
hurry home hut how can l pant the
am cement. the horror felt, when |
perceived was no longer alone An
other human being had siltntly-wlth
cat.like steps, arrived during the dark
ness; a MAN was sitting on the seat, on
the further end of the other side2 HIS
face was turned away, but bis appear
ance was 80 peculiarly alarming that my
heart stood still for at glance l took
in the situation.
"'Au escaped lunatic = thought.
and my only chance OF safety is to brave
it out ?
'As these thoughts dsrted through
my brain, the man slowly, vefy slowly,
tn ned his head, and looked deliberately
at me. Oh, that look Never, to my
dying day, shall forget it l see it nowl
Eveything most terrifying, most sinister,
most repulsiva was in that look. Auda-
city, cewardice, insclence, malice-all
these were there, and above all, and
through them all-madness
The man was deadly pale, or the
struggling dawn (Which was just silver
ing the horizoD), made him appear So
His eyes were frightfully bloodshot, his
teeth were large and very white, and
there was light froth upon his lips,
which had the blue-gray appearance OF
corpse He wore a long Ulster coat,
buttoned from his throat to his feel, ,and
tumbled white collar appeared above
it, giving me the impression that he
must have escaped from his bed, and in
his night-gear. What alarmed me al
most more than anything uf anything
could be more alarming than everything
was), was the fact that a center button
of the coat, at the waist, was unbotton-
ed and in the aperture thus formed, one
of the mans hands was thrust, and
kept asking myself
"'What is he hiding therep A pistol,
knife. or what?'
Feeling my extreme helplessness and
how entirely was, humanity speaking
at the mercy of madman, | sent up
silent prayer to the All-Puwerfull God
a cry for help-for wisdom how to act
and on looking back now, can see how
wonderfully my tjrculatory prayer was
instantly answered, for felt, l felt sud
denly impelled by discretion (not my
own), not to run or even walk away, but
to reseat myself with the greatest appar
ent calmness.
"This act seemed to surprise, to please
the man, for he smiled, and, to my un
speakable terror, slid slowly along the
seat till he came close to me, although
still on the other side. felt his should
er touch mine, but dared not shrinl
from the contact then he bent his heaC
back till it rested on my veil, his foetit
breath mingling with mine, while peereC
insolently, mocklngly into my face
After few moments (Which appeared
hours to mel, during which he intentlI
scanned my features, while l. God hell
me, tried TO meet his gaze bravely, b,
said deliberately, and evidently watch
ing the effet of his words:
~ saw you coming into the wood;
hid behind a tree | followed you
When the moon shone out hid aga il
and touched your gown as you passed
but YOU didn't know it. Ha ha funny
isn't it Then, when it got dark again,
crept up to the seat, and when you sa
down | did 80, too. Why shouldn. l
) have as much right here as you. sa.
(coming a tri6a nearer and putting hi
hoIrid mouth close to my earl, we ar
quite alone in the wood-you and
Nice, isn't it Are you afraid-ehT
"'No,' an wered boldly; why shoul
: be afraidf We are not alone, as yo
suppose, for
I" En- said he, nervously lookin
around then, in a whisper, "Who
here besides usT
"'God = answered clearly and tirn
ly, He is here He is stronger than l.
, or you : and he takes care of us both.'
, He looked hard at me, and l locke
back fearlessly (apparently) at him, re
solved that my glance should not be th
first to falter. AT last-after deadl
E but silent battle between his will an
minC-his eyes quailed and fell, and
J knew instinclively that had gained
: victory, for he fiIgeted uneasIly, on th
seat, and turned his head away, while
breathed more freely.
AFTER short silence he said in
y hoarse whisper, as though afraid OF be
! ing overheard
! "I say, / can't sleep, and that's VIII
come out so early. My servants
= with wave of the hand and the assumI
, ton OF grand sc gneur" Ia 9 tie
orders always TO keep my breakfast hot
> : Then, with howl of bitter distress, b
cried out, oh. oh II only could sleel
| would give Kingdoms TO sleep
1T is remarkable as he gave utterant
: to this bitter cry in spite OF the dead
y fear felt, and of the almost certalnl
e that should never live to tell this tai
: mighty sympathy arose in my hea
u for this wretched maniac, for did n
= know, as well as he, the agony OF slee
. lessness.
. II therefore said kindly and pityin
: ly; How strange | l, too, cannot sleeI
Looking al me with word Ot de
J, pair in his face, he said 1T is curse
y Then rocking himself to and fro on Il
!, seat, he moand out, oh, what-wh
u shall l do to -sleepP
!. There was such a ring of anguish
y his tone that my heart bled for him, al
% | said, gently, 'Oh,try what | have til
:, that which is after all the only COT
d fort, waking or sleeping !
What's that Y He said, eagerly,
:, " Pray I said.
~ ooh he answered, wearily, / ha
nI prayed, but God wont hear me. dc
. can He, when He is up there, pointil
70 20 the sky, and am in that hell
ie But he does hear said, solemnl
~ and as to a child. He sees and hears ever
OF thing. He sees you and me here mo-
~ He knew we should meet this mornin
10 and He il ia who teaches me to say
oe you, pray Tell him, when lying
y your restless bed, just as you have tC
" me, that you can't sleep, that you q
az unhappy, that'-I was going on VIII
NV companion suddenly started up. a
n looking uneasily around, whisperC
a. Husk Harkl
a "He seemed tolisten eagerly and the
80 with an expression in his face OF inter
~ hatred, gradually and courteously dr.
re the hand hitherto concealed out OF
of breast. A deadly sickness seized
10 for my worst fears were realized whe
nS beheld the sight Of the dawning d
aa CLEAN upon the blade of a murderC
90 looking knife, but ray Of hope was
~ the same moment vouchsafed to me, &