The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-10-18
BY Fate
A Thrilling Virginia Romance.
BY EMMA s. soUTHWORTH.
Copyright 1888. by Laird b Les.

81 SEQ you are her friend, sir, and as
such I shall confide the facts to you.
Nora Warner has again fallen into the
hands of those demons from whom she
once before escaped. The mad-house
doctor has been here"
"My God ! is 1t possible2"
There was q gritting Of the strong
teeth and even In the candle light she
see that the mans face paled in the COM
prehensive knowledge Of what this
meant.
She then went on to tell all that had
occurred, and he heard the news with
the aspect or a man who suffered and yet
made no sound.
Courses on his head" he muttered
fiercely when she was done; che Is the
worst devil on earth, and the time will
come when retribution will fall upon him,
and 1t shall be my hand that deals the
blow. II he has dared to harm q hair
of her head, shall torture the life out Of
him."
When he became calm he made in
quiries, for it seemed that Nora had
only told him the circumstances Of her
past without certain particulars, and he
was glad to be shown the torn card
which the doctor had left behind him,
and which Carol had thoughtfully picked
up from the place she had thrown 1t on
the previous night.
He did not despair. for he had right on
his side, and moreover was possessed OF
certain amount Of power which he
could bring into play when the occasion
demanded it.
OF course this young man was the same
whom we saw in the company OF Nora
Warner at the time when she fought her
memorable duel with Capt. Grant, the
Jack" whom the duelist thought he had
seen before and yet could not place to
save his neck.
Whilo they talked, Carol had joined
them, and her presence was acknowl-
edged by the young man with q polite
bow.
He was unable to say what had been
Nora mission in seeking the young girl
again, but all he knew was that the poor,
deceived wife had discovered something
of the utmost Importance which must be
communicated to Carol without delay IL
she would save her from years Of intense
suffering.
This was what she had been trying her
best to tell when the brutal keeper choked
her further utterance.
The widow had not dared to tell Jack
the full particulars of that terrible scene,
for she saw that he was Of an excitable
temperament, and also that he loved
Nora Warner, and she feared the result.
It was enough for him to know that she
was again in the power Of those villains,
and as he seemed to possess Nora's entire
confidence, it might be readily supposed
that she had some time in the past given
him to understand what manner Of man
the doctor was, 80 that he could Judge for
himself what must have happened when
the girl was recaptured.
He did not intend to lose any time, but
would start upon the trail at once.
To rescue an inmate of q mad-house
was something liable to prove tough
Job, but he was man Of great determi-
nation, and would in the end accomplish
oil that he undertook.
4, He had but general idea as to where
the asylum was located, but once in the
neighborhood it would be easy for him
to find out all no wished.
While they were yet talking, some-
thing very like muffied shrek reached
their ears and caused them all to
spring up.
What was that2" asked each, in Won
der.
"They say this place Is haunted, be-
cause Of singular noises heard hero at
times, but found they originated in a
very commonplace manner, for the loft
above this mill was occupied by troop
Of wild cats and during the night they
were won't to indulge in melee that to
superstitious ears sounded like the
shrieks Of deadly foes, and their falls
from rafters that ended each combat was
to them u repetition Of the old murder
that took place here. Iremedied all that
by shutting up the holes In the window
by means of which they gained ingress,
and ever since that time have never been
bothered by any unearthly sound. What
ever that was we heard just now, it came
from the interior Of the mill and will bear
investigation; so, if you would do us the
favor, sir, the time is at hand"
Jack was perfectly willing, and the
three Immediately entered the main por-
tion OF the mill by means OF door in the
back OF the widows humble kitchen.
They had lighted lamp in the place of
the dim candle and were thus enabled to
look around them in all directions.
The mill was not very large building,
and had been arranged as such edifices
generally are. only that the mad miller
had attached his house to his mill, living
and working under one roof.
When they stood within the mill proper
the young man looked around him. lie
saw but little of interest. Tho old saw
was there, but rusted so that it was al
most in pieces, and there were gaping
holes in the roof through which both rain
and sunshine camo at intervals, accord.
ing to the time.
A strange party they were.
First OF all stood Jack, lamp In one
hand and his revolver In the other. just
back of him was the little widow, hold.
ing the heavy kitchen poker, while Carol
brought up the rear, being armed with that
favorite weapon OF woman, q broom.
While they stood thus there came tC
their ears a plain, unmistakable groan
that made them start, and a cold chill
ran through their frames.
There was excuse enough for this.
In the first place their surrounding
were ghostly in the extreme. and made