The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-07-26
CHAPTER XIV.

I hope l shall never have another
'Snea experience. 1t was too TERRIBLE
Watching and caring for a madwoman
must be bad enough; this was worse.
Strange to say, the hapless lady took a
fancy to me. Looking at her, so
changed, SO repellent,, I could not be-
lieve that she would be the same at
tractlve woman again. But Martha
said "4es;'' N q day or two she would
her would have the least suspicion.
This was the worst and longest tit she
ha6. ever had.
There We're times when she knew me,
and times when she did not.
oYou are Miss Chester she said to
me. II like Miss Chester-a sweet face
and d beautiful voice. Have they told
you about me?"
Whey have told me that you are very
i'll, and | am here tohelp you to get bet
ter"
~ shall never get better,n she said,
and that Wa the most sober and sensi-
BILE interval she had,
at times she would cling to me wild
ly, crying out that 1 must get some
thing for her; that they were keeping
her There in prison, trying to starve
her, Horrible paroXysms.
Loul MILNE! 1HlS WaS Jue emu OF all
his honors, happiness and ambitionl
him! How l longed to comfort himl
1t seemed to pe that never had a life
been SO cursed.
Lady SeVerne did not improve. The
visitors were beginning to feel anxious.
Lady IorSe.xas beset with inquiries.
Was she really so i'll that she could sec
no one! Why not have a doctor? A
fever!sh cold did not last all this time.
was Lady Yorke sure there was moth
nothing infectiouS-qnite surrey 1t was
a strange thing. Lady Yorke was at Il
loss how to parry such inquiries.
II wish they would CO." She said to
me; II am quite sure it will be found
out"
Yet she, as well as /, saw how impos-
slble 1t y as to remove Lady SeNerne
just at present.
One night l was very tired, and had
gone earlier than usual to my room. 1t
was fatigue that made me forget to
fasten my door. Worn out with sor-
row and dismay-gfief about Lady Sc
verne, distress for Lady Yorke, and
sorrow ipeXpressible for Mark-I fell
into deep, dreamless sleep.
| was awakened by the consciousness
that some one had s%tealthily entered
MY room, and was trying to find me. |
am courageous by nature. If a thief
had disturbed me l should have felt no
fear, but this was no thief. A thick,
muffled. hoarse voice whispered, "Miss
Chester!' Then l felt the heat of a
fevered breath on my face. and | knew
that Lady Severne was there.
l rose hastily and turned UP my lamp.
A crouching, horrible figure was cling
ing to me. could hardly believe that
this Was the beautiful Lady Severne,
who held all men enthralled by her
charms.
You must get up she said. "You
are the only person in this house who
is kind to mt. You must get up and
fetch me a bottle of brandy. l must
have it,,
1t would be better, / thought, to take
her a bottle of poison.
Il must have it, she continued. 81
mean to have it. l know what is going
on, although / am shut up. / know
proud, refined Lady Yorke would no,
like her ~househould raised during the
dead of night by II of her guests
clamoring for something to drink. She
would not like it; but if you do no,
give me what / want. / will beat the
doors down, l will stand in the hall and
scream till the whole house is raised.'
A pretty dilemmal A nice visitor! ]
thought TO myself; but I did not let hel
see my dismay.
where is Martha?n I asked, won.
dering how she had escaped, and thank
full beyond all words that she was here
with me in the Queens wing,n rather
than in the western tower with the Wis
itors.
Lady Seyerne laughed, and I think
that l211uh yl.oc fha most hnVriIla .cn,,~r
ever heard in my life.
Poor old Martial" she said. "She
is off her guard. She fell asleep. and
took the key. What will she say wher
she wakes? Now, Miss Chester, am ]
to raise the roof from the house, or vii
you get what / WANT"
Neither" [ said. II am stronge,
than you. If you attempt to scream, OF
to make a noise. | shall prevent it, ever
if | hurt you. You will go back tt
your own room, and remain there il
quiet"
/ was quite uncertain how my exper
lment would succeed. / was prepared
to see her spring at my throat, as she
her beat the doors with horrible cries
as she had on the previous day, wher
Martha was compelled to send for Lore
Sevefne.
l looked at her steadily and calmly
Gradually the wild eyes fell before
mine. | knew that, if j could assert
and maintain my authority over hel
then, | should keep it-and / did so. ]
took her back to her room, and the
prayer that rose to my lips every mo,
ment was Heaven help Markl'' Il
this was his life, if these We're the
scenes to which he was accustomed
this creature, hardly human now, The
companion OF his life, then indeed ha.
he need of heavens help and pity.
i contriyed TO get her back safely tt
her room. and TO wake Martha, who
YVES Mortified at her carelessness; but
s. no shn fnlH mo nnitl ton,.r. L., LES. orau