Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
BX HELEN A. STEINHAUER.

The gray dawn was just breaking in
the eastern sky, and the clouds be-
ginning to blush rosyred at the ap-
proach of the sun-god, and the little
birds to chirp, wake, wake" to each
other in their leaf-curtained cradles in
the tree-tops, when the slender, supple
figure of young woman, full of plant
grace, might have been seen swiftly and
noiselessly gliding down the long COR
ridor OF noted Health Resort, in a
State which shall be nameless.
At several Of the doors she paused for
brief instant, but after an almost i'm
perceptable hesitation passed quietly
onward One or two stood ajar, for
the night had been breathlessly hot,
and the inmates preferred to risk in
trusion for the sake Of more sufficient
ventilation. But none of these seemed
to hold any attraction for her; nor did
she stop, or even glance into the rooms,
but hurried on till she reached the last
of all, at the extreme end of the hall.
Here she knelt, applying first her ear
and then her eye to the key-hole. The
result of this scenting seemed salts
factory, for look of pleased cunning
stole over her face, as, lightly turn
ing the knob, she opened the door and
entering the room, not merely closed
the door after her, but quickly locked it
and slipped the key into her bosom.
The apartment Of which she thus I'M
tremendously took possession was
small but we'll lighted, and exquisitely
furnished; choice pictures hung upon
the walls; plants in full, rich bloom
stood in the embrasure Of the large bay
window behind the delicate lace drapery
that shut it off from the main part of
the room; vase of rare flowers and
delicate perfume adorned beautiful
bracket-shelf, and, with many other
similar tokens, showed the occupant to
be a person of refined tastes as we'll as
of comfortable circumstances.
She lay helpless upon her snowy bed,
white as the pillows which propped her
into half-sitting position-not merely
chronic invalid, but one on whom
death had set its seal; quietly slipping
from the grasp of fond friends who
would fain have detained drifting
down the rapid river into the dark and
unknown sea beyond.
With her, too, the night had been
breathless and weary, the hours wake.
full, and unspeakably long; but as day
approached she sank into light slum-
Der, from which she was aroused by the
faint sound made by turning the key in
the lock.
Opening her eyes with startled look
she saw her unexpected visitor, and as
quickly recognized in her young lady,
whom she had met in the parlors before
she became so i'll as to be confined tc
room and bed, but who since had be.
come violently insane, and recently SO
dangerous that the day before a physi-
OAuu l1ouA tuc Otdtc AuudClC Asylum
had been telegraphed to come and re-
move her to place of greater safety
and security. The previous night our
invalid had been greatly disturbed ard
frightened by her cries and uncanny
laughter; but last evening her nurse
had assured her that she might rest
peacefully as the girl had been removed
to neighboring cottage, and the Asy-
ium doctor had arrived and himself as
sumed chargeof her till morning, when
the first outgoing train would bear them
away to the city.
How, then, could she have effected
her escape? And, Oh! what was her
object in coming to her room and Jock
ing herself in? All the horrible, blood
curdling stories she had ever heard OF
read of insane people and their strange