The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-22
THE YELLED WOMAN.

THE YELLED WOMAN.
VIZ was she7 I had heard Of the strange
Go1neD b mysteriOus woman who fitted
HtD : shn1ow through the city's streets ct
n1rn1lnll entefing the dwellings Of the sick,
: gotnuAnSy watcher b. The shgouded forms
q - I'D. ; dark-robsd follower Of funer-
- hod hoard Of her. and confess that
- tnIss list were told me By nv garrulous
1nndi0dy usrs MOI grsatiy In her favor
'1hoo's Iote 81 mystery about that
u0man. rid Mn. Hodge % she poured
~ co1Eee ona morning 'sfor they do say
4haf ahe go sperrits. an u never 50 much
1mioyins a. herseif ~ when she Il settin' up
VIII ! cOFpoe. An then that long black
~ that shs wears! They say it's sign
that ~ belongs to some secret society o.
ouoe1its that nobody knows nuthin' about,
ond 10y don't low her 20 show her face.
1kough / don't b'lsvs the poor soul does
~ harm"
~ curiosity was aroused, bat though
I'D my landlsdy with questions failed
- elictt any more definite Information re-
Hording this strange woman than IL con-
ninod IN The foregoing paragraph.
Hut iuwerdly resolved 10 know more
nbout ~ when became better acquainted
n ~ town. l Was even bold and curious
onongh 70 wish for msetine with hsr--a
mootine that came when least ex-
pocbod &
And but recently arrived Ia the town;
know 10 sne save my iandlady and shs
man Who roomed with me, and aaw the
LATER - seldom that can hardly say We
Wofo VEL acquainted. Tho little I saw OF
him, hovevsr, convinced me that he was .
nomhlef. He nevsr confided his affairs TO
NJ. but his habit Of spending his nights
nNoy from home. his buoyant spirits when
- would enter the room one morning and
lhesnfoom which seemed 70 possess him
~ next, plainly betrayed his character.
Iremombsf that he knocked at the door
oomowhat earlier than usual one night. I
hod been reading and was just preparing
q sotifa Without word he drew 8 chair
uoor the 6re, sat down, and. looking stead.
81 wodftation. ] rudsly broke his reverie
With question:
] ibid you ever - this mysterious woman
about whom there 10 % much talk. who
nooo about Ia mourning and wears . sad
& "
BE ffcwnsd and seemsd annoyed ct the
auentIoa. "Yes." he answered. "a crazy
kn3 that hounts the streets at night, fright
ontng little children and furnishing old
Nbmen theme Tor gossip ovsr their tea
cuys."
her Htter al. /" said. in tone Of inquiry.
II tSon't care 70 discuss her. he replied.
II have other things to think about just
now. lost 500 tonight"
s'Iu tie strcetf"
IL suppose so." was his reply. at
amounts r. tho same thing. Ny cursed
luck was--'
uAs knock ~ the door-a quick. excited
rap might call it--and my companion
arose and opened it--opeaed Il, and the
full. bright hight from within revealed to
my astonished gaze the black -robed form
of woman. leaned forward to get
glimpse Of her face. but . black veil hid II
Srom view. But noticed the face of the
%:a slS .a asd ss. i've sa do ss on s'
Great knotted lines deformcd his brow. and
thought heard . muflied oath escape
his Hrs. Then the woman. stepping back
into The shadow ind whispering hoarssgy,
aid: II thought you were alone. You
wanted 70 see me. For Gods sake. come
Into tho streetl"
He closed the door. and without address
ing word Of explanation 70 me snized his
hat and went out into the night
could not have sat still in that room
after that II my life had depended on ID.
The mystery of that meeting completely
mastered me, and was determined TO
lhthom It.
slippered feet making no sound upon the
stony street. On they went--straage, dark
figures. darker than the night, whose few
treble stars shone fndistiuetly in gloomy
sky. On they went and still | followed.
with steps as noisrless rs that of fate.
could family hear their voices ia the dis
lance. but could distinguish no word that
Vas said.
How far followed them I know not.
Once or twice saw the woman pause. bat
the man motioned her on. and abe contin.
ned at his side until grove, which served
the city as park. lying still and gloomy on
the outskirts, was reached and they en-
tered and stood under the shadow oil the
trees.
crouchsd behind . hedge and listened.
aOncc for AL" said the man. will yos,
leave this town and swear TO follow me no
II cannot" said the woman. plteously.
"because ! love you. Oh. John." she
cried. As she fell GA her knees at bis feet.
shave mercy on ne! Think of all have
11uStCQ AVi yOu 8Ass sss~~ Ass~ees"s~ .>@N Saw
tof of your love aGainl'
"a curse On your love- he cried. III
has been . curse to me. You are hight
TO my hfc. What are you kneelsng there
Tor" And be spurncd her With bis feet
She rose weeping. Then the man. grasp
Ing her arm and kissing the words in her
ear, said:
Il swear viii kin goa u ron cross nay
Path axaiEl"
'sOh. my God, r. shc cried, "my burden Is
heavier than can hcarl Only LEI me see
nv children once more and YOU can take
my life Il ron wiili'
ssYou shall never see them. said tie
nam. .You hare disxraced them As you
have disgraced me. They Ale dead 20 yon
tOrcver."
She uttered CRY ike that 81 lost soul
And fe!s heavily 20 the ground.
She iay there moaning and alooan.ess.
SAN the man glance furtively around, IS u
fearful that be WAS seen. Then he benz
dawn.
saw his hayers on the woaaan's throat
there vxs q struggle and stuffed cry.
and--s spranE from my hiding place With
. CRY cf horror on my lips, the nisssd IA
my veins boiling With rage assd indignation.
rushed forward. The wretch Ted 81 nay
approach. shopping % shield himself isoia
detection a. he ran. raised the woman
n my AIRS: the print at ais cruel hassrs
~ On her white throats eea the vlsiain