Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-10-04
AN INSANE FRENZY.
A Leaf from TOlStOi's EsKreutzer
Sonata"

The first thing did was to take offmJ
my boots; then in my stockings went
to the wall where my guns and daggers
were suspended above the sofa, and
took down a crooked Damascus blade
that had never been used, and was ex.
ceedingly sharp. unsheathed it. The
scabbard slipped from my hands and
fell down behind the sofa; and I re-
member saying to myself, '1 must look
for it afterward, or it may get lost.
Then 1 Invested myself of my great.
coat, and stepping out softly in my
stockings, went there; and, stealing
up inaudibly, suddenly threw open
the door. I remember the expression
of their faces. I remember it, because
it afforded me an eycruciating pleas
ure. 1t was an expression of terror,
and that was precisely what desired.
To my dying day [ shall not forget the
regard Of mingled despair and terror on
their faces. He was seated, [ think at
the table, and soon as he saw me, he
started to his feet and stationed himself
with his back leaning against the cup
board. His features were expressive of
unmistakable abject terror. Her face
wore the same expression, but there
was something else there besides; and
had it not been for that something else,
had discovered no trace Of anything
but terror, perhaps that which happened
a little later would have never taken
place. For an instant, and only for an
instant, her looks betrayed-to my
thinking, at least-the disappointment,
the vexation she felt at being disturbed
in her Iove-making. Both of those ex-
pressions fingered but second on their
faces; his was instantaneously replaced
by an interrogative glance at her which
said: as it possible to right things by
lying? If so, then it is time to begin.
If not, something else will take place /;
but what?" Her look of vexation and
disappointment was succeeded, I
fancied, the moment her eyes met his,
by solicitude for him. For an instant
stood on the treshold, holding the
dagger behind my back, and that in
slant he smiled and began to speak. in
a tone of voice so studiedly uncon-
cerned that it seemed positively comical.
And we were at our music ="
helbegan. I"Well, this is a surprise" she
exclaimed, the same moment. follow
ing mp the cue he had given her. But
neither he nor she finished what they
were going to say. The insane frenzy
l had felt a week before again took
possession Of me; and gave myself up
to it, body and soul.
They never finished the sentence
they mad commenced. That other al
tentative happened which he was so
greatly afraid of, and it swept away in
a trice ali that they were going to say.
l threw myself upon her, hiding all the
time the dagger, lest he should binder
me from plunging it into her side, I'M
der her breast. I chose this spot from
the very first. Just as l was finging
myself upon her, he saw what 1 was
about, caught me by the arm, and
shouted out at the top of his voice !:
''Bethink you of what you are doing
Helpw / freed nv arm and rushed
\ upon him without uttering word. His
A -es encountering mine, he all at once
tur. ned as pale as sheet, his very lips
beca.n bloodless and white, his eyes
Clistel. ed with an unwonted luster, and
he diveA under the piano and fed from
the room. l rushed after him, but felt
4 heavy weight suspended from my left
arm. It was she. I struggled and
tried to tear Inyself from her, but she
prevented me from moving. This IN
looked-for hind vance, the dragging
weight, and her touch, from which L
Il lnokhrnr,a Xls1,s
served only to infame me still more. 1
struck backward with ny lett arm with
all the force could gather, and hit
her with my elbow in the face. She
screamed and let go my arm. l turned
round to her. She had fallen on the
couch, and, pressing her bruised eyes
with her hands, was looking at me.
Her face was expressive of terror and
of hatred for me, her enemy. saw
nothing but fear and hatred in her
features, just such fear and hatred for
me which love for another would in
evitably call forth in her. Still might,
perhaps, have restrained myself yet,
and might not have done what / did, if
she had only remained silent. But she
ali at once began to speak and to clutch
at my hand, the hand that held the
dagger Think what you are doing.
Nothing has passed between him and
me, nothing. / swear to you, moth
ing" I might still have wayered, had
it not been for those concluding words,
from which I inferred that the opposite
was true
do not lie, hell-hag," 1 screamed,
saizing her arm with my left hand.
Then, without relinquishing my hold of
the dagger, 1 caught her with my left
hand by the throat, threw her over on
her back and began to strangle her.
How tough her neck seemed! She
seized my arms with both her hands,
tearing them away from her throat;
and, as if had only been waiting for
this, I struck the dagger, with all the
strength I could muster, into her left
side and under the ribs.
Whenever people assert that IN a
paroxysm of madness they do not re-
member what they are doing, they are
talking nonsense or lying. Iknewvery
Sau what I was doing, and did not tnr