Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-04-11
lei. alone with what I now fully be.

l;o,al ~ "iVh "hat L now fully he.
Aieved TO be a maniac. w
realized must be brave, and tried
"o upper very nnconcerned, thouoh T
I.a actually trembling like an asnan
iea1' expecting any moment TO 500 hl;m
NY toward me, brandishine a knife ~ =
revolver. Had he smiled. or IN 40
way led me to believe he was trv;nn "1 ~
get up a Irritation, I should simnlr 5ovo
regarded him with disgust, but common
n told me that no sane man ma,,Ia
follow a girl for miles such a
stormy night, without hay;n@
received anys-encourasement whatevar
l could not credit the professional airt
with that amount of perseverance, nn5
persistency. u"
L hardly knew what facial expression
10 assume. Idared not look angry or
annoyed, lest he might encircie nv
shroat with his maniacal clutches. +
thouSht 1t wise to put on q serene. good
ha'ofed look, feeling sure the manly
arm OF Norman Leonard would protect
me e L stepped from the car. for Il
was his custom to meet me when do.
tanned till night, Us there were but few
houses and many vacant lots in the
vicinity of our home, which rendered
u extremely gloomy after dark.
AS we neared F. avenue
where l should leave the car. 7
arose and peered out into the darkness
to see the familiar form I expected. The
mysterious, unknown parsonage arose
Also and, preceding me, stepped from
the car and stood with outstretched
land to assist me. 1 dared not do
otherwise than take his hand, which T
fancied felt clammy ever through
gloves.
L looked eagerly about, hoping 7
might see some one to whom I conld
appeal for protection. No one appeared,
nor was there a house within MANY
blocks to cast a friendly light.
broken English. Though unable to
understand scarcely anything he said.
l tried to answer him, all the while Sc.
cretly praying I might reach home
safely; was frantic with fright, and
talked and walked faster and faster, he
having hard work to keep pace with
me. My belief in his insanity was
strengthened every minute, as he gave
me no sane replies. I'll asked him a
question in English, his answer was not
to the point; when / repeated it in Ger
man, discovering this to be his native
language, his answers were just as far
from the subject. Though he spoke
excellent German. his words had no
bearing upon the remarks L ventured.
10 my intense JOY, I soon perceived a
form approaching. My eyes, with I'M
natural power, penetrated darkness
and distance and told me it was Nor
man. l was to be spared! Oh, happy
moment! Nearer and nearer he came.
But oh, can you imagine my feelings as
L saw him pass by without any sign OF
recognition. AS he brushed by me, he
gave me a glance-only a glance-but
IN it L read-jealousy. Jealous of a
mailman. Oh, horror!
Divining the cause of his actions, I
quickly called after him: "Norman!
Oh Norman!' I screamed wildly, but
onward he moved rapidly ~distancing
me and my escort and leaving me to
the mercy of don't know who.
At this point the climax of my fear
was reached. The stranger stopped
still, and, assuming an attitude which
suggested the probability of his search
ing his pocket for a revolver, stood
earnestly staring at me. while he rum
mayed, first in one pocket, then an
other. Finally, oh horror! I saw him
draw from his pistol pocket something
oh something!-I dared not see what,
but closed my eyes and screamed for
dear life.
This had the effect to bring Norman
quickly to the scene. 1 can just re-
member seeing his face as he reached
me-then everything was a blank,
For days i was unconscious; when I
recovered the sequel" to my experience
was told to me.
Ny screams had also brought my
mother and Others to the scene. They
found me lying in Norman's arms.
Near by stood the stranger in pitiable
silence, holding in his hand, instead of
a revolver OF dirk, a harmless little
speaking tube.
My mother looked at him sternly, re-
garding him as a would-be murderer.
But as she looked further her
fierce expression began to grow
milder, finally portraying supreme
JOY, for she recognized her long-lost
son. The recognition was mutual, and
there, instead Of tragedy occurred
a love scene. She joyfully well
coined my brother. whom she had not
seen for many years, supposing he had
died in Australia. I, being many years
his junior, could not remember hin, and
he was afflicted with partial deafness,
which caused his queer actions.
After making a large fortune in Aus
tralia he had returned to Berlin, our old
home, only to learn that his mother
and sister were in America.
Sailing Immediately for the latter
place, he had spent some months in
searching for us, when he met me by
chance on that memorable shopping
tour, and, on account of the marked re-
semblanee L bore to our mother, he was
firmly convinced that I was his sister.
Everything was explained and we all
forgave him. When Norman and l
we're married brother Julius was "best
man." and, by way of atonement for the
r.-1.l L. .o,, ~. or1 fha 1oa1nT1cv |