The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-19
THE YELLED WOMAN.

fitted ike 4 shadow through the city's
streets n rizhtfall. entering the dwellings
Of the sick. q voluntary watcher by the
shroudesi forms OF the dead. . dark-robed
follower of funerals. ! had heard Of her,
and confess that the tales that were tod
me by my gsrrulous landlady were not
greatly In her favor.
There's lots OF mystery about that
woman. I" said Mrs. Hodge as she poured
my coffee one morning. .'for they do say
that she sees sperrits. an is never so much
enjoyin' of herself rs when she Is settin up
with Q corpse An then that long black
veil she wearsl They say it's sign that
she belongs to some secret society o. sper-
rits that nobody knows nuthin' about, and
they don't Tow her to show her face,
though don't 'blevs the poor soul does
any HARM"
Nv curiosity was aroused. bat though
piled my IandIady with questions. failed
10 elicit any more definite information re-
garding this strange woman than Is con-
tanned in the for egoing paragraph.
But inwardly resolved TO know more
about her when became better acquainted
in the town. I was even bold and curious
enough to wish for meeting with her-a
meeting that came when ! least expected.
had but recently arrived In the town: |
knew no one save my iandiady and the
man who roomed with me. and ! saw the
latter so seldom that can hardly say We
were very well acquainted. The little |
saw OF him, however, convinced me that he
was q gambler. He never conhded his
affairs to me. but his habit Of spending his
nights away from home. his buoyant spirits
when he would enter the room one morn
ing, and the gloom which seemed TO pos
sess him the next. plainly betrayed his
character.
remember that he knocked at the door
somewhat earlier than usual one night /
had been reading and was just preparing
70 retire. Without . word he drew q chair
near the fire, sat down. and looking stead
lastly ct the Goals in the CRATE. seemed lost
In meditation. rndeiy broke his reverie
with question;
did you ever see this mysterious
woman about whom there is 30 much talk,
who goes about In mourning and wears q
sad face the year round ?" asked.
He frowned and seemed annoyed at the
question. YES" he answered. "a crazy
bag that haunts the streets at night.
frightening little children and furnishing
old women . theme for gossip over their
teAcups.'
Then there is nothing remarkable about
her after ALL" I said, in tone of inquiry
n don't care TO discuss her." he replied
now. lost 500 tonight. +"
I'm the stFset1"
II suppose so" was his reply. 1T
amounts TO the same thing. My cursed
lack was
But the sentence was unfinished. There
was "A knock ut the door-a quick. excited
rap might call it-and my companion
arose and opened il, and the full,
bright light from within revealed TO my
astonishcd gaze the black -robed form OF a
woman. leaned forward TO get glimpse
of her face, but q black veil hid IL from
view. But noticed the face of the man
who had opened the door on this dreary
figure. IL Was livid with rage. Great knot
ted lines detormed his brow. and thought
] heard a mufsled oath escape his lips
Then the woman, stepping back into the
shadow and whispering hoarseiy. said. II
thought you we're alone. You wanted To
see me. For Gods sake, come into the
street,
lie closed the door, and without address
Ing word Of explanation TO me. seized his
hat and went out into the night
could not have sat still In that room
after that II my life had depended on H. The
mystery Of that meeting completely mas
tered rue, aud | sas determined 10 iathom
H.
Out into the dark ] followed them, nv
ssippered feet making no sound upon the
stony street. On they went strange, dark
figures. darker than the night whose few
feeble stars shone indistineiy In . gloomy
sky. On they went and still followed
With step IS noiseless az that of fate.
could family hear their voices in the dis.
lance, bat could distinguish no word that
sas said.
How Tar ! followed them know not.
Once or twice | saw the woman pause, but
the nan motioned her on, and she con.
tlnaed at his side until q grove, which
served she city as park. lying still and
gloomy on the outskirts, was reached, and
thes entered and stood under the shadow
OF the trees.
croaehed behind q hedge and listened.
Once fer all. said the man, will you
lssse this town and swear 10 follow the no
norer"
II cannot" said the woman, piteonslv.
because | love yoni Oh, joint" she
cried. ss she Tell On her knees at his feet
have mercy GA me- Think of all have
suffered Tor you. and take me into the shell
ter OF your love again.
A curse on your love" he cried 1t
has been 3 curse to me. You are a blight
10 nav LIE. whs; are you kneeling there
tors And he spurned her with his foot
She rose weeping. Then the man. grasp
sns her arm aud kissing the words in he,
ear. sand
swear will xiii yoa Il YOU cross ms
path sgain -
on, nav God e. she cried. my burden
> heavier than can bsari Only les ms
ss a'y children once more. and you car
ssse nay lite. IL yea vii rs
fea Shall never see them r. said the
nan, Yea have dssgfaoed them. As you
aaseFsoed me They are dead Ia yoa FOR.
sveg
she uttered cry. Ike TIA; Of : lost soal.
and sesl heavily TO the ground
She lsy taere naanias and naotlon.sss.
as sAe msu glance turuveay around. a. II
sartd that BE MAS seen. Then he ben,
sawn.
sas his HDgrrs On The weman's throat
there was q struggle ard a Ssia.A CIV
sad~I spranw from my hiding Place with
cry os hsrroT on my bps, the tls<sd IL
say veins ho4lias with yAxe ana lrsttsx,a
sos. rushed forward Ths wretch De-
II nay Sppsvsach, STOPPING ia sasesi hira<xg;
Fom strsestson ~ be ran. / raised m,
sgfssaa Ia t3sx arms the x,rsy,s ~ a. 49,