The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-10-18
FROM A LIVING DEATH.

"oous W uheot my olu lofes Eullly
Croydon, again made me doubly cage,
to get back. l felt a sudden chill run
over me when l anne to her house
Her stepfather, Joshua penthroop, 4
man l had never liked, wAs standing In
the doorway.
"Where Is Emily" I asked, eagerly
"Aiiss Croydon has been dead over {
year." he replied, in cod, measured
tones.
That was all he said. cannot re
member how l found strength enough Il
totter away on hearing this dreadful
piece OF news, but when | had recovered
somewhat l found myself in tho house
Of an old friend.
From him l learned that Emily Croy'
den had gone q year and 4 half ago on
Journey with Mr. Penthroop in search Of
health, and that che had died during the
tour.
This calamity had proved too much fol
the pnor mother to bear, and Mr.. Pen.
throop returned homo to find her dead,
leaving him sole possessor OF the home
and fortune TO which he had succeeded
on Emily's death.
After that l could not endure to live
at home, but wandered away from one
place to another trying to find come oc.
cupation that would divert my mind
from the past. At last l took a position
as assistant in Dr.. Durity's private in
sane asylum.
1t was not by any means a sinecuro.
Indeed, after the first few days l had
the care OF the whole establishment ex.
cept the part assigned to special cases."
to whom none had access except the
Doctor himself, and IN old female SER
want as ugly as Ifecate and as silent rs
the grave. This portion OF the building
had no connection with the rest, and the
grounds adjacent to it were inclosed by
a separate wall through which entrance
was by a gate which was always kept 80.
Curely fastened. T.
DR.. Durity had never invited me to
visit this part OF the establishment-had
never spoken of it, indeed-and l was
too much occupied with my duties to in.
dulge in curiosity.
One day, however, during my hour OF
outdoor exercises, in passing the gate
already mentioned l noticed that the
key was in the lock, a thing that l had
never observed before. I had never been
forbidden to enter this part OF the
grounds, and saw no harm in stepping
ineide and taking a look around. The
gate was unlocked and, pushing it open,
1 passed in.
Before me was q wing OF the main
building. whose walls were pierced with
tiers OF barre windows from which the
view was quite intercepted by the high
surrounding wall. A gravel walk ran
round the wing, and along it l was
sauntering slowly, when l heard some
thing drop at my feet. Looking down l
saw a small gold ring which l hastened
to pick up.
Judge Of my surprise at recognizing
the token OF our engagement which | had
given Emily the day that l babe her good
by. Whence now this souvenir Of the
dead past2
REFRESHING au cutlery to which I had
almost given vent in the violence OF my
excitement, l looked up quickly and
glaneing rapidly along the rows OF mar
row windows. Behind the bars of the
topmost tier l saw apale, worn face, at
the sight Of which I started as though it
had been apparition. The face was that
OF Emily Croydon!
Iwould have called out, but she placed
her fingers on her lips and pointed TO-
wards the partly open gate with a ges.
ture which | could not fail to under
stand. 1t meant that l should depart,
keeping my own counsel till l had se-
cured the means Of her release. Max
ing q sign to show my comprehension, 1
obeyed, softly closing the gate after me.
Emily's safety, perhaps her life, de-
pended upon the present concealmcnt
Of my discovery.
The one glance OF her face dispelled
any doubt as to her sanity. Her wicked
stepfather, it was evident, had coined
the story Of her death for his own selfish
ends, and was carrying out the fraud
through the aid Of an INSCRIPTIONS &C.
complete, who would stick at nothing to
avoid exposure.
l had gone but a little way when |
heard the gate open and saw the serving.
woman coming out. She seemed fright.
ened on discovering the key. which she
quickly pocketed after locking the gate,
meanwhile eyiDg me suspiciously. |
pretended not to heed, and she passed on,
1t was nearly dark when l returned to
the asylum. I had been absent several
hours. in fact, and when l went to the
doctors room, ostonsihly to make out my
evening report, he was beginning o re.
primand, when ! cut him short.
~ have made a discovery to-day, doc.
tor" l said.
"Ah, lndeed2" he replied, little ner.
vously, 1 thought.
"There is q young lady imprisoned
here" I continued, "a Miss Croydon,
whom her stepfather finds it convenient
to conceal, shile pretending she is dead"
"You speak in%solently," he replied,
with an effort at bravado. II have no
patients here ave by lawful right"
"But the lady / speak Of is not
insane"
THE lady you speak Of probably
thinks the same; most crazy people do.h
evil you release her voluntarily and
at once2" l demanded.
His answer WAS A sneering smile.
My reply was q signal which was
quickly followed by a sheria's officer
and assistants armed with the proper
writ.
"Will you conduct these gentlemen tc
Miss Croyden's apartments" ! asked,
"or must they force their way"
The villain qusiied in the presence o!
the law, and before many minutes
held Emily sobbing in my arms.
Joshua Penthroop did not wait hi
step.daughter's return, but vacated q
once the home to which he had ut
valid right, aud in which We hay,
dwelt ever uinuo our marriage. Dr.
Durity, too, decamped, to avoid falls
imprisonment, leaving an agent TO die
pose Of his establishment.
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In buying Hoods S%arsaparilla, forit i
: everyHhere r%ecopnizad ma the stondar,