The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-03-28

people are so skeptical nowadays. Now,
when Victor Emmanuel was staying at
my house, and Pope Plus came down
by way OF the Mediterranean Take carel
where are you goingW
had thought to take advantage Of the
new path into which his troubled mind
had wandered, to direct the course of the
boat shoreward, but his cunning, rowing
eye was upon me In an instant.
"It-it is getting very hot here" STAN
mered. II Thought, perhaps, we should
find IL cooler on shore"
"Ah-h-hl'' he Kissed, putting his face SO
close to mine as to glare up into my eyes,
under the very shadow OF my wide brimmed
bat, "you're traitor and hypocrite, like
all the rest Of 'eml But I'm prepared for
you. Seer'
And with burst Of laughter, so disonant
that the very tide seemed to tremble and
culver, he flashed q long, sharp knife in
the air, describing a circle of cleaning
light round his head My blood seemed
turned to ice in my veins as 1t dazzled
across my vision.
Put up the knife, your royal highness,"
/ said, counterfeiting an offhand ease that
by no means felt. where's the use of it
between friendsi Let's talk about the
queen"
was the more anxious to secure his at
tention as / saw moving figures on the
shore, scarcely half a mile away from us,
the futter Of u white handkerchief, and
then total disappearance of the figures.
Help WINS ut hand, l felt quite sure, IL /
could only maneuver so rs to reach It.
mo, not about the queen" said the poor
maniac; "that grieyes and affiicts me-" He
closed his knife as he spoke "But, do you
KNOW he continued, II am hauntedf"
'IauntedS" said,
"Yes-haunted by horrible, ugly old
woman-a witch, or ogress, female fiend.
Now, do you know" he said, moving close
up TO me, and speaking in a low, mysteri-
Gus voice, "she won't let me alonef"
"NoSn
"She won't. sometimes she climbs up
among the stars at night, and sits there
winking through my bedroom window all
night long Sometimes she comes jump
ing down from the clouds among the rain
drops, and sometimes There she is now,
with three pair OF fins and face like
fish'sp'
He uttered an eldritch screech as he
looked down into the clear, shining depths.
Let's escape from hcrl" i exclaimed,
vigorously Selling my oars. "She can't
follow u.s.
mo, she can't. We might hide among
the woods, only, if she should turn into a
squirrel and jump up and down among the
trees-she does sometimes"
well, then, we'll borrow gun and dis
pose of her." said, still pulling desperate
ly toward the shore, while the perspiration,
cold and clammy as midnight dews, steam
ed down my temples.
"What are you in such a devil Of hurry
forW demanded my companion, rather mo-
rosely. "Hold hard little, can't your"
l checked my exertion. Evidently he
was in no humor to be triiled with.
"No hurry at ALL" l said, us calmly as
possible; "only, you see, the old witch is
following you up pretty closely, and"--
1--WE are too near the Shore" he inter
rupted abruptly.
We were within a few rods of the cluster
ing bushes that l knew contained help.
Oh, heaven, could but reach their friendly
shelter. How like a. mass of lead my heart
sank in my bosom as / saw him catch up
the oars and strike out once more in con-
trary direction.
But as he turned his head away caught
up the sheathed knife and flung it hurting
upon the shore
whats that" he demanded, turning
quickly around.
'It's your witch" said, as unconcerncd-
ly as / could. Don't you think we ought
to go ashore and see what has become of
her?n
His eyes roved rcstlcssly along the green
bank.
81 don't know; what do you Think"
"Why she Is your enemy. No doubt it
was she who spread the report of your
death. You ought TO address her in CON
ciliatory manner, and if you could once
bring her to terms what would prevent
you from assuming your proper station
once mere in England"
"That's very true. Here, head her In
toward the land. Iwonder never thought
OF that before"
Poor fever Drained lunaticl Even in the
consciousness Of my own mortal peril my
heart ached for the crazy flights of his
sick fancy.
We were close to the friendly land; the
long, silver green tresses of the willows
almost touched the bow OF the boat when
my strange companion started to his feet,
with yell that aroused all the echoes float
ing over the peaceful lake.
"Traitor-spyl double-dyed villainl you
have been deceiving me. Your hirelings
Turk among youder bushes. But it is in
'hiu' Inc w any VI IaukAuuu slhli never
fall prey to base articles like these"
He sprang toward me like an Infatuated
tiger At the same time the shore seemed
to become alive with hurrying figures, and
with last impulse | caught up the rope
that lay coiled at the bottom of the boat,
with one end affixed to an iron hook, and
threw it desperately shoreward. | could
see tall form plunging waist deep in the
water to grasp at it, and then the clingiup
arms of my terrible companion were
wreathed around me, and knew no more
Are you better, sirs"
"Betters Yes-no-I can't tell. Where
am ""
Here, at a little inn, snug in bed; but
you've had a stormy time OF it. What on
earth possessed you to go out in boat
with that poor gentemans"
Mad, isn't het" | asked, with all the
frightful occurrences crowding back upon
my mind, as one may remember the hide
Gus fantasies of a troubled dream.