San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-24


felt the cold perspiration oozing from
every pore i'll my body; could almost feel
myself grow pale as | became fully con-
vinced that ! was ont upon the solitary
lake alone with a mailman! | had heard,
when first ! came TO this mountain retreat
that there was large asylum somewhere
in the vicinity, but had never given the
affair a second thought. Now | was reap
ing the consequences of my own folly and
reCklessncss
His dark, piercing eyes roved restlessly
from object to object. Suddenly they
rested on my appalled, countenance
You don't believe what / am saying?"
The remembrance of what had often
read anG heard about the eXpedency-nay,
the positive nccessity-that existed for in
dulging mOnOmaniacs to the top of their
bent, in whatever within might possess
their minds, occurred to me, and hast ened
to reply: "Of course | believe it! Why
shouldn't II"
"Ah, why shouldn't you, indeed? But
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 care!
where are you going:"
| 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 i'll an instant.
Tit is getting very hot here" l STAN
mered. Il thought perhaps, we should
find it cooler on shore"
"Ah-h-h"' he Kissed, putting his face so
close to mine as to glare up into my eyes,
under the very shadow of my wide brimmed
hat, you're traitor and hypocrite, like
all the rest of 'em! But Pm prepared for
you. SeeW
And with burst of laughter, so disonant
that the very tide seemed to tremble and
culver, he flashed long, sharp knife in
the air, describing circle of cleaning
light round his head. My blood seemed
turned to ice in my veins as it dazzled
across my vision.
Put up the knife, your royal highness,"
said, cOUnterfciting an offhand ease that
by no means felt. where's the use of it
between friends? Let's talk about the
queen"
was the more anxious TO secure his at
tention as l saw moving figures on the
shore, scarcely half mile away from us,
| the fiutter of a white handkerchief, and
| then total disappearance of the figures.
Help was at hand, ! felt quite sure if l
| could only maneuver so as to reach it.
"No, not about the queen" said the poor
maniac; that grieves and afilicts me-" He
closed hi, knife us he spoke. But, do voc
know" he continued, Il am haunted?"
"Haunted?" | said.
"Yes-haunted by a horrible, ugly old
| woman-a witch, or ogress, a female fiend.
Now, do you know" he said, moving close
up to me, and speaking in low, mysteri-
| Gus voice, "she won't let me alone?"
"No?"
"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 a face like
fish'sw
He uttered an eldritch screech as he
looked down into the clear, shining depths.
Lets escape from herv' l exclaimed,
vigorously Selling my oars. ''She can't
follow US"
"No, she can't. We might hide among
the woods, only, if she should turn into
squirrel and jump up and down among the
trecs-she does sOmetimesr
"Well, then, we'll borrow a 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 arcyOu in such a devil of hurry
for?" demanded my companion, rather mo-
rosely. Hold hard little, can't your"
/ checked my exertion. Evidently he
was in no humor to be trifed with
mo hurry at ALL" | said, as 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 l 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 a con-
trary direction.
But as he turned his head away caught
up sae sheathed knife and flung it hurtling
upon the shore.
whats that" he demanded, turning
quickly around.
cts your witch, " said, as unconcerned-
ly as l could. Don't you think we ought
to 90 ashore and see what has become of
herr"
His eyes roved restlessly 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 more in England"
"Thats very true. Here, head her in
7