Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-05-15


can never come near mer'
l felt the cold perspiration oozing
from every pore in my body; / could
almost feel myself grow pale as be-
came fully convinced that | was out
upon the solitary lake alone with a
madman! had heard, when first |
came to this mountain retreat, that
there was a large asylum somewhere
In the vicinity, but l had never given
the affair a second thought. Now
was reaping the consequences OF my
own folly and recRlessness.
His dark, piercing eyes roved rest
lessly from object to object Suddenly
they rested on my appalled, counten-
ance.
You don't believe what l am say
ing?"
The remembrance of what l had
often read and heard about the ex-
pediency-nay, the positive necessity
that existed for indulging monomaniacs
to the top Of their bent, in whatever
whim might possess their minds, oc-
CURED to me, and FASTENED 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 Mediterra-
nean-take care. where are you go
ing?"
l had thought to take advantage OF
the new path into which his troubled
mind had wandered to divert our
course a little more shoreward; but his
cunning, rowing eye was upon me in an
instant.
Tit is getting very hot here" I
stammered. II thought, perhaps, we
should find it cooler on shore"
"Ah-h-h!'' he Missed, 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
a hypocrite, like all the rest of 'em!
But I'm prepared for you. See?"
And with burst of laughter, so dis
sonant that the very tide seemed to
tremble and quiver, he flashed 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 it dazzled across my
vision.
'Put up the knife, your royal high
ness" said, counterfeiting an off hand
ease that by no means felt Where
the use of it between friends? Let's
talk about the queen"
/ was the more anxious to secure his
attention as / saw moving figures on
the shore, scarcely half a mile away
from us, the fiutter of white handker-
chief, and then total disappearance OF
the figures. Help was at hand l was
quite sure, if could only maneuver so
as to reach it.
No, not about the queen" said the
poor maniac; ''that grieves and afaicts
me-" He closed his knife as he spoke.
''But, do you know" he continued, 81
am haunted?"
"Haunted?" said.
"Yes-haunted by a horrible, ugly
old woman-a witch, or negress, fe-
male fiend. Now do you know" he
said, moving close up to me, and speak
ing in low, mysterious voice, ''she
won't let me alone?"
MOP"
"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 jumping down from the clouds
among the raindrops, and sometimes
there she is now, with three pair OF
fins and face like flsh's!'
He uttered an eldritch screech, as he
looked down into the clear, shining
deeps-
Lets escape from her." exclaimed,
vigorously seizing my oars 'She can't
follow us on dry land, that's certain.
Pull away"
"No, she can't. We might hide among
the wood, only, if she should turn into
q squirrel and jump up and down
among the trees-she does sometimes" "
"Well, then, well borrow a gun and
dispose of her." said, still pulling des-
perately toward the shore, while the
perspiration, cold and clammy as mid
night dews, streamed down my temples.
what are you in such a deuce of a
hurry for?" demanded my companion,
rather morosely Hold on little,
can't you?"
I checked my exertion. Evidently he
was in no humor to be trified with.
mo hurry at ALL" l said, as calmly
as possible; "only, you see, the old
witch is following you up pretty closely,
and"
I'VE are too near the Shore" he in
terrupted, abruptly.
We were within q few rods of the
clustering bushes that l knew con-
tanned 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 the con
trary direction.
But as he turned his head away
caught up the sheathed knife and flung
it hurling upon the shore.
"What's that?" he demanded, turn.
ing quickly round.
Its your WITCH" l said, as uncon.
cernedly as could. Don't you think
we ought to go ashore and see what has
become of her?"
His eyes roved restlessly along the
green bank.
"I don't know; what do you think?'
"Why, she is your enemy. No doubt
it was she who spread the report o1
your death. You ought to address hel
in a conciliatory manner; and if you
could once bring her to terms, what
would prevent you from assuming youI
proper station once more in England.
That's very true. Here, head her il
toward the land. l wonder l never
thought of that before"
Poor fever Drained lunatic! Even il
the consciousness of my own morta-
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 will
lows almost touched my throbbine
forehead. when my strange companion
started to his feet, with yell thai
aroused all the echoes floating over the
peaceful lake:
"Traitor-spy double-dyed villain
you have been deceiving me. You
hirelings lurk among yonder bushes
But it Is in vain!-the royalty Of Eng
land Sha n uavar fall n r,rvev fO basa a1-ti