Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-05-01

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 white handkerchief, and
then total disappearance of the figures
Help was at hand | felt quite sure, If |
could o1,ly maneuyer so as to reach ii
No not about the Queen" said the
poor maniac; that gri, yes and affiicts
me-" He closed his knife as he spoke.
Bot do you know he continued, II am
haunted?"
Haunted? | said
"Yes-haunted bya horrible ugly old
woman-a witch, of hegress, female
fend. How do you know" he said, NOV
ing close up to me, and speaking in "a low
mysterious voice, she won't let me
alone?"
Mop
''She won't. Sometimes she climbs up
among the stars at night, and sets 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 a fish So
He uttered an eldrich screech, as he
looked down into the clear, shining
deeps.
Let's escape from her." I exclaimed,
vigorously Selling my oars. She can't
follow US on dry land, that's certain. Pail
away.
mo, she can't. We might hide among
the woods, only, if she should turn into
squirrel and jump up and down among
the tides-5he does sometimes"
"Well then, wen borrow a gun and dis
pose of her, said, still pulling desper-
alton. cold and clammy as midnight dews
steamed down my temples.
What are you in such devil of hur-
ry for" demanded my companion rather
morosely. Hold on little can't you?'
! checked my exertiOn. Evidently he
was in no humor to be trifed with.
mo hurry at all, >" | said, as calmly as
possible; '0nly. you see the old witch is
following you up pretty closely. and
I'VE are too near the shore. he inter
rupted, abruptly.
We were within few rods of the clus-
tering bushes that knew contained heIp.
Oh, heaven, could but reach their friend
ly 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
contrary direction.
But as he turned his head away caught
up the sheathed knife and flung it hurting
upon the shore.
What's thatr' he demanded. turning
quickly round.
ITS your witch, | said, as unconcern-
eddy as | could. Don't you think we
ought 10 90 ashore and see what has be-
come of her?'
His eyes roved restlessly along the green
bank.
Il 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 a
cOnciliatory manner; and if you could
once bring her to her terms, what would
prevent you from assuming your proper
station once more in EngIand?"
That's very true. Here, head her in
toward the land. | wonder | never
thought of that before
Poor, fever-brained lunatic 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, silyer-green tresses of the willows
almost touched my throbblng forehead,
when my strange companion started to
his feet, with yell that aroused all the
echoes floating over the peaceful lake.
Traitor spy! double-eyed villain!
you have been deceiving me! Your hire
tings lurke among yonder bushes. But
it is in vaIn!-the royalty Of England shall
never tall a 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 colled in the bottom of the
boat with one end affixed to an iron hook,
and threw it desperately shoreward.
could see tall form piunging waist deep
into the water to grasp ii; and then the
CIInglng arms of my terrible companion
were wreathed around me, and | knew no
more.
Are you better, STRIP
Better? Yes-no-I can t tell. Where
am ?"
Here, at little inn, snug in bed; but
you've had a stormy time of it. VIVA
on earth possessed you to go in d boat with
that poor gentleman"
Mad, isn't hep | asked. with all the
irlgnttul occurrences crOwdlng back upon
my mind, as one may remember the hide
eous fantasies of a troubled dream.
Mad as d March hair, sir; thinks he's
Prince Albert, They say he's the worst
case in all the asylum, sir-escaped last
night, and has been wandering about the
shores all the morning.
is he safe at last?'
Eyes. sir; they had the deuce of time
getting hold of him though. He threw
you overheard as if you mad been ii willow
twig, and then swami like a fish himself
Dick Dayton-that's his keeper, sir-says
he's got the strength of twenty Samsons
in those long arms of his
SO ended that long frigbtfnl morning
among the peaceful solitudes of Shadow
Lake; but | cary an everlasting memorial
of it in the shape of a single lock of hair
that CLEANS, white as silver, among the
chestnut luxuriance that curls over my
temples. While | live, and while that
lock retains its CHASTITY whiteneSs, shall
never remember my peril and deIiverance
without a shudder.- New York World.