Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-23
mered. Il Thought perhaps, we should

|
close to mine as to glare up into my eyes,
under the very shadow of my wide brimmed
| hat, "you're a traitor and hypocrite, like
| all the rest of 'emi But Pm prepared for
! you. See!'
And with burst of laughter, SO disonant
that the very tide seemed to trembIe and
| culver, he flashed long, sharp knife in
the air, describing a circle of cleaning
| light round his head. Ny blood seemed
| turned to ice in my veins as it dazzled
across my vision.
| ''Put up the knife, your royal highness,"
! I said, counterfeiting an offhand ease that
I 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 | saw moving figures on the
shore, scarcely half a mile away from US,
| the futter of a white handkerchief and
then total disappearance Of the figures.
| Help was at hand, l felt quite sure, if I
! could only maneuver SO as to reach it.
''No, not about the queen" said the poor
maniac; that grieves and affiicts me-" He
closed his knife as he spoke. But, do you
know" he continued, II am hauntedg'
"Haunted?" I 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?"
s'No?"
'sShe 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 a
fsh's"
He uttered an eldritch screech as he
looked down into the clear, shining depths
''Let's escape from herI' L exclaimed,
vigorously selling my oars 'She can't
follow u.s."
the woods, only, if she should turn into a
squirrel and jump up and down among the
trees-she does sometimesp'
"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.
'FWhat are you in such devil of hurry
for?" demanded nv companion, rather mo-
rosely. ''Hcld hard little, can't your"
I checked my exertion. Evidently he
was in no humor to be trifed with
"No hurry at ALL" | said, as calmly as
possible; ''only, you see, the old witch is
following you up pretty closely, and''--
eve are too near the Shore" he inter
rupted abruptly.
We were within few rods of the cluster
ing bushes that [ knew contained help
Oh, heaven, could I but reach their friendly
shelter. How like 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 the sheathed knife and flung it hurting
upon the shore.
"Whats that?" he demanded, turning
! quickly around.
TITS your witch" I said, as unconcerned-
ly as l could. Don't you think we ought
| to go ashore and see what has become of
her?"
His eyes roved restIessly 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 a 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?"
CHATS very true. Here, head her in
toward the land. wonder l never thought
of that before"
Poor fever Drained 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
| lO0O diver Urpnn traCCac of tho yz,i1IOI,-e
! 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-spy! double-dyed villain! you
have been deCeiving me. Your hirelings
Turk among yOnder bushes. But it is in
vainl The royalty of England shall never
fall 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 a 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 Il tall form plunging waist deep in the
water to grasp at it, and then the clinging
arms of my terrible companion were
wreathed around me, and l knew no more.
Are you better, sir?"
Better? Yes-no-I can't tell. Where
am u"
Here, at a little inn, snug in bed; but
you've had stormy time of it. What on
earth possessed you to go out in boat
with that poor gentleman"
Mad, isn't hep" I asked, with all the
frightful occurrences crowding back upon
my mind, as one may remember the hide
Gus fantasies of a troubled dream.
Mad as a March hare, sir; thinks he's
Prince Albert. They say he's the worst
case in all the asylum, escaped last
night, and has been wandering about the
shores all the morning"
as be safe at last?'
eyes, sir; they had the deuce of time
getting hold of him, though. He threw
you overheard as if you had been willow
twig, and then swan like 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, frightful morning
among the peaceful solitudes of Shadow
Lake; but l carry an everlasting memorial
of it in the shape of 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 ever
remember my peril and deliverance-New
York World