Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-03-27
Ill the rest OF 'eml But I'm prepared for

| 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, counterfeiting an offhand ease that
l 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
tentlon as I saw moving figures on the
shore, scarcely half a mile away from us,
| the hutter of white handkerchief, and
then total disappearance of the figures.
Help was at hand, | felt quite sure, if
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, 81 am haunted?"
''Haunted?" said
''Yes-haunted by horrible, ugly old
woman-a witch, or ogress, female fiend
Now, 10 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 face like a
| fsh'sr'
| He uttered an eldritch screech as he
| looked down into the clear, shining depths,
"Let's escape from her' exclaimed,
| vigorously Selling my oars. "She can't
follow u.s."
'sNo, she can't. We might hide among
the woods, only, if she should turn into
| squirrel and jump up and down among the
trees-she doss sometimesl"
"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 devil of hurry
for?" demanded my companion, rather mo-
rosely. "Hold hard little, can't your"
l checked my exertion. Evidently he
was in no humor to be trified with
"No hurry at ALL" I said, as calmly as
possible; "only, you see, the old witch is
following you up pretty closely, and"--
"We are too near the Shore" he inter-
rupted abruptly.
We were within a few rods of the cluster
ing bushes that | 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 hurtling
upon the shore.
"What's that?" he demanded, turning
quickly around
cts your WITCH" I said, as unconcerned-
ly 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.
II 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?"
''That's very true. Here, head her in
toward the land. wonder never tAa4ght
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
long, silver green tresses of the willows
almost touched the bow of the boat when
my strange companion started to his feet,
with a yell that aroused all the eehoes 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
vain! The royalty of England shall 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 a last impulse caught up the rope
that lay coiled at the bottom Of the boat,
with one end affixed to an iron hook, aud
threw it desperately shoreward. I could
see tall form plunging waist deep in the
water to grasp at 1t, and then the elinging
arms of my terrible companion were
wreathed around me, and I knew no more
X "
care you better, sirs"
am IF''
'Here, at 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 remembes 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, sir-escaped last
night, and has been wandering ahaus the
shores all the morning."
''Is he safe at lastf''
''Yes, sir; they had the deuce of time
getting hold of him, though. He threw
you overheard as if you had been a willow
twig, and then SWAN like fish himself.
Dick Dayton-that'5 his keeper, sir-says
he's got the strength of twenty eamsons in
those long arms of his"
So ended that long, frightful morning
among the peaceful solitudes of Shadow
Lake; hub | carry an everlasting memorial
of it in the shape pf-a single lock- OF hair
that gleains, white as silver among the
chestnut luxuriance that curls over nv
temples While live and while that lock
retains its CHASTITY whiteness, shall ever
York World.
Diet for a Healthy Man.
4 wholesome diet in good health for
man of business, who walks {. fair distance,
or INDUCES in some equivalent out door
exercise, would be abundant and palatable,
inviting iIs appearance and accompanied
by plenty of pure, cool water, lemon and
orangeade, the juicy fruits and salads, the
succulent vegetables, meat and vegetable