The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-23

light footsteps ascend the stairs, and the
door of her room open and close, and a
little while afterward Fred halted out
side my door to bid me a CHEEKY good.
night, and then entered the room oppo-
site.
How long I sat there I cannot tell, for
I fell into a heavy doze, and when I
woke up with a sudden start it was with
the uneasy consciousness that something
unusual had awakened me. I sprang to
my feet and looked fearfully around.
The Pickering flames of my fire, almost
burned out, were still sufficient to show
me that nc one had entered the room;
but while I stood there with strained
senses 1 heard a sound which made my
blood run cold within me; and, although
I am no coward, I shivered with fear.
It was the half-muf1ed shrek of e woman
in agony and it came from Mrs. Hallaton's
room. For a moment I was powerless
to move; then I hastily unlocked my
door, and, hurrying down the corridor,
knocked at hers. There was no answer.
I tried the handle; it was locked; but,
listening for a moment, I could hear the
sound of a woman gasping for breath.
I rushed back along the corridor to
Fred's room. The door was closed, but
unlocked, and I threw it open.
"Fredr" I cried; but Fred was not
there, nor had the bed been slept on.
A candle was burning on the dressing
table. and in the right hand corner OF
the room was what appeared to be a
hole in the wall, bnt when I stood
before it I saw at once that it was a
secret passage running parallel with the
corroidor. Looking down it, I could
see a light at the other end, and know
ing it must lead into Mrs. Hallaton's
room, I caught up the candle and bend
ing almost double half ran, half crept
along it, until I reached its other
extremity and found myself in Mrs. Hal
laton's room. I stood upright and
glanced half eagerly, half fearfully
around. The room was empty, but the
window directly opposite to me was open,
and as my eyes fell upon it I stood pet
rifed with a dull sickening horror, and
the candle dropped with a crash from
my nerveless fingers. There was a
miniature balcony outside the window,
and on this stood Fred Hallaton, hold
ing IN an embrace, which was certainly
not of love, the fainting form of his
wife. The moon was shining full oil his
face, ghostly and d%emoniacal, with the
raging fire of the mailman in his eyes
and the imbecile grin of the lunatic on
his thin lips. In a moment the truth
flashed upon me, and as I stood there
gaping and horror struck he saw me and
burst into u fit of wild laughter.
"Ha, ha, hal You Neillson9 What's
joke! See what a glorious view of the
grounds! Come and bend over, man;
don't be afraid. Does the height make
you dizzy2 It's made her." and he
motioned to- the insensible figure of his
wife, whom he still held clasped in his
arms. "Do you know what I am going
to do with herr I'm gong to chuck her
down there" and he pointed to the gar
den below. ga mad woman is of no
use to anyone. Come and lend me a
hand"
Mechanically I rushed to the balcony
and strove to wrench from his encircling
grasp the fainting form of his wife. Like
a flash his imbecile grin vanished and
his eyes filled with a malignant fury as
he let 60 his grasp of his wife and sprang
at me like a tiger cat. It was in vain
that I wrestled with him. His long
arms were around me and held me as if
I were in q vice. I tried to shout for
help, but my tongue cleaved to the roof
of my mouth, and a faint gurgling was
all the sound I could command. Nearer
and nearer we drew to tho parapet's
edge, until at last I could see the lawn
below, studded with flower beds like the
pattern of some fancy work; for Gsulby
Hall was built high, and we were on the
third story. I felt his hot breath in my
face, and caught his diaboical look of
triumph as he slowly forced me back.
ward against the outside rail, which
creaked and swerved with my weight,
and then my struggling feet seemed to
part with the earth, as with a wild yell
of:
Leicester! Leicester!' I opened my
eyes and sat up with a start. The paper
had slipped from my fingers, and the
train was slowly steaming into Leicester
station, and there, standing upon the
platform, smiling and robust, looking
the very picture of health, was Fred
Hallaton.