The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1891-06-25


poor maniac; that grieves and afllicts
me-" lie closed his knife as he spoke.
But DO you know" he continued. Il
an haunted? Yes-haunted by hor-
rible ugly old woman. u female fiend.
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 and sometimes
There she is, now. with three pairs Of
fins and face like fish,"
He uttered an cldritch scrccch as he
looked down into the clear, shining
deep.
Lets escape from her." exclaim.
cd, vigorously scizing my oars. ..She
can't follow us on dry land, that's
certain. Pull away"
No, she can't. We might hide
among tho woods. only if she was to
turn into squirrel and jump up and
down among the trees-she does some
times"
Well. then, we'Il borrow a gun and
dispose Of her." l said. still pulling
desperately toward the shore, while
tho perspiration. cold and clammy as
midnight dews, streGmed down my
temples.
What arc you In such devil OF Q
hurry for?" demanded my companion,
rather morosely. Hold on O little.
can't you?"
checked my exertion. Evidently
he was in no humor to be trifed with.
mo hurry at ALL said rs calmly
rs possible: .'only. you see. the old
witch Is following you up pretty close
ly. and"
I'VE are too near the shore" he in
terrupted. abruptly. But rs he turned
his head away caught up tho sheath
ed knife and flung it huctling upon the
shore.
What's that3" he demanded, turn.
ing around.
..Its your witch" said, as uncon-
cernedly as ! could. You ought to
address her in conciliatory manner.
and If you could once bring her to
terms what would prevent you from
assuming your proper station once
moro in England?"
That's very true. Here. head her
in toward the land. wonder l never
thought of that before" Then my strange
companion started to his feet, with a
yell that aroused all the echoes hoatin q
over the peaceful lako.
Traitor! you have been deceiving
me. Your hirelings lurk among yon-
der bushes. But it is in vain!--the
royalty of England shall never fall prey
to base artiliccs like these"
He sprang toward me like an in
furiated tiger. At the same time the
shore seemed to become alive with
hurryinS figures. l could see a tall
form plunging waist deep into tho
water TO grasp at it; and tho clinging
arms Of my terrible companion were
wreathed around me, and knew no
more.
"Are You better, sir?"
'.Betterp Who're an IF'
Here snug in bed; but whet pos.
sessed you TO go In 9 boat with that
man."
Mad, isn't hep" I asked with all
the frightful occurrences crowding
back upon my mind.
Mad rs March hare. sir. They
say he's tho worst case In all the
nsylum-escapcd last night aad has
been wandering about the shores all
the morning"
ia he safe at last9''
Yes. sir. they had the deuce Of q
time getting hold OF him, though. BE
threw you overheard as If You had
been willow twig. and then swan
like n fish himself. Dick Dayton
that's his keeper. sir-says he's got
the strength CT twenty Samsons in
those long arms of his"
So ended that long. frightful morn.
Ing among the peaceful solitudcs Of
Shadow lake; but / carry an eyerlast-
ing memorial OF it in the shape OF q
single lock of hair that CLEANS white as
silver among the chestnut luxuriance
that cur's over my temples. While l
live and while that lock retains its
whitcness. l shall never remember my
peril and delivcrance without q shud-
der.-Ncw York World.