The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-12-25

l1s'St Nyfs N 49, =
plaeee. These fits 10 not c4ne on often
but they are anything ut plessant
on"
''I should imagine 90" scented, de
voutly hoping at was not then pend,
ing. Soon managed make my
adieu, and with sigh ofrelief found
myself once more in the bu. made
my way to Buriett's room, but he had
gone to bed, and seeing it Fas nearly IL
O'Clock, decided to go bed, and,
preceded 6y q Ssssat q could never
again the widsea = sc sae s&S s&Sthreaded the
numerous pas uds AZ Ned to INV
room. l. Gswids cor,
ridor, on eit1 49, were six
| doors. -,
- .ns:: ;sz l:sss
as pointed fPssiss
''T,hat is the masSsrs room, SIR" he
rel lied; and the onS at the bottom end
Is hss- Hallaton's. No one else sleeps
in this part Of the house. The servants
rooms are all in the north wing"
am generally abb to sleep at what
ever hour retire; but 1t was early, and
the fire looked tempting; so, instead of
Immediately undressing, I changed nv
coat for smoking jacket, and, lighting
pipe, made myself comfortable In an
easy chair. Soon heard Mrs. Hallaton'a
light footsteps ascend the stairs, and the
door Of her room open aud close, and u
little while afterwsrd Fred halted out
side my door to bid me a CHEEKY good.
night, and then entered the room oppo-
site.
How long sat there cannot tell, for
fell into a heavy doze, and when /
woke up with sudden start it was with
the une ,sy consciousness that something
unusual had awakened me. sprang tc
my feet and looked fearfully around.
The 1ickering flames of my fire, almost
burned out, werc still sufficient to show
me that nc one had entered the room;
but while l stood there with strained
senses heard a sound which made my
blood run cold within me; and, although
l am no coward, shivered with fear.
1t was the half-muflled shrek Of woman
in agony, and it came from Mrs. Hallaton's
room. For moment was powerlcss
to move; then l hastily unlocked my
door, and, hurrying down the corridor,
knocked at hers. There was no answer,
tried the handle; it was locked; but,
listening for moment, could hear the
sound of woman gasping for breath.
l rushed back along tho corridor to
Fred's room. The door was closed, bu
unlocked, and / threw it open.
"Fred!" I cried; but Fred was moi
there, nor had the bed been slopt on
table, aaa-.....sr tho fh ss,ths dressing
the room was wha6S( cd to be a
hole in the wall, bnt when I stood
before it 1 saw at once that it was a
secret passage running parallel with the
corroidor. Looking down it, could
see a light at the other end, and know.
ing it must lead into Mrs. Hallaton's
room, I caught up the candle aud bend
ing almost double half rau, half crept
along it, until l reached its other
extremity and founl myself in Mrs. Hal.
laton's room. stood upright and
glanced half eagerly, half fearfully
ground. The room was empty, but the
window directly opposite to me was open,
and as my eyes fell upon it stood pet
rifed with dull sickening horror, aud
the candle dropped with a crash from
my nerveless- fingers. There was q
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 on his
face, ghostly and demoniacal, with the
raging FIRE cf tbs mailman III 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 fit of wild laughter.
"Ha, ha, hal You Neillsona What a
joke! See what glorious view of the
grounds! Come and bend over, man;
don't be afraid. Does the height make
you dizzy2 It's made herr" and he
motioned to the insensible figure of his
wife, whom he still held clasped in his
arms. "Do you know what am going
to do with herr Pm 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 rushed to the balcony
and strove to wrench from his encircling
grasp the fainting fsz.1.,s..aaiis Vie. Like
flash his imbecile3grin vanished and
his eyes filed with malignant fury as
he let go his grasp of his wife and sprang
at Inc like tiger cat. 1t Was iu vain
that I wrestled with him. His long
arms were around me aud held me as if
were in a vice. I tried to shout for
help, but my tongue clcaved to the roof
Of my mouth, and faint gurgling was
all the sound could command. Nearer
and nearer we drew to the parapet's
edge, until at last could see the lawn
below, studded with flower beds like the
pattern of some fancy work; for Gaulby
Hall was built high, and we were on the
third story. felt his hot breath in my