Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-10
LOVE FOR A DAY.
CHAPTER XIV.


hope | shall never have another such
experience. 1t was too terrible. Watching
and caring for madwoman must be bad
enough; this was worse. Strange to say,
the hapless lady took fancy to me. Look
ing at her, so changed, SO repellent, l
could not believe that she would ever be
the same attractive woman again. But
Martha said Yes" in day or two she
would recover herself and no one on see
ing her would have the least suspicion.
This was the worst and the longest fit she
had ever haa.
There were times when she knew me,
and times when she did not.
"You are Miss Chester" she said to me.
Il like Miss Chester--a sweet face and
beautiful voice. Have they told you about
me-"
"rhey have told me that you are very i'll,
and am here to help you get better
II shall never get better. she said, and
that was the most sober and sensible inter-
val she had.
At times she would cling to me wildly,
crying out that must get something for
her; that they were keeping her there i'll
prison, trying to starve her. Horrible par
oXysms!
Poor Mark! This was the end ofall his
honors, happiness, and ambition! How l
thought OF him! How pitied him! How
l longed to comfort him 1t seemed to me
that never had a life been so cursed.
Lady severne did not improve. The Wis.
itors were beginning to feel anxious: Lady
Yorke was beset with inquiries. Was she
really so i'll that she could see no one?
Why not have doctor? A teverish cold
did not last all this time. Was Lady Yorke
sure there was nothing intectious-quite
sure? 1t was a staangc thing. Lady 1orke
was ct loss how to parry, such inquiries.
II wish they would go, she said to me;
an, S1,rn II will ha tOl1n1 ont ~
Yet she as well as l, saw how impossible
it was to remove Lady Severne Just at
present.
One night was very tired. and had gone
earlier than usual to my ROOM. 1t was
fatigue that made me forget the door.
about Lady Severne, dist 'ss for Lady
Yorke, and sorrow inexpressible :or Mark
Il fell into Deep dreamless sleep.
/ was awakened by the CONSCIOUSNESS that
some one had stealthly entered my room,
and was trying to find me. am courage.
Gus by nature. If a thief had disturbed
me should have felt no fear, but this was
whispered miss Chester" Then felt the
heat of tevered breath on my face, and
knew that Lady Severne was there
rose hastily and turned up my, lamp,
A crouch!ng, horrible figure was clinging
to me. could hardly believe that this
WAS tue Dedulllul Lazy oeVeIIlc, III Ielu
all men lnthralled by her charms.
"You must get up" she said. "You are
the only person in this house who is kind
to me. You must get up and fetch me
bottle of brar ". l must have it.
1t would be better, thought, to take her
q bottle OF poison.
II must have it," she continued. IT
although l am shut up. | know proud
refined Lady Yorke would not like her
household raised during the dead Of night
by one of her guests clamoring for some
thing to drink. She would not like it; but.
ifyou do not give me what want will
beat the doors down. l will stand in the
hall and scream until the whole house is
raised"
A pretty dilemma! A nice visitor! I
thought to myself but I did not let her see
my dismay.
"Where is Martha?" I asked, wondering
how she had escaped, and thankful beyond
all words that she was here with me in the
Queens Wing rather than in the western
tower with the visitors.
Lady Severne laughed-and I think that
laugh was the most horrible sound l ever
heard in my life.
poor old Martial" she said. "She is off
her guard. She fell asleep, and took the
key. What will she say when she wakes?
Now, Miss Chester, am to raise the roo
want?"
Neither" said. II am stronger than
you. Ifyou attempt to scream or make a
noise / shall prevent it, even if hurtyou.
You will 60 back to your room now and
remain there in quiet.
was quite uncertain how my expert.
ment would succeed. was prepared to
see her spring at my throat, as she had at
Nartha's few days since, to see her beat
the doors with horrible cries, as she had on
the previous day, when Martha was COM
PEELED to send tor Lord Severne.
looked at her steadily and calmly.
Gradually the wild eyes fell before mine.
my authority over her then, should keep
it-and did so. took her back to her
room, and the prayer that rose to my lips
every moment was Heaven help Mark!'
If this was his life. if these were the scenes
to which he was accustomed, this creature,
hardly human now the companion of his
life, then indeed had he need of Heavens
help and pity.
l .cont7ived to get her back safe
ly to her room, and to wake Mar
tina, who was Mortified at her carelessness;
but, as she told me with tears IN her eyes,
she was worn out. Never can I forget the
night that followed. 1 could not describe
it. To me it had the horror of an Inferno.
I cannot tell what would have happened if
Martha had not consented, at last to give
her some brandy.
The next night Martha was so worn out
that 1 persuaded her to 60 to bed. Moth
ing else could restore her, and l promised
not to leave her unhappy mistress for a
moment.
"You will have terrible night Miss
Chester" said the grim woman. II shall
not mind tina, Martha, if you have good
one" answered.
found Lady Severne inclined to be quiet
and to talk nationally. There was some
thing ofsullen defiance about her at first,
but it died away when had been some lit
tie time with her. I tried to interest her,
and to make her forget the horrible craving
for stimulant that was destroying her. She
became more like herself.
ly June morning, bright with sunshine, an
with dew, fragrant with the odor of lily
and rose. During her tits Lady Severne
never went to rest like a rational being.
That made her so difficult to manage She
would sit up all night and sleep in the day.
A sudden CLEAN of gold shooting into the
room showed me that the sun was rising.
drew aside the hangings and opened the
window, letting in the sweetness and fresh
ness of the morning air.
Dear Lady severne, do come here fol-
one moment" said.
Gl,o oo,,o ond utood -, e;lapoa Nv, ~, =,