Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-11


must, of course, try to convey to her
whence she came, and that without
frightening her or raising an alarm; any
undue excitement should be guarded
against at any cost. The next instant
had to deplore my want Of foresight.
She must have been watching her OPP
portunity, for, abruptly drawing her
hand from mine, she darted behind me,
and, before l had guessed her purpose,
had possessed herself of the huge carV-
ing knife, which had moment before
placed on the table.
1 felt she had scored one in the en-
counter, and, cursing my short-sighted-
ness, vowed that no other false move
OF mine should give her the advantage.
|, too, would be ON the alert, but knew
must proceed with caution.
closed the door, and placed my back
against it, while she employed herself
In hugging the huge knife to her bosom,
her large, penetrating gray eyes never
once leaving my face.
returned her gaze as calmly and COM
posedly as l knew how, and assuming
the quietest and most everyday tone at
M command, l pointed TO her bare feet
and said, severely: "How very silly to
wander about the house barefoOted on
such night! You will most certainly
take cold"
Beyond slight start at the sound Of
my voice, she took no notice OF my re-
mark, so l tried again, and ventured
gently to suggest that she should return
to ker rooom.
This time she murmered few words
which did not catch; then, after a
pause, she spoke out clearly and dis
tinctly;
Thank you; but Tmrpot at all cold,
and do not intend returning to bed yet.
1 mean to stay here for shortNime."
81 that case" rejoined politely . let
me offer you a chair, or, better still, this
sofa. 1, too, strangely enough, am feel
ing restless, and disinclined for sleep.
If you will allow me 1 will keep you
company"
She made no objection, and after some
slight hesitation placed herself upon the
couch l indicated. As l covered up her
feet with wooden antimacassar, which
l took from ELECTROMAGNETIC back, l
heard a weird, terrible little laugh,
which made me shudder from head to
foot.
dragged forward an easy chair, and
took my place opposite her. She was
trembling violently, whether from the
effects Of the cold or suppressed excite
ment l coutd not determine; but she still
clasped the knife with feverish energy
and l, while turning over in my mind
the best way to get hold of it without
irritating her, continued to talk as in
as 1 could, although l had
the conversation entirely to myself. Yet
1 could feel she was listening to me and
following my words, while never for one
instant relaxing her fixed gaze on my
features.
AS the moments sped on without
fresh outbreak on her part, l leaned
back in my chair, and tried to persuade
myself that her expression was growing
tranquil.
I glanced across the room at the can
die; it was perceptibly smaller, and l
shuddered at the thought OF darkness
falling upon us with that CHASTITY
weapon still between us. She was hold
ing it in one hand now, and the gleam-
ing blade was partly hidden by the laceS
on her dress, so I determined, if possible,
to possess mysel. Of her other hand.
To my surprise, after some faint resist
auce. she relinquished it TO me quietly.
II think you look kind and good! l
am sure you would not harm me-"
hnnfnd tnFn1
whispered words of sympathy and as
surance, and succeeded once more In
claiming her. I now decided that any
fresh attempt to force the knife from
her would be worse than useless, and
again we relapsed into silence. L was
really beginning to feel quite worn out,
and over and over again, while conSld-
ering the embarrassing situation, was
tempted to make a dash for the knife,
and shout for help at the same moment;
but determined, if my patience would
hold out, that any coercion would be
best avoided. As to leaving her alone,
that was undoubtedly out OF the ques-
tion. 1 was practically helpless, then,
as long as she clasped to her bosom the
murderous steel, which she might in an
instant employ in a manner winch l
shuddered to contemplate.
Besides a new idea had now seized
me. which hailed as possible mitiga-
ton of the strain which was beginning
to tell upon me. If she would but fall
asleep! She was so still, so intensely
still Yet, though 1 tried to persuade
myself to believe in such piece OF good
luck. l had all the while a strong mis-
giving that she was very wide awake in-
deed, and that a close, though stealthy
of me bet tween her half
closed eyelids had never for an instant
relaxed. 1 am quite unable to say how
long this state of things endured,
though 1 remember noticing with
that when the candle ex-
pired with sickly gasp in the socket
some faint rays of coming dawn were
finding their way into the room.
And so we remained facing each 9TH
or in the terrible silence, until at length
it became intolerable, and l spoke
again.
"Look! Do you see the day is break
ing? Now, what if you were to go back
TO bed, and try for an hours sleep be-
fore sunrise? 1t happens so often that,
when sleep is driven away early in the
night, one can rest just before morning.
Come" l continued, gently, 'do return
to YOUR room to please me-"
She shook her head, and went on
desperately: SIT was our thoughtless,
noisy merriment last night that reused
Won and disturbed you from your rest l
snDpose. We were very selfish to for
get all the trouble and suffering that
were so near US"
The effect of this remark was cleo
trical. She half started from the sofa,
snatched her hand from mine, and gazed
eagerly in my face.
SsVo,, v,aan vOu were at the Qance?'