The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-14

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Your having spoken to us ut all is q
piece of the most unwarrantablei mperti-
nence."
"Do not drive mo from you," was the
reply. II love you. 1 have loved you
from the first moment 1 saw you. You
are the only woman have ever loved"
And with these words this most ex-
traordinary individual threw himself OH
his knees right in Aunt Marias path.
At this point light broke in upon me.
There was large private lunatic asy-
lum in the neighborhood. This must
surely be one of the patients who had
eluded the vigilance of his keepers and
escaped.
Hes mad" l whispered to Aunt Ma
ria. "For goodness sake humor him or
he will murder us both. / have always
heard they must be humored."
Aunt Maria, however, paid no atten-
ton, and l almost doubt if she even
heard me.
"Let NE pass, this instant, sir" she
gasped crimson with wrath.
Never! never! till you promise to be
mine"
At this point, regret to say, my aunt
lost her temper altogether, and raising
her umbrella she brought it down on
her suitor's head with such force that
she quite crushed in the top of the bowl
er hat he wore, and which fortunately
protected his skull. For u moment he
seemed petrified with astonishment.
Then he sprang to his feet, and Selling
Aunt Maria in his arms lifted her bod
lily from the ground and carried her
along the path. She struggled violently,
and followed, screaming for help.
The lunatic strobe on until he reached
the gate which led into field, on one
side OF which ran n rather high stone
wall. Upon the top of this wall he
placed my unfortunate aunt and then
stood and calmly surveyed her.
Take me down! Let mo gol' she
shrieked"
Not till have your promise to marry
me, replied the lunatic. 81 am quite
prepared to remain here until tomor-
row morning if need be" he added, with
great GOODNESS.
"Oh, aunt, do say Yes implored,
but ut this our prosecutor turned upon
me. will you have the goodness not
to interfere?" he said. so fiercely that /
was terrified and shrank back.
For about 10 minutes Aunt Maria sat
on that wall and raved. Then she burst
into tears. AT this juncture perceived
a mans figure in the distance. Was he
coming this way? Oh, JOY, he was! AS
he drew nearer l saw to my mingled de-
light and dismay that it was Dick, and
seeing that the lunatic had his back to
me l ran to meet him.
"Oh, Dick" l shouted as came up to
him, I'VE have been so terribly fright
ened by madmanl He has put Aunt
Maria on the wall and says she can't get
down until she promises to marry him.
Do come and save herr'
Dick ran quickly to the spot, and the
lunatic turned and faced him.
you rascalv' cried Dick. STAND
back and let mo take that lady off the
wall"
You shall not touch her" said the
lunatic tiercely.
Dick took him by the coat collar and
flung him aside with such forco that he
stumbled and fell. The next instant
Dick had lifted Aunt Maria safely to the
ground. He had scarcely done so when
the mailman leaped upon him, and ter
rifle struggle followed. Suddenly saw
the lunatic place his hand in the breast
of his coat, and the next instant there
was flash of steel He had drawn a
knife.
"Oh, Dick!-oh, my darling" scream
ed, "he will kill your
In that moment l forgot our quarrel.
forgot everything except that loved
him better than anything in the world.
and that he was i'll peril of his life, and
rushing forward grasped the madman's
arm and hung on to it with all my
weight. Aunt Maria screamed Justify
for help, and as spun round with the
combatants l caught sight of two men
running across the field.
Aid was near, so | clinchcd my teeth
and held on like grim death. In few
scconds-it seemed like an eternity to
me-the men We're OH the spot, and after
a brief struggle the lunatjc was secured
and disarmed by the two keepers, who
had been searching for him all day. AS
for me, the danger being over, prompt
ly tainted away. When l came to my
self, Dick was llnceling beside me, sup
porting me in his arms.
Are you all right" he asked anx-
iously.
Yes" l replied, with a smile. II am
quite we'll"
We all three walked home together,
and Dick dined with us that evening.
Afterward, when accompanied him
into the hall to bid him good night, he
asked as he held me in his arms, Tell
me, Daisy, would you have been sorry if
that fellow had killed me today"
Don't talk about it, dearest" an