The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-14

nence." @
e"Do not drive me from you, was TIE
reply. II love you. have loved you
from the first moment saw you. You
are the only woman have ever loved"
And with these words this most ex-
.tracrdinary individual threw himself on
his knees right in Aunt Maria's path.
At this point light broke In uron 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.
"He's mad" whispered to Aunt Ma
ria. For goodness sake humor him or
he will murder as both. have always
heard they must be humored. si
Aunt Maria, however, paid no atten-
ton, and almost doubt II she even
heard me. f}
ssLet me pass, this instant, SIR she
gasped. crimson with wrath.
Never! never. till you promise to be
mine"
At this point, regret to ssy, 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 Q moment he
seemed petrifed with astonishment.
Then he sprang 10 his feet, and seixing
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 strode on until he reached
the gate which led into o Held, on one
side Of which ran q 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 me gol" she
shrieked."
mot till have your promise to marry
me-" replied the lunatic. "I am quite
prepared to remain here until tomor
row morningi if need be, he added, with
great GOODNESS.
''Oh, aunt, do say Yes" implored
but at 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 sal
on that wall and raved. Then she burst
into tears. At this juncture perceived
mans figure in the distance. Was he
coming this way? Oh. joy, he was! Al
he drew nearer ! saw to my mingled de
light and dismay that it was Dick, and
seeing that the lunatic had his back tx
me ran to meet him.
"Oh, Dick" shouted as came up tx
him, 1--WE have been 30 terribly fright
ened by madman! He has put Aunt
Maria on the wall and says she can't gel
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 rascall' cried Dick. "Stan6
back and let me take that lady off the
| wall"
you shall not touch her." said ths
lunatic fercely.
Dick took him by the coat collar ani
flung him aside with such force that b.
stumbled and fell. The next instant
Dick had lifted Aunt Maria safely to the
ground. He had scarcely done so wher
the madman leaped upon him, and ter.
rife struggle followed. Suddenly saw
! the lunatic place his hand in the breast
of his coat, and the next instant there
was fash of steel He had drawn Q
| knife.
"Oh, Dickl-oh, my darling!" scream
ed, "he viii kill your
In that moment ! forgot our quarrel
I forgot everything except that loved
him better than anything In the world
and that he was in peril OF his life, and
rushing forward grasped the madman's
arm and hung on to it with all my
weight. Aunt Maria screamed .lustil,
for help, and as / spun round with the
combatants caught sight of two mer
running across the field.
Aid was near, SO clinched my teetl
and held ON like grim death. In few
seconds-it seemed hike an eternity tt
me-the men We're on the spot, and aftel
brief struggle the lunatic was secured
and disarmed by the two keepers, wht
had been searching for him all day. Al
for me, the danger being over, / prompt
ly tainted away. When came to my
self, Dick was kneeling beside me, sup
porting me in his arms
"Are you all right?" he asked anx
iously
YES" replied, with smile, II an
quite we'll"
| We all three walked home together
and Dick dined with as that evening.
Afterward, when accompanied hin
into the hall to bid him good night, b
asked as he held me in his arms, "Tel
me. Daisy, would you have been sorry
that fellow had killed me todayT'
Don't talk about it, dearest" an
swered, with shudder. "It would hav
broken my heart"
Then you cannot live without m
after alp
leaned against his breast in silence
and he kissed me very tenderly.
! Dick and have never quarreled since
and do not believe we shall ever quar-
rel again as long as we live.-New Yor
Commercial Advertiser.