Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-03-01

woman She walked straight up to the
crate and held her hands over it, neither
speaking nor looking around her. II
was this silence that made me feel so I'M
comfortable. A chilliness crept over me
as | eazed upon her; it was not the chill
illness of the rain, but the chilliness of
dread.
She was scantily attired, though a
heavy blanket carelessly thrown around
her had in manner protected her from
the storm Her hair was disheveled
and very black. Her face was ghostly
white. and her eyes duh and CHASTITY,
like those of a drowned person when
they are found open.
l cannot say that | was afraid of Der.
She seemed perfectly harmless, and there
was an air of refinement about her that
told of better days.
1T is cold" l said.
She turned around and bent her eyes
upon memo, flashed: before they were
SO icy. but now how they blazed!
who said it was cold?" she asked
fercely.
Il did" replied in mild tone, though
/ was conscious that trembled.
you, eh? Well, it's nothing to you
or to me if it is cold! Who makes it
cold? 1t is nice night TO those who
never get out into any night at ALL
How bright the fagots in this little hole
Blaze on the hearth and warm the pictured
WALL
Did Campbell say that? Well. there are
no pleasures of hope for mel have no
hope. What makes you stare at me so:
But oughtn't to speak so grufay: you
are woman and may help me. Tell
me, do you think me crazy"
did not answer directly. 1t required
an evasive answer, and one so framed
that she could not detect that it was
such. still kept my eyes upon her. and
said quietly: Who said that you were
crazy? Take a chair. | want to talk
with you.
"Ha, hal ha. Just like l answered
you awhile ago. Well, l amt crazy,
though they say am. Ihave just broke
out of the madhouse. All! l am a good
hand at stratagem! There now. send
me backT
"You need not fear me. | have no
reason for sending You any where. You
can stay here You are no more crazy
than | am.
A warm light came into her eyes at
those words, and with little persua-
sion l got her to lie down on the sofa,
where she soon sank into slumber. My
thoughts were varied as gazed into that
face, pale and careworn, yet beautiful
still and framed in with. its wealth of
raven hair. Ny life had been life of
toll and struggling and suffering. One
by one my relatives had passed into the
shadowy tomb, and just then there was
a great sorrow brooding in my heart,
but l felt thankful that, amid all, God
had still vouchsafed unto me my reason.
A prayer went mp in that lone. quiet
room; the wind still howled dismally
without, but there was calmness in my
heart. parted the hair from her white
forehead, and there were tears in my
eyes as l watched her low, childish
breathing.
She remained prostrated week, sub
ject to attacks of insanity that at times
really frightened us. Mr. Ashley took as
much interest in her as / did, and the
children often stole up to her room dur
ing the daytime to ask how the strange
woman with the white face was, just as
if the faces of other women were not
white
In a week from the night upon which
she came to Abernthney Hall she died.
1t rained on that night, too; it rained on
tfrc -rioy-,se- buried her; ii raifaed- on sshe
day she was married and no doubt on
the day she was born. So had been her
life, always listening to the "fitful sigh
ing of the rainr,
The rector was absent during the time
our strange visitor was sick. He re-
turned on the evening before she was
buried. heard him coming up into the
study. The crazy woman was lying in
her shroud in the room below, with a
calm serenity upon her face and with a
few choice hothouse flowers looped
among her dark curls. The kind hands
of little Carrie had done that.
The rector was somewhat startled
when he beheld me sitting in the study
instead of Mr.. Ashley. He, however,
reached out his hand quite cordially.
"You seemed troubled" said.
II have much to trouble me, Jenny
he said sorrowfully, yet ] am still
thankful that God gives me strength to
bear it all. You have been writing?"
'.Yes, was writing to you. 1t is moi
necessary now. You are wanted to off
ciate at funeral"
SIS it possible? Any of the parish
toner's dead?'
"No, it is strange woman who died
here-a crazy woman"
Oh, how white his face grew! He
caught at the table for support.
'Died wherey' he asked huskily.
Here, in the house." replied won
deringly. ''She is lying in the parlor
arrayed for the tomb
He looked at me for a moment; his
eyes grew very much like hers in theil
vacant stare; then he took up the lamp
forgetting that he was leaving me in the
/ QdIhucoS dilu pdooCu uOWu otohos iOl
lowed him, impelled by a thought that
made me shudder just then because il
thrilled my veins with sort of pleasure
The rector was kneeling beside the
corpse. kissing the cold lips and mur
muring, "Oh. Elsie! my wife! my beauti
full one!"
Again that thought flashed through
my brain. She was indeed the rector
wife, and the thought would sooner
shape into a certainty. There was {
choking sensation in my throat, but err
l could turn away the rector saw me
He motioned me to his side, but withou'
getting up from his knees.
: ! Il ! i|=',}2 + !,