The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-04-25
SOMERSET Pa WEDNESDAY APRIL 25. 1894

Ass w 1O4t 1CD0 l. -
asylum in the neighborhoOd. This must
surely be one of the patients who had
eluded the vigilance ofhis keepers and
escaped.
Hes mad" whispered to Aunt Ma
ria "For goodness sake humor him or
he win murder US both. 1 have always
heard they must be humored."
Aunt Maria, however, psid no attention
and almost doubt if she even heard me.
''Let me pass this instant, sir" she
gasped, crimson with wrath.
Never never till you promise to be
mine."
At this point, l regret to say, my aunt
lost her temper altogether, aud raising
her umbrella she brought it down on
/ her snitOr'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 a moment he
seemed petrified with astonishment.
Then he sprang to his feet, and seizing
Aunt Maria in his arms lifted her bodily
from the ground and carried her along
the path. She struggled violently, and
followed, screaming for help.
The lunatic strobe on until be reached
the gate which led into a field, on one
side Of which ran a 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 gow she
shrieked.
"Not til have your promise to mar
~ me" replied the lunatic. Il am quite
prepared to remain here until tomorrow
morning ifneed be-" he added with great
coolness.
"0h, aunt, do say Yes" implored,
but at this our prosecutor turned upon
me. "Will you haye the goodness not to
interfere ?' he said, 50 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 iuncture 1 perceived mans
| figure in the distance. Was he coming
this way? Oh, joy, he was AS ne drew
nearer l saw to my mingled delight and
dismay that it was Dick, and seeing that
/ the lunatic had his back to me ran to
meet him.
"0h, Dick" shouted as came up to
him, I'VE have been so terribly frighten-
ed by mailman He has put Aunt Ma
ria on the wall and says she can't get
down until she promises to marry him.
Do come and save her,"
Dick ran quickly to the spot, and the
lunatic turned and faced him.
"You rascal ~ cried Dick. "Stand
back and let me take the lady of the
wall"
~You shall not touch her." said the
lunatic fiereely.
Dick took him by the coat collar and
flung him aside with such force that he
stumbled and fell The next instant
Dick had lifted Auat Maria safely to the
ground. He mad scarcely done so when
the madman leaped upon him, and a ter
rife 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
knife.
son, Dick !-oh, my darling scream
ed, she will kill you"
In that moment l forgot our quarrel.
l forgot everything except that 1 loved
him better than anything in the world
and that he was in peril of his life, and
rushing forward gr&sped the madmans
arm and hung on to it with all my
weight Aunt Maria screamed Justify
for help, and rs spun round with the
combatants caught sight Of two men
running across the field.
Aid was near, so clinched my teeth
and held on ike grim death. In few
/ seconds-it seemed Ike an eternity to
me-the men were on the spot, and after
a brief struggle the iunatic was secured
and iisarmed by the two keepers, who
had been searching for him all day. As
for me, the danger being over, prompt
/ ly tainted away When came to myself
Dick was kneeling beside me, supporting
me ia his arms.
"Are you all Tight?" he asked anxious
ly.
Yes" replied with smile.
We all three walked home together,
and Dick dined with US that evening.
At erward, when accompanied him
into the halIto 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 to day ?"
Don't talk about it dearest" an
swered, with a shu1der. 1T would have
broken my heart"
Then you cannot live without me
after all ?r
leaned against his breast in silence,
and he kissed me very tenderly.
Dick and have never quarrelled since
and DO not believe We shall ever quar-
rel again as long as We live.-N T. Com
msrciai Adcer'issr.
Diagnosing From the Teeth.