Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-19

II
was only the acquaintance of three days
at the Somerset hotel, where my mother
took me, and two years have passed since
then.
"She Is very old lady," put in Max
ey. Undoubtedly that is the explana-
tion. She forgot her-at least so much
that the name Annette recalled nothing.
1t is perfectly possible. When you got
the letter which you supposed came from
her, you thought it was very strange,
but still you went to meet her ON the
beach road?"
Annette looked into the artists face
and shuddered. but the tone in which
she spoke was more the voice Of desola-
tion than of horror
Ny good, kind friends, 1t is due to
you that Irecall all this, however much
| it lsins nae. have tried not to think
of the past while l have'been here, but
it is too black ashadow ever to let me
60"
Said Maxey eagerly, when you have
told the story once, you need never refer
to it again.
''I do not complain. 1t was my mis-
fortune to be born under it do not
wish to conceal anything. Indeed /
thought this letter very strange, but /
was SO unhappy that anything was bet
ter than the suspense. l had nobody to
advise me If was imprudent, it was
not wholly strange after the life was
leading l got the letter in the morning.
and at noon had decided togo. l came
to the hotel ON the beach road just be-
fore sundown. ! had expected to find it
| Just as had seen it once before-full Of
people and STIR Itwas shock to me to
see it closed and deserted. 1t was very
cold. At first walked up and down the
road, but after awhile, becoming tired,
/ rested myself ON seat by the way
side, 1t grew dark very fast after the
sun went down, and my heart misgave
me that l had done wrong to come. The
ocean sounded so lonesome moaning
way below me, and it awoke such a for
lorn feeling in my heart that believe l
was foolish enough to cry as sat there
to think how miserable and friendless /
was
"What first brought me to myself
was the realization that the tears were
almost freezing ON my cheeks and that
it would soon be quite dark. started
up and looked along the road. There had
been but few passers, but now saw
man coming down ON the side next to
me, and i waited for him to pass. He
was so muffied up that could only see
his eyes, and thought he acted some
what strangely. He surely saw me, but
he turned his head away quickly when
looked at him, as though he did not
wish to meet my glance. Then began
to realize what danger I might be run
ming alone at this hour in this deserted
place, / watched him fearfully as he
went ON, and saw him look around to-
ward me once or twice, and finally he
crossed over and came back again on the
other side of the way. This really
frightened me, but as he seemed to be
going by thought would wait till he
got past and then run for safety with all
my might. | started out for this pur-
pose, but / had run but little way
when heard sleigh coming very fast
from the direction the man had gone,
from the direction of the city. l thought
| by the sound the horses must be running
away. / stepped back to the wall to be
out of harms reach, but it was only a
man, driving rapidly. Itwas not so dark
that could not see him. He wore one
of those caps which let down over the
face, with an oval slit for the eyes. Be-
fore he got to me he began to rein in
the horses. They stopped so quickly that
l hardly realized what was happening.
He was out of the sleigh and coming to-
ward me almost before / really knew
it. l did not even then fully understand
that was the object of his attack, and
when did I had not the power to cry
out.
| HE seized me with terrible strength,
putting cold gloved hand over my eyes
and mouth and forcing me backward
across the wall / was faint with fear,
and his glove pressed me so tightly that
! could not breathe / struggled to get
my face free, but he held me too firmly.
He pushed me down in the cold snow.
He got my arms under his knees and
hurt me terribly. Then felt his free
hand searching my pockets. The rest is
all blank to me. must have lost my
senses at that moment. Isupposed Ihad
a fever, for Iawoke in the hospital with
a strange dizziness in my head -
Her voice ceased suddenly, and each
Of the three listeners drew sigh Of re-
lief Even Lamar lad averted his face
lest she should see how interested he
was. She alone was free from excite
ment. The associations aroused in her
mind by her recollections seemed only
to make her utterly sad and cast down.
She did not need to tell them in SO many
words that her life had been very un-
happy and unsatisfactory.
Maxey was breathless to know what
the cautious physician would next do.
He was afraid he would think that An
nette had dwelt long enough on gloomy
things for one day. To his intense relief
DR.. Lamar seemed disposed rather to
encourage her to talk.
yours was narrow escape, Miss
Dye, he said, land one for which your
friends must all be very grateful, =
i The pathetic expression in the pale
face deepened
| my friends! All / have are with me
here. / have no others; no, not one. /"
/ The tone was so forlorn and desolate
that Miss Maxey s eyes filled with tears.
| Surely, surely, this cannot be''
| "Ah, it seems strange to you because
your life has always been bright and
happy. You cannot understand. Even
In the little time / have been in your
pleasant home that old life Of mine has
begun to seem like a dream. It comfort
ed me so to have escaped from it that I
have done all could to forget it. !"
/ ttRut vf,,1 ,,af1st havp had q Good hnfnn