Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-05-16

ceeded hour and was undisturbed. At
length my WEAKNESS overcame my fears
and / slept. When I awoke 1T was broad
daylight. and I prepared to leave my
room. Had been merely the victim
of a fevered fancy?
Well. stranger, hope you enjoyed
yourself" was the bluff greeting given
me by the head of the house as 1 en-
tered the sitting room. Both his wife
and daughter were present. L surveyed
the three amazedly, as l bowed and
said that ] had not felt quite well dur
ing the night
Indeed, sir remarked the daugh-
ter, you do not look as if you had"
Could this calm, beautiful girl be the
one whom I had thought insane? L was
confused with the two ideas that cir
cumstances had forced upon me. but
which now seemed equally unfounded.
/ was in no danger of being robbed and
murdered, and that young girl could
surely not be mad. Had / gone mad
myself? l could talk no more as / had,
and became silent and reflective. soon
saw that those about me were all play
ing a part-that their minds were trou-
bled. had not wholly deceived myself.
l did not then know that the mono
maniac is like a sensible person until
one subject comes into his thoughts.
l was again amazed when at the
breakfast table my fair vis-a-vis be-
came distracted and leaned toward her
mother with the question: Did
mammal"
The mystery of the household became
burdensome tome. To solve it there APP
peared impossible. Even the expression
of the bluf father froZe the words upon
Tfvs, III hot
I was about to hazard a question.
Soon after breakfast / started for the
town / wished to reach. which was but
ten miles farther on, and through which
n railroad passed. l was there when the
noon train dashed up. and among those
who took seats therein. / noticed my
late host and his daughter They must
have left the house some two or three
hours after I did
l hastily accosted a railway official.
and pointed them out. Did he know
them?
/ was sure the ladys beauty had at
tracted attention, and was not surprised
TO find that the official was acquainted
with her history.
The Bartons were from New Jersey.
and had been possessed of some wealth.
They had gone to Iowa a year before
because of a great scandal in which
both son and daughter had been in
volved
II seems that the daughter had
formed an attachment disapproved OF
by her family, and very justly; the
youth. though handsome and well edu-
Gated. was a gambler and drunkard.
She was infatuated however. and
midnight elopement had been planned.
in which rope ladder was romantical-
~ TO figure. Young Barton, entering
the garden late on the appointed night,
came unexpectedly upon the lover. ac-
costed him. received no answer. and
engaged in a scun1e, during which a
pistol carried by the daring seape-
grace was discharged and shot him
dead.
The fair Amelia had rushed upon the
scene. and the truth became known.
Shs Tell unconscious upon the ground
and brain fever supervened. She had
never fully recovered from it's effects,
and was tormented by the thought that
she was the cause OF her lovers death.
From what / had overheard the pre-
ceding night i now judged that the
father was conducting his child 70 an
asylum. and / have since learned that
/ was right. and that in less than
year she was restored to her friends.
completely cured.