West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-05-09
NUMBER 2S.


health was restored. Edna would feel
more willing TO leave him, and pro
posed that he should leave here and
seek more cheerful abode.
lie shuddcred Vlsibly.
No. hc said. II like the old khuse.
L couldn't live away from a. In my
young days I was gay aud enjoyed
life. and want her to do the samcs
Now l am old. and like solitude. hut
~ frcts mo 60 see her moping about
should be better n SHE was away, ana
she would. too. Tell hor I'm wtliihg-;
that l want her TO go."
1 think I made some progress. I
watched over her as IL she had been
baby. question if she had over
oeen SO tcndcrly cared for. I made
myself absolutely necessary To her
comfort governing. loving and taking
care there should be just enough
show OF authority To cause her 10 de-
pend upon me, and not sufficient 10
seem restraint when she said. "Oh.
Chnord, how can I ever bear To part
with your 1 knew my cause was half
won.
Half won I'm ten days. As went 20
my dressing room / began TO count
mp the time. This free social inter-
course made mo impatient for a nttis
more power n husbands right TO this
sweet woman. growing dearer every
day. L could not endure the thought
or my old lonely life in the city. As
sat mnsing. cry startled me. True
TO my suspicious. glanced toward
the chnpel. although well knew the
sound was ia the house
Jane came shufillng along the eorrl-
dor
"lf you pioaao. MIR. Woodbury.. Miss
-.
nt."
Her face was white with fright.
hurried down TO the llbraty. found MIR,
Rothclnn on the floor insensiblc and
Edna wringing her hands.
"Oh, ne Is not deadw Edna cried.
In tones OF relief
Mr. Rothelan moved uneasiiy. and
muttered some incoherent scntencea.
Then he tried 10 rise. and falling back.
relapsed into insensibiity. After he
recovered. I called I'm Martin. and wa
conveyed him TO his room lie seemed
10 be suffering from acute pain, and
the rapidly rising pulse as we'll ns the
hushcd face, gave speedy indications
ui Fever. Between the paroxysms he
made frantic efforts 20 rise, and ut
last made us Understand he wanted a
Key from his Goa, pocket. WE5a Ii
was given TO him. ho clutchcd Il with
tho frantic energy OF madman, but
lay quieter. and about dusk begun to
do2c little. Diminishing the serynnts.
Edna nnd L watched him for some
time.
You sec" she began with tcnrfuI
eyes ana trembling voice. "it would
not be right for me To leave him Sup
pose he had died here all alone, And
yet to-day I almost thought" The
ptt tftffss a.
How could 1 pursuaGo her againy
She could not be happy or contcnted
away from him. She had n supcrstil
tiouS dread that he might some time
feel tempted 10 bostow that fatal
hothelan malediction upon her, IL sho
were not I'm all respects n faithful
daughter And 80 with sinking heart
1 heard my castle 40 down.
About eleven I sent Edna TO her
room. promising Co call her at the
slghtost change. The night was wnrrn.
clear, but moonless. took my station
NJ the open window directly opposite
thc chapel Mr.. Rothelan slept rather
heavily. but was quiet gazed at the
chapel windows, deep set. boarded M,
from the Inside. and mostly obscured
with rank Ivy. What was the secret
OF that place? This slumberlng man
held the key, not even relaxing his
grasp in dreams.
a crash startled me. II was ON tho
farther side OF the chapel, and FOUNDED
Ike n stone or some heavy substapco.
falling on the rubbish below. held
my breath In suspense. The silence
that succeeded was so intense I could
almost imagine / heard the stars twin
ble. l waited moment after moment
In expectancy
Eprttafhf,,sr ,rvn aAo..A - 4
roof OF the chapel, n round. dark NOV
Ing mass. II grew taller. fbcn
crouchcd, spread out some tall arms.
caught at the tree branches, and eav
n swing. I wanted 10 scream, but my
tongue seemed paralyzed. Down IL
went swinging. crashing, a very cat
in agility, and rested on tho ground
My terror for IL wan over watched
II creep 8tcalthlly up toward the win
dow. wondering whether should give
an alarm. / partially drew the curtain
In front OF myself
IL was not woman. knew that
by the dress and daring leaps before
/ saw the thick. ragged beard. II bS
offered 20 enter ] would graphic with
him
Hc did not. In n few moments he
ran swiftly down toward the cedars;
and was lost 10 view The cIoclS
struck four. Daybreak was coming.
About sunrise Mr. Rothoian awoke,
You may 60" ne said, ut length.
~ wish 20 get M"
let me sec whether you can stand /:
" you need any assistance after thaf,
YOU can ring your bell for me"
He did not dcmur. His stet5 yvosf
tottcriug, yet ! kept my word an.f
went out OF the apartment Present.,
/ heard his step through the han. +
had only gone 30 the library. 10
tugged at the bolts Of the rear door.
opened them, and + supposed went or.
such cry az broke that mornin :
siiuncss. such a perfect howl OF raV .
terror and despair I never heard
hundred echoes replied. + sprai q
through The passaEe, and saw him.
his hands clcnchcd lh hts thin ero =
hair his eyes fixed on one Of tho chanel
Windows The upper part of which W. ii
gone. 3 Knew now what had fallen ~
the night.
"Escapod, Escapedw re- fajr,,y
screamed. and then, dashing back viii +,
q tigerish strength. unlocked ~ :
chapel 4 followed. but n was dar,t
a8 midnight within 80 could a.
nothing Mr.. }1'helan rnved like "a.
madman I turned and saw pc0bs.
white with terror. AZ the sarne in
stant ~ dull heavy thud ana a proa,f
anotc my ears. and All was silent
'ie has killed himself Fdns