Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-17

WAS dluOSg mduuCuiuS thS SOhei "O'NN
brow, scowling countenance, and the
restless movement of the eye, convinc-
ed her that he was mad-that she was
alone with and at the mercy of a
maniac. 1t required great effort for
her to collect her thoughts and reflect
upon her sitaution. What was she to
do? To scream would he useless :;
the nearest habilation was a mile
away, and the nearest village two
miles distant. She could therefore
expect no succor from that source.
The pistol was down stairs. If she
could have obtained that, she would
be safe; but how was this to be
accomplished ? Before any plan could
be formed, the maniac drew knife,
which he hourished aloft, as he fiercely
exclaimed:
Woman, your hour is come.
Pray for there will be hot work ere l
am DONE
"'What would you do?' she family
murmured.
Murder you!' he hissed through
his clenched teeth. Il will murder
you, I am going to cut your throat !
"''You do not mean what you say p
l"'Yes, yes, I dor he tiercely re-
piled. you did not know who I was
when you let me into this house. You
thought I was a-man-that l was
sane; but I am not. | am NADIA !!
ha! I was imprisoned, but escaped.
Do you want to know how l did it p
During this speech she had partly
recovered from her fright, and saw
her only hope Of recovery was to get
him interested, if possible, in the mar
rative accordingly, she answered:
'Yes, tell me all about it,
"'I will tell you. But first l must
be seated
"Suiting the action to the word, he
seized a chair, and placing it near the
bed, sat down. He then, still grasping
the knife, placed his hands on his
knees, bent over, and with a counte-
nance disigured by demoniac passion,
began:
"I was imprisoned in madhouse /;
but I did not like it, and determined
to escape. tried to break my irons !;
but failed. One dark night 1 found an
iron bar. Oh, how glad I was! /
hugged and kissed it, then hid it under
the floor. One day the keeper came
with my food. I told him to lay it
down. While he was STOPPING, 1
seized the bar and struck him on the
head. He fell dead. Then stripped
him, put on his clothes, and started.
They let me pass, and I escaped. l
travelled through the country until |
came to your house. You admitted
me. You thought wasn't mad, but l
AMI am and now am going to kill
your
"During all this wild narration, she
was too Mortified to speak, and when
he finished she was still gazing with
horror upon him. But in the terrible
emergency her presence of mind did
not entirely desert her. She had
noticed that the maniac frequently
looked at a small flute which was
hanging over the bed.
"Do you like music p she inquired.
"'Yes,' he answered.
Chow would you like me to play
little before you kill me?'
"'Very we'll; but don't be long, he
replied.
"Taking the instrument in her
hand, she placed it in an improper
position, and began. The sounds
were, of course, discordant, and she
said:
"'You sit further off, and it will
sound BETTER
"At first he did not seem convinced
but the attempt to play being repeat
ed, with a similar result, he moved
back.
"Constant practice had rendered
her proficient in the management OF
the flute. AS soon as he moved, she
commenced playing 'Auld Lang Syne.'
The soft melody of the instrument,
combined with the song, seemed to
soothe him. His head dropped upon
his breast, his fingers relaxed, and the
knife fell from his grasp. She finished
this, and began another. In this
manner she continued playing without
a moments cessation.
"Meanwhile the madam appeared
to be charmed, as it were, from his
original intent. Hour after hour pass
ed away in this manner, until at
length the light of morn began to
creep slowly into the room. She
knew that she had only to engage
him an hour longer, at which time
I would arrive. Accordingly, though
fatigued, she redoubled her exertions.
The maniac noticed that day was fast
approaching. This seemed to discon-
cert him. With beating heart she
counted the minutes. She found her
strength giving away. The maniac
appeared to be very uneasy, and at
length, springing suddenly to his feet,
he exclaimed:
"'Stop! you have done enough
The time is come for you TO die ! and
seizing his knife, he approached the
bed. In vain she entreated him to
rait hut q little longer. He would