The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-13
GALL RIGHTS REsERvED.D

bending down and kissing me on the fore
head
You are right have been mad-but
| am mad still, and / feel sometimes as
II l should never be sane again. Yet
love you 1 love your
think he wouldShave lifted me and
folded me in his arms, but | rose quickly
! and drew myself away.
~ on will do as / wiSh?" | cried
Il cannot" he replied, IF l did that
1sshould lose you foreverr'
DO not. speak of that, ssbut do as / in
treat, as l command. You have done
evil enough already-do not make me
hate you even more. :"
He turned from me and paced the room
in gloomy thought. L watched him
anziously At last he turned to me again
saying; ..,
"Will you promise to become my wife?"
81 will not promise what 1 can never
perform, - was my reply.
| Catherine, your reputation is at stake
You know what people will say when
they know that you have been here with
me?"
81 do not care. l have promised to be
silent, but if the truth is ever known, it
will be clear that am not to blame"
"You said you hated me. Is that
true?'
81 don't know can only think of
one thing, how to leave this dreadful
place. Don't torture me. Prove your
| love and set me free"
| Again he paced the room, and again
watched him axiously.
You must remain d little longer" he
said. at last. My mind is swept this
way and Sthat, and [ can not decide.
| You shall hear from me tonight. 3"
| He left abruptly, and [ still remained
prisoner.
Nd C
| Mr. Langford. By this time I had made
up my mind that escape was impossible.
but feeling convinced that no further vio-
lence would be attempted, / resigned my
self 10 my captivity. Still eager for some
means of eyading my gaolers. I conversed
freely with the old crone, and even at her
request partook Of a little food. Most of
her talk consisted of warm panegyrics on
her master, whom she regarded as the
greatest and best of human beings.
Her name, 1 found, was Mamie Con-
molly, the old man was her husband, and
| the two younger men whom [ had seen
/ were her sons. All of them were devoted
to their master, as was clearly shown, in
deed, by the risks they had run in ex-
posing them selves to the punishment Of
! the law.
just after nightfall, Mamie brought
me letter.
1t was written by Mr.. Langford, and
ran as follows:
81 Will not visit you tonight, for it is
torture for me to refuse you anything.
I loathe myself for what l have done, but
I am like q ship without helm or sail,
I5driven along helplessly at the mercy of
the storm. It is right you should know
that the police have arrested Patrick
Blake, onEsuspicion of bsing concerned in
your disappearance. The man is worth
less ruffian, but in this respect, as yon
know, sshe is quite innocent. What a
coward you will think me, to stand by
silently and hear another man accused
of my crime. Do not judge me too harsh
| ly: however. No harm shall come to him
through me, although 1 cannot yet make
| up my mind how to act. 'sP. L. -
| This communication only served to
| deepen my sense of shame and horror. I
sent a message to theswriter, demanding
to see him Immediately. butshe rofusedsto
come. All nay anxiety now was for my
unfortunate cousin. I could not bear to
think that he should be suffering SO I'M
| justly.
ITO be continued