The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-03-18

full of alright. "My God !" he cried,
seeing Miss Marvale's door open.
Mr.. Afford was at his side in an in.
stant, and Frank and followed them
into the room.
The sight we saw was one calculated
to justify the old mans exclamation.
Miss Marvale, in her night dress, With
her hair streaming down her shoulders
was standing against the opposite wall
of the room, her face perfectly white,
her hands clasped ON her bosom and
her eyes riveted in gaze of terror on
man who, half-crouching, was slowly
approaching her, moving softly and
warily as cat, watching her every
motion, ready to intercept any step OF
flight.
This man was evidently of tall and
powerful frame, his hair was long,
black and shaggy, and his clothes were
in rags. AS he heard our steps in tho
door he Strengthened himself up, and
turned his face for backward glance.
That one look was enough. The
wolfish eyes, the haggard and working
face, could only belong to a maniac.
This glance was but momentary, for,
as we all rushed toward him, he gave
cry, and sprang to grasp Miss Mar
vale.
"I'll finish her! !' he cried with
fiendish laugh.
There was not word said among
us, but, as he grasped her, four men
were upon him, tearing his hands
away from the white throat they had
grasped, clasping his own throat with
a strong grip, tugging at his waist,
tugging at his legs. 1t took all that
we could do, and even then Jacob had
added his strength to that of my fin.
gers on the madman's windpipe be-
fore he let go his hold. They had
rope and bound him hand and foot,
and carried him bowling like demon
away. But rs I paused to take breath
after letting go my hold, l saw pic
ture suggestive rather of heaven than
hell. Miss Marvale was leaning still
against the wall, catching her breath
after that half strangling, and stand
ing before her was Mr.. Afford, glow
ing, hesitating.
"Oh, Winthorpe! - she said, stretch
ing her hands out to him.
heard the full, deep breath he gave
as he took n step and gathered her
closely to his heart, and then I knew
that Winthorpe Afford loved that
woman rs he loved his life.
There was no more sleep for any of
us that night. After while We all
gathered in the parlor. Miss Marvale,
dressed and blushing, seated on
sofa with Mr.. Afford beside her, and
glancing at her every movement with
his fond and shining eyes. Bessie
had me on one side and Frank on the
other, and even then was not sure she
might not be carried off. Presently
Miss Markham came in and seated
herself, facing us all, the gray light
of early morning shining in her pale
face.
"We owe you full explanation,
she began, "and an humble apology
also. I will make both as short as
can. The man you saw tonight is my
brothers only son, John. He has
been crazy off and on for years, and
his father hated to send him to an asy-
lum. We thought that we could keep
him here just as well, and this is the
first time he ever broke out No one
knows about him, and we didn't want
them to know. Poor John always said
that if people knew he had crazy fits
they would never trust him. When
he has been SO the people of Dover
have thought that he was always At
sea. 1t wasn't rightsto take any one
into the house; but we made up our
minds that john must go to an asy-
lum, and my brother couldn't well af-
ford to send him without sending
something to increase his income. I
hope you won't think hard of us. We
feel badly enough. My brother and
Jacob are going to carry him away
this morning"
OF course we pitied and assured her,
and offered to do anything in our
power to help them. Mr.. Afford was
so happy he was upon the point of
telling the distressed lady that the
young mans being a maniac had been