The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-24

door ho Strengthened himself up, and
turned his face for buck ward glance.
That one look was enough. The
wolfish eyes, the haggard and working
fnce, could only belong to maniac.
This glance was but momentary, for,
as we all rushed toward him, he gave
cry, and sprnng to grasp Miss Mar
vale.
"1'll finish her!" he cried with O
fiendish laugh.
There was not a 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
Il strong grip, tugging at his waist,
tugging nt his legs. II took all that
we could do, and even then Jacob had
added his strength to that of my fin
gers on the madmnn's windpipe be-
fore he let go his hold. They had a
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, / saw n pic
ture suggestive rather of heaven than
hell. Miss Maryale was leaning still
against the WALL catching her breath
after that half strangling, and stand
ing before her was Mr.. Afford, glow
ing, hesitnting.
ooh, Winthorpei" !" she said, stretch
ing her hands out to him.
heard the full, deep breath he gave
ms he took n step and gathered her
closely to his heart, and then l knew
that Winthorpe Afford loved that
woman as 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 n
sofa with Mr.. Afford beside her, and
glancing at her every movement with
his fond and shining eyes. Bessie
hnd 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. ,..'
ave owe you full explanation"
she began, "and an humble apology
also. 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 nm asy-
um. We thought that we could keep
him here just as we'll, 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
tint 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 right to take any one
into the house; bat we male up our
minds that John must go to nm asy-
lum, and my brother couldn't well af-
fo.d to send him without sending
something to increase his Income. !
hope you won't think hard of us. We
feel badly enough. My brother and
Jacob arc 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 n maniac had been
most fortunate circumstance for
him, when he was interrupted by tho
sound of their bringing the poor fel E.
low down.
The rest of us went to tho window
to SEQ them got into the carriage, but
Miss Marvale hung buck, covering her
eyes from the sight, and her lover
leaning toward her, was Whispering
something that changed her pallor to
bushes.