The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-10


: feeling which l knew she could not
4 control, and which was momentarily
gaining upon me, l turned away until
she had an opportunity to compose
herself
MY errand here to-day" she con-
tinued, lis to return you this ring. You
will remember it, know. There is no
person to whom could entrust it, and
my husband almost daily demands to
/ know the history of it. And, besides,
wished to say farewell forever. Good
by, Walter!H'
/ Her hand was icy cold. AS released
/ ii. she turned toward the door, but in
an instant she tottered toward me, her
I face blanched to the whiteness of
death Had l not sustained her she
must have fallen to the floor.
'Good Heaven, Walter it is my hus-
Z bands step on the stairs, she whis-
pered, in thrilling tone. You know
him; his jealousy is always actiye-I
am lost if he finds me here. Save nl9
4 from discovery, in Gods Nance every
! thing depends upon it.
There in that closet" | suggested.
She entered it eagerly, and closed
+ the door.
1T might be left a little ajar for air, :
4 whispered, hurriedly.
mo; close it--lock iti'' was excited
ly whispered back; and | had hardly
! withdrawn the key when Helenas S
husband entered.
why, what is the matter?" were his
first words You are pale and agltat-
ed; what's happened?1
Nothing more than the effects OF
! travelling" was my reply
The remark was an unfortunate one
[ for my unwelcome visitor Immediately
/ insisted upon hearing detailed ac-
count of my. foreign travels. Uneasy
and restless as / was. / was compelled
to submit, and for full hour my tor
mentor compelled me to answer his
/ questions
Meanwhile, | was in perfect agony
of fear and uneasiness. / followed ev-
cry movement that he made, lest some
chance clue might betray the presence
of Helena; and | alternately adopted
and rejected thousand expedients to
rid myself of him. My position at
length grew absolutely intolerable;
not the least among my thoughts was
that of the sufferings of Helena, con-
! fined in the sitting air of that miser-
able closet
/ He was gone at last With three
strides / reached the closet, when the
outer door opened on my tormentor.
He had merely returned to make some
trivial remark. and again he was gore.
Now, however, | waited until his foot
falls had ceased to fall on the stairs
and then again the key was inserted in
the lock. But could proceed no fur
ther; the reaction of my terrible ner-
vous excitement of the last two hours
had overcome me. and | leaned, weak
and breathless, against the door The
thought occurred to me to call her
name, and accordingly / spoke it, ~He-
lena,
1t was in a low whisper, and there
was no response. | repeated it aloud.
but no answer came; still louder, with
the same result. A mortal, dizzy sick
ness overcame me, and / could scarce
ly force vitality enough to my fingers
to unclose the door But / did. and
looked in, fearfully, shudderingIy He
lena was leaning against the wall, her
face hidden in her hands, Again / re-
peated her name, and when she gave
me no reply, | placed my hand gently
upon her shoulder Her whole body
yielded to my touch, and I found my
self supporting her in my arms. She
had doubtless tainted.
So | thought as | carried her from
the closet and placed her inert in my
office-chair; for not until then had
seen her face. God of mercy what a
revelation did that face containl 1t
1 was white and CHASTITY, every muscle
ar with a fsioid ayprocci0Y, Of foay tho
dull eyes gazing upon me with their
expressionless, stony gaze. My heart
gave one great throb. and stood SUI:
in an instant had applied my fingers
to the wrist. The pulse was still--the
blood stagnant-a stroke of the lancet
failed to draw it forth The horrible
truth was apparent. She was dead
Fear alone had killed her.
Here my strength failed me; I reeled
and fell to the floor, but in a stupor OF
! insensibility
It was night when l awoke, and
slowly the horrors of my position came
back to me- But I was calm. at least;
and there. in the darkness of mid
night, and in the company of the dead,
pondered upon my future movements.
My determination was quickly taken
First placing the ring. which she had
given me upon her fnger-the ring
that she once promised me to wear as
long as she loved me-and kissing her
dead lips once Ct dared to do that),
raised the body in my arms, and bore
it out into the night. Fortune favor
ed me; the streets We're deserted no
one crossed my way during my fear
full journey Reaching woody spot
just beyond the city. | followed out
grave, and there | buried her.
Here is my story. Learn from it. if
you will, why | am drawn hither daily:
decide whether there should be fas
cination for me in the dust and cob
webs of my office.