The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-07-12

her long hair fell around heG Ike g
shadow.
II watche d every movement in long
mirror opposite the bed. In d moment
! nearly sbrleked aloud. She hao
thrown back the long veil, and nc
words can tell the horror that pos
sessed me! In the frail fingers was
clutched a human hand! She drew il
again and again across her lips, then
sank the white teeth into the white
flesh. felt that l was losing my own
senses. For moment there flashed
through my brain the horrible fear
that | was shut up in madhouse
Every thing in the house was strange
the closed shutters, the perpetual
light, the one servant, the keyless
door-Llewellyn a wreck, and now this
poor, mad girl alone at night with her
CHASTITY food.
There was not a sound In the house
though once l thought l heard a step
at my door-,all was as still as death
And perhaps, l thought, it is death!
The suspense ard gnawing were
growing uncomfortable. | got up and
moved as quietly as could toward the
bed, until | was close enough to touch
her. | could see no sign of the hiieous
crime about her. leGned forward and
fixed my straining eyes On the fearful
object in her hand. She might attack
me, though | knew | could crush her at
blow. The possibility of such u neces-
sity was terrible 20 ne. | could hear
the cru:ching i'll my very ears. She
looked slowly AROUND, caught my eye
and gave low moan as of pain. In
that moment | had seen all. She rose
quickly. wrapped the hand in the long
veil and walked TO the door. Sh,
opened AID Closed ii softly behind her,
and heard only the sweep of the heavy
satin over the door.
II did not dare TO look out or call. !
hastily drew a large dressing case be
fore the door and sat down with sigh
of relief. What | had naturally mis-
taken for a human hand was only a
lifelike hand carved in ivory.
IAN hour passed, and still no one
came. 1t was impossible to sleep in
that bed, and, worn out by excitement.
| stretched myself out on couch be
fore the fire and there spent the night.
ut was nine O'Clock next morning be-
fore | awakened. ! almost believed !
had had some dark dream, except as
got up | stepped on a fresh orange
blossom.
''In the library l found DR.. Rossiter
| hardly dared meet his eyes. Break
fast was on the table, and he moved a
chair for me with quiet good morn
ing He did not ask how | had passed
the night.
"The meal was Il dismal failure.
thought with positive horror OF the
several hours before the afternoon
train. | had intruded upon this I'M
happy life, and though my heart ached
for him. found that ] was not to take
any part in his confidence. was sur
prised. then, when he said to me:
DArcy, was powerless to help
you through the horror that you en-
dured last night
81 stopped him.
IN dear Llewellyn, my coming
has BEEN voluntary, and an intrusion
| have no right to any confidence from
you. God knows anyone can see that
you have suffered. Whatever your sor-
row, | give you my deepest sympa-
thy, but you must say no more
"'lou do not understand he in
terrupted. 4 talk to you of my own
volition. 1t Is the last time to NOR
tai man outside of these walls. If |
seem to ask sympathy, forgive me.
have never asked before
II bowed my head, for no other
answer could be given to that suffer
ing soul.
"'You will not remember Mona Mac
donald he went on. she was the
daughter of my fathers oldest friend
We were to have been married the
year after l left college. The sum-
mer before our marriage l was called
west to California. She begged me,
unreasonably, l thought, to give up
the idea, but l was obliged to go. In
my absence she was invited to large
country house near Boston. For {.
month her letters came regularly,
then, without any explanation,
stopped Two weeks passed, and still
receiving no letter, telegraphed The
answer nearly crushed me: "Mona
very Ill. Come at once"
81 lost no time in reaching Bos-
ton. They broke the news to me, and
| fell like a dead man and lay uncon.
scious for days
"When | awakened it was only to
have those horrible words ring over
and over again in my brain until ]
thought !, too, should go mad. For
my Mona, this tender, beautiful Great
ure. was shut up in "A madhouse. O
God. that | should live to tell it!
rested not day ar night until ! held
her in my arms and brought her away
forever. | thank God that even so
much as this was left me to do.
"She had been the innocent victim
)f brutal joke. Among the men
Who visited the house were several
medical students. All sorts Of games
and sports had been INDUCED in for
The most senseless was
II 4 II