Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-07-14

for n moment that IL was insanity.
suppressed a scream, though l felt no
fear.
..She was dressed very oddly. In
bridal dress. 4 wreath OF real orange
blossoms was on her head. and from II
a tuIle veil wound round and round hey
in flmy folds Of white
ut was not my first experience with
the insane. and I was careful not 70
lose sight OF her for moment. With
cut seeming TO notice anything else in
the room she turned her eyes reluctant
ly from my face and moved slowly 20 \
the bed. There she kneeled down and .
her long hair fell around her like
shadow.
Il watched every movement in long
mirror opposite the bed. In moment
! nearly shrieked aloud. She had
thrown back the long veil. and no
words can tell the horror that pos
sessed mel In the frail fingers was
clutched a human handi She drew II
again and again across her lips, then
sank the white teeth into the white
aesh. I felt that was losing my own
senses. For moment there flashed
through my brain the horrible fear
that I was shut up in "a madhouse.
Everything in the house was strange
the closed shutters. the perpetual
I light. the one servant. the keyless
- door-LIewellyn a wreck. and now this
poor. mad girl alone at night with her
CHASTITY food!
There waS not sound In the house
though once / thought I heard step
al my door-aIl was as still a. death.
And perhaps. thought, il Is death!
The suspense and gnawing were
growing uncomfortable. l got up and
moved az quietly as I could toward the
bed. until I was close enough 10 touch
her. 1 could see no sign of the hideous
crime about her. leaned forward and
fixed my StraiEing eyes on the fearful
object in her hand, She might attack
me. though / knew ! could crush her ~
a blow. The possibility Of such neces-
sitv was terrible to me. l could hear
the crunching in my very ears She
looked slowly around. caught my eye
and gave q low moan as Of pain. In
that moment l had seen all. She rose
, quickly. wrapped the hand ia the long
, veil and walked 10 the door. She
: opened and closed il softly behind her
D and IheaFd only the sweep of the heavy
satin over the floor.
1 Il did not dare TO look out OF call.
hastily drew a large dressing case be
J. fore the door and sat down with sigl
J. Of relief What I had naturally mis-
taken for q human hand was only
j. ufelike hand carved IN ivory.
{. An hour passed. and. stiu no on
q. T. ~ II. l.
c that bed. and, worn out by excitement
a stretched myself out on a couch be
E fore the fire and there spent the night
l. 1T was nine O'Clock next morning be
d fore / awakened. / almost believed
q had. bad some dark dream. except as
Il got up I stepped on a fresh OrRng
IL blossom.
II I'm the library found DR.. Rossitei
is / hardly dared meet his eyes. Breal
fast was on the table. and he moved
Is chair for me with quiet good morn
ing He did not ask how had paSSe
Il the night.
n The meal was a dismal failure.
u thought with positive horror OF III
: several hours before the afternoo
~ train. l had intruded upon this VI
m happy life, and though my heart ache
: for him. i found that l was not 20 tax
r any part in his confidence. was su
AZ prised. then. when he said 10 me:
"'D'Arcy. 1 was Powerless 10 he
'r you through the horror that you e
II dured last night
l6 Il stopped him.
On My dear Llewellyn. my comir
le has been voluntary. and an intrusiO
Is I have no right 10 any confidence fro
Ell you. God knows anyone can see tn
p YOU have suffered. Whatever your SO
he row. l give you my deepest symp
IA thy, but you must say no more
"'You do not understand he
nj terrupted. I talk 10 you OF my ov
ut volition. 1t Is the last time to me
'ot tai man outside of these walls. II
ie- seem TO ask sympathy, forgive me.
N have never asked before
ut II bowed my head. for no 9th
in. answer could be given 10 that suff,
re, ing soul.
he "'You will not remember Mona MI
os- donald he went on. She was Z
II daughter Of my fathers oldest frie
IN We were TO have been married I
WI year after ! left college. The su
'ot mer before our marriage I was call
west 10 California. She begged n
md unreasonably. thought. TO give
nc the idea, but I was obliged TO go.