Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-02

the situation calmly. Here she was
prisoner in dear old St. Stephens.
The SEXTON had undoubtedly gone
home for the night. Unless she was
missed and searched for he would not
be back until early morning, when he
would come to attend to the fires. As
to the possibility that she might be
missed, it was very slight. Her moth
er supposed her to be at her aunt's,
while her aunt was not definitely ex-
pecting her, and would not be sur
prised at her nonappearance.
mo two ways about it," thought
Louise. I'm booked to spend the
night here. I might as we'll settle
down to it, and make myself as COM
Portable as possible"
She rose and went slowly up the
stairs, humming little tune to keep
up her courage.
AS she entered the empty church a
slight noise startled her. She gave
herself little shake. Louise Mat
tison," she said to herself, sternly,
Il hope you are not afraid Of
mouse?" She passed down the aisle
and seated herself cozily in the snug
inner corner of the family pew.
The church was not wholly dark,
for the glare from an electric light
on a high mast at the corner fell
through the clearstory windows,
illuminating part of the chancel quite
brightly, and casting broken lights
and shadows across the nave Louise
leaned back in her pew-corner and
idly noted the effect of the aster
decorations as they were revealed in
the strange half-light. As her eye
fell on the left group of palms one
or two of the stiff, shining leaves
seemed to move. The girls heart
came to her throat. Assuring herself
that her fright was due solely to inn
agination, she looked again. All was
quiet for moment. Then-yes, sure
ly that was a movement, and surely
her ear caught rustic. Louise
strained her frightened eyes to see
more clearly. Was there or was there
not a figure standing back of that
palm group? The electric light on
it's high mast sputtered and almost
went out. For moment the whole
church was in shadow. When the
light flashed up again the figure back
of the palms was a certainty. Slow
ly, while Louise felt her blood con-
geal, a mans form moved from be-
hind the clustered leaves and slowly
moved across the chancel. Louise sat
motionless and dumb, her eyes fixed
on the advancing figure. Of what use
to scream? Of what use to flee? She
was prisoner, powerless to escape,
powerless to defend herself! The
man advanced to the chancel steps
and came into the full radiance of
broad beam of light. His shadowy
Louise saw frightfully SCARED face.
In an agony of horror she recognized
the maniac whom she had seen at
the asylum, and OF whose escape An
toinette had told her.
Scarcely breathing, numb with ter
descend the steps of the chancel and
come down the aisle. Now he was
only four pews away! Now three!
Now two! And now-oh, Heaven, be
merciful-he paused at the pew
Louise was in, slowly turned, entered
it and sat down in the outer corner.
For one deadly moment the girls
heart seemed to stop and all turned
black before her eyes. Then the
blood surged back to her brain and
thoughts came quickly, as they do
to one drowning. She remembered
the insane asylum hall, and this dan
gerous maniac sitting mute and mo-
tionless, spellbound by the power Of
music.
A slight move made by her strange
seat-mate brought her back to the
present situation No longer in a
crowded, brightly lighted hall, but in
this dark and silent church she must
attempt to bind this man with
music's spell, and this time her life,
perhaps, depended on her success.
Another movement, slight but terri
flying, reused her to action. By an aw-
full effort of will she gained control
of her throat, which fear had almost
paralyzed, and there, in the darkness,
with a maniac as sole auditor, she
sang as never in her life before.
High and clear her voice rang In
the joyous Easter carols, tender and
rich in the minor strains of Lenten
hymns. The listener sat motionless
as statue Sometimes Louise hoped
he slept. and she would pause, but
signs of restlessness ever forced her
to renewed effort. On and on she
sang-hymns, chants and carols,
snatches of oratorios, Scotch ballads,
love lyrics. college songs, and even
nursery rhymes-while the tardy
hours of the night dragged by.
When midnight chimed from
neighboring tower the courageous
singer felt that she had reached al
most the end of her strength. Yet
in desperation she sang on, repeat
ing, improvising, singing scales and
exercises, now stopping to take
breath. now impelled by terror to be-
gin again, till one o'clock struck; and
two; and three: and then, slowly,
slowly, the blessed daylight began to
appear! The sexton of St. Stephens,
peacefully snoring away the early
morning hours, was disturbed just as
the day was dawning by loud rap
ping on the door. He raised the win
dow and testify inquired who was
there and what was wanted.
1T is DR.. Barton and patrolman,"
was the reply. "There is something
wrong at the church. and we want