St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-05-11

Along and alc0g we went, twisting
and turning among the labyrinth Of
passages, and then at last, coming
round half-open door-the door of
the library. where my husband was.
1 darted forward, feeling quite
brave, now that 1 was in the vicinity
of Felix. But I was too late. The
form glided into the room, silently
closing the door. and 1 heard the key
turning in the lock.
stood there for moment or two
puzzled, doubtful, alarmed. All at
once there rushed upon me horrible
presentiment Of impending doom, and
with it wild, irresistible desire to
learn what was going on in that room.
I tried the door. 1t was securely
locked. A few yards down the pas
sage, high up in the wall. was small
window looking into the library. Di-
rectly underneath it was a heavy oak
table. Onto that table I scrambled
and glued my eyes to the dust-dimmed
pane.
Shall I ever forget what 1 saw? I
have dreamed Of it thousand times,
and awakened shuddering in an agony
of terror.
"Felix! Felix, turn round! Look!"
Those were the words 1 shrieked as
1 dashed my hare hand through the
window and withdrew it. bleeding.
And my warning was not moment
too soon. AS my husband knelt in a
corner over a pile of books, the tall,
white-haired figure was already close
on him. an upraised, weighted stick in
his hand, the raging fire of insanity
cleaning in his eyes.
But l was just in time. On hearing
my voice my husband sprang round,
caught the descending stick on his
arm. and closed with his adversary in
fearful life and death struggle.
Thank heaven, 1 was not entirely
impotent. With a cry of encourage
ment to my husband I sprang down,
pushed up my skirts, and raced back
along the passage. I ran as never
had run before. / knocked against
furniture in the darkness, / stumbled
and fell; but still. impelled as by 4
supernatural force. 1 rushed on.
Through the picture gallery went,
down the second corridor, across the
hall, into the drawing-room.
1 must have looked . remarkable
figure as rushed in among my guests
NY hand was bleeding and the blood
had stained my white evening gown.
NY hair was half down, my dress was
torn. But what did appearances mat
ter to me?
"The madman!" I gasped, painting
for breath. "The escaped madman!
He has got into the east wing, and
Felix-my husband-we must burst
the door open. Come! Comet"
All eyes were turned upon me, but
not soul offered to move.
Don't you understand me ?" cried.
wringing my hands in my impatience
There is not moment to lose. My
husband is fighting for his life! Why
don't you come? Mr.. Fleetwood, you
hear me? Have pity-have pity!
"You will be too late!" screamed.
in q perfect frenzy. Felix will be
dead-strangled by that madman's
fingers-strangled, strangled!"
I repeated that awful word, scarce
knowing what I said. The blood was
rushing wildly in my head. I began to
feel. clutching desperately at the air.
And then, Of sudden, a strange, half
remembered sound rippled through
the room-a sound terrible to listen to
~ first, yet giving me In the end m
hkling of the truth.
1t was the sound of hands clapping
in applause. They thought I was act
ing!
Istormed and raved and shrieked as
surely no actress could or would. /
entreated and implored. and struggled
the while with the feeling Of faintness
and numbness that was stealing over
me.
And then. at length, seeing that my
efforts to make them understand were
utterly useless. I suddenly stopped
and summoned up a smile as listened
to their applause and congratulations.
Somehow or other I induced them
to follow me from the room, telling
them that / had something to show
them in the east wing-a further en-
tertainment. which my husband and
I had prepared. Their curiosity was
whetted, and they consented to
dawdle along behind me, laughing and
chattering the while.
Only when they heard that last
despairing cry Of Felix did Fleetwood
and one or two of the other men begin
to gain = glimmer of the truth. It was
with cver-increasing alarm that they
hurried forward. and tried to force
the library door, and, finally using the
oak table as a ram, burst it open.
All of which recollect as something
that happened when I was in . semi
trance. 1 have . vague memory of
looking into the room and seeing sew
eral persons there, and struggle go
ing on. / can recall the sight of Felix
running out, pale and limping, but
smiling, and of his holding out his
arms 10 me. went to meet him, and
then-I swooned.-Tme Herald.
Luaicrous telegraph BlandeP.
The vagaries of the telegraph serv-
ice have caused any number of serious
and amusing errors in the transmits
sion of messages. One of the most