The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-05-09

SAo"Sou eAS Adil anu Plunged down
the narrow, oak-paneled corridor
leading to the east wing. MY course
was unillumined, save for the dim
moonlight that penetrated the null
lioned windows, but l knew my way
well enough, and marched along with
out hesitation.
passed through the lofty picture
gallery with it's rows of; old-world
faces and grim guardian suits of
armor. Out into second passage
went--a low, tortuous passage, very
dark, and smelling of musty tapestry
Suddenly, rs l was cropping nv way
along, | saw slight movement in
front OF me, and there, but few feet
away, stood a gray, silent human fig
ure.
Felix, is that you?" I said. And
won't be positive that there was not
the suspicion of quiver in my voice
There came no answer to the ques-
tion, and the figure commenced to
glide away down the passage
Without waiting to get thoroughly
frightened l followed it, quickening
my pace a little. The mysterious
form did the same.
Along and along 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.
l darted forward, feeling quite
brave, now that l was in the vicinity
of Felix. But l was TOO late. The
form glided into the room, silently
closing the door, and l heard the key
turning in the lock.
l stood there for moment or two
puzzled, doubtful, alarmed. All at
once there rushed upon me horrible
presentiment of impending doom, and
with it a wild, irresistible desire to
learn what was going on in that room.
l tried the door. It 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 heavy oak
and glued my eyes to the dust-dimmed
pane.
Shall ever forget what I saw? 1
have dreamed of it thousand times,
and awakened shuddering in an agony
of terror.
Felix! Felix, turn round! Look!"
Those were the words shrieked as
I dashed my bare hand through the
window and withdrew it, bleeding.
And my warning way not moment
too soon. As my husband knelt in a
corner over 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 / 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, l was not entirely
| impotent. With cry of encourage
| ment to my husband l sprang down,
pushed up my skirts, and raced back
| along the passage. l ran as I never
had run before. I knocked against
furniture in the darkness, stumbled
and fell; but still, impelled as by a
supernatural force, l rushed on.
Through the picture gallery went,
down the second corridor, across the
hall, into the drawing-room.
I must have looked a remarkable
figure as rushed in among my guests.
| My hand was bleeding and the blood
had stained my white evening gown.
| My 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 mailman!
| 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
wringinS my hands in my impatience
"There is not moment to lose. My
husband is fighting for mis- life! Why
don't you come? Mr.. Fleetwood, you
hear me? Have pity-haye pity!
''You will be too late!" l screamed
in a perfect frenzy. 'Feax will be
dead-stnngled by that madman's
fingers-strangled, strangled!"
1 repeated that awful word, scarce
knowing what I said. The blood was
rushing wildly in my head. l began to
feel, clutching desperately at the air
And then, of sudden, strange, half
remembered sound rippled through
the room-a sound terrible to listen to
at first, yet giving me in the end an
inkling of the truth.
1t was the sound of hands clappir e
in applause. They thought I was act
ing!
| I 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. rt
And then, at length, seeing that my
efforts to make them understand were
utterly useless, l suddenly stopped
and summoned up smile as listened