The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-02-09
On HouT Of Terror.
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(By Helen Forrest GraveS.)

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CBy Helen Forrest GravesD
"If you please. ma'am,' said betsey,
the hired help, presenting herself in
the doorway with her arms dripping
with hot soap suds. and her calico
skirts festooned about her spare form
In a way which Worth never would
have imagined, there's an insane man
IN the barn.
had just settled myself comfort
ably down to my morning task OF col
oring a cluster Of slender-stemmed
blue harebells, which Donald had
brought In, trophy Of his before
breakfast walk up the mountain. Baby
was sweetly sleeping under the pink
lace draperies Of her crib. Tommy and
little Donald were fishing for min
nows in the meadow stream, and l
was heartily congratulating myself
upon the success Of my idea OF rent
ing mountain cottage. far from
the busy haunts OF men," for the sultry
summer months.
where" quoth I to myself, ms
glanced around the cool. little library.
with its homemade hangings Of but
terfy-patterned chintz, its japanese
screens, and the decorated china which
I myself had arranged OH impromptu
shelves and brackets. 'in all the dusty,
heated city. will you find nook like
this, with the scent Of giant pine-trees
floating In at the easement, and the
whistling Of black-birds filling up the
silence? l declare, 1t is enough to in
spire any one! l could almost write
a novel, or an epic. If it wasn't for
baby, and the children, and my flower
painting. and the tarts. and syllabubs,
and frozen custards, that Betsey can't
be got to cemprehend.'
Thus, Tapped in Elysian dreams, and
secure in my own estimation, Betsey' s
announcement came like thunder
clap upon my hearing. l dropped my
camers-hair pencil. and sat gazing
blankly upon her aghast countenance.
"A-what?" l gasped.
IAN insane man, ma'am," said Bet
sey. "Leastways that's what Deacon
Gadsley shouted out as he was a
gallopln' by on horseback to catch the
down train with the mail bag, hollerin'
good and loud, as he's aware l amt
quick O. hearin' Tell your missis.
says he, to call the children in-there's S
an insane man in the barn" says he
but Betsey," cried l. clutching at
the babys crib, 'it can't be poss.ble!'
That's what Deacon Gadsley said.
ma'am, and I'll take my Bible oath
to it." said Betsey, nodding her head,
with a countenance expressive OF en-
tire conviction.
Then, why didn't he come to our
help" exclaimed, wringing my
hands helplessly.
Don't know, ma'am," said Betsey,
unless it was because the mail train,
like time and tide, in the spelling book,
waits for no man.
But what are We to dO! l almost
sobbed. my courage and presence OF
mind nearly deserting me. as l plctur-
ed to myself the horrible vision of a
crazy lunatic dancing about among the
hatchets, scythe- blades and hay-cut-
ters in the barn.
Don't know, ma'am," said Betsey,
viewing me with a sort Of mild CON
tempt, as one Of the helpless city ladies
who become powerless under the pres
ence Of any sudden emergency. 'un-
less you call in the boys, and lock the
barn doors, jest as quick as possible. y
/ looked appealingly at Betsey.
"Betsey," said l. would you mind
locking the barn doors. like dear
good soul. while l run after Donald
and Tommy"
Betsey cleared her throat, emphatic
ally.
Not if | know it, ma'am." said she
Il hain't' no more partiality than other
folks for crazy people. My uncle. n
was assistant keeper in the 1ents
vile lunatic asylum, andont mean
choked to death by Shall run n the
forty odd yea: not if l can heb it,"
that 81 cried l. driven to sudden
csolve, "stay here with the baby
3etsey. Don't leave her. for your life
While l 80 after the boys. Good
If the wretch should be at
acking them even now.'
With almost superhuman speed and
witness. l ran down along the edge
{ the woods. seized Tommy and Don