Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-09-17
cHApTER xY1.-fcontinued1

CHAPTER XYI.-(ContinuedJ
On that morning she had received her
first terrible punishment, that Of allow
ing cold water to fall upon her head for
certain length of time and she saudder-
ed even then at the recollection of that
torture.
She knew that the edict must have
gone forth, that the doctor must have re-
ceiyed orders from the Captain TO com
plete the terrible work, and there were
times when a nameless chill crept over
her frame at the bare thought of being
made mad.
Up to this time, in the midst of these
horrors she had maintained her reason
simply because of her strong will, but
none knew better than MIRA Warner that
ere many weeks passed. if this water tor
Gure were continued, she would be as
stark. staring mad as any inmate Of the
place.
Captain Grant had realized that he
had made a false step in wedding her
for she was really and truly his wife
and his only remedy for it. seeing that he
had other plans in view, was to shut her
up in this mad house, and leave the rest
to the doctor, who knew his business
well
Escape was the only thing that occu-
pied her mind besides those ideas Of re-
venge upon the man through whose viii
lainy she had been incarcerated in this
frightful abode. Plans feasible and 9TH
.erwise filed her brain, and, as she com
pretended what a terrible state her af-
fairs were in, she can be pardoned for
k,y
Examination showed to her that there
was no hope of escape so far as forcing a
way out of the asylum was concerned;
whatever she did would have to be ac-
,complished by subtlety and cunning.
The doctor had been careful enough TO
have the bars at the windows secure
enough to resist the efforts of the widest
maniac, and her puny strength would
have availed nothing. True, she had a
small bottle of aquafortis secreted on
her Herson, which she had secured when
free as TO be ready in case of recap
ture md incarceration, bat her cell was
quite distance from the ground, and
she could conceive no way Of lowering
herself, even should she be so fortunate
as to break the stout iron bars with the
use of the acid.
Thus it was she saw no reasonable
plan open before her by means Of which
she could hope TO escape from the demons
who held Horoscope from the terrible
fate that, like a great abyss, seemed
yawning to engulf her.
She saw the sun sinking toward the
west with mingled feelings, such as can
only be experienced and appreciated by
one who stands behind prison walls, look
ing out between iron bars, and surround
ed by all the horrors Of a private mad
house.
Her meditations were interrupted The
rafting of a key in the lock brought
back to her the immediate situation and
she turned just in time to see the door
open and the figure of man enter.
He was a new hand-at least she had
never seen him before during the long
period of her stay at the asylum, though
he might have been engaged during her
absence.
In stature he was rather tall and his
dress and looks proclaimed him a ruff
fan, while there was something about
his language that spoke of previous ac-
.quaintance with the Green Isle.
His face was dirty and red the latter
probably the result Of debauchery, and
there was a half-comical leer in one of
his eyes that would have made some peo-
pie laugh and others shudder, according
to their dispo ition.
Nora could not understand the trem-
bling that seized upon her as she gazed
upon this terrible looking creature. What
did it mean? Was intuition telling her
that she was to meet her death at the
hands Of this villain? He advanced to-
ward her, and she shrank back, appalled,,
What new system OF torture was about
to be applied to her?
She watched him with startled eyes as
he held up his hand, pressed his finger to
his lips, uttered the one word hist" and
then. gliding to the door, bent his head
in n listening attitude, Did he mean to
murder her. and was ne listening to make
sure that no one approached?
Again he turned and advanced. Was
that grin Of triumph on his face. or
did her horror-stricken eyes deceive her:
She tried to cry out. but her tongue Glove
10 the roof Of her mouth. and her limbs
seemed paralyzed. He stood before her
now; his arms moved. Al. what sem
tcnce was he about to pronounce upon
her?