The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-29

over me. aud again wruns my hands
in a grasp that was actual torture,
and IN a whisper, closely resembling
a hiss. she murmured:
"Ah. but you shall marry him.
Il shall not marry him." 1 answer
ed firmly. and then she laughed soft
~. a laugh that made my blood run
cold
WIS a prisoner at the castlei I
knew it'll felt Il. though no one had
told me So For where IN the first
week ] was free to wander on the
mountain side as I would, I was now
never allowed 10 stir outside the gar
cen Ny way further aheld was e.
ways barred by the sullen porter OF
or one Of the other men, and felt
that a dull persistent pressure was
being applied 70 me to make me agree
to marry the count.
An unaccOuntable but intense DISLIKE
to consider even the possibility OF
such a thing grew upon me. Every
day I felt more and more ike a
Gagged animal. Another fact was horne
Upon me. I was not allowed 70 be or
a second alone with the secre-
tary. Whether the countess had be-
come aware OF the warning he had
given me, or what, I cannot saw. All
1 know Is that he and I were ne-er
able TO exchange a single syllable OF
conversation. although l lnstinctfva.v
ielt that he wished TO conf unlcate
with me. I was Uatched-watched A.
every direction. and why this should
be so I could not imagine
Each morning I was forced 10 listen
10 pleadings, beseechings, almost
threats from the countess; each otter
noon had to spend half an hour
never more. never less. in the counts
sitting-room, HIS mother sitting WITH
rs. Every evening after nv refusal
10 do as the countess wished sba
Practically sent me to Coventry. and
treated me with cold displeasure-
Inc climax came AT last When 7
went TO bed one evening I found the
Iollowing note pinned to nv pil.ovV.
ms comes as a warning. II nv
MlSheS are not carried out bewarei
ADElLNE COUNTESS PRAvsNosKr
90 not know why these words gave
; me such a sick recoll Of horror bu.
round myself trembling from head 70
loot, and I trembled stiu as la, a.
bed I suppose fell asIeen IT,
ntiuI. restless slumber. but in the
hhooIe or the night somethlns reused
me INTO sudden and acute wakefulness
l SAT- upright in bed. shiverinE nom
head to foot, listening intently aron-
izedly-fOr what?
NO sound broke the deathlv stfIlneso
l could almost hear nv hear bee4-
ING In quick heavy beats. when vz34r
appalling suddenness the silence -.
broken An awful shrek rose on +r-,
arr, and I sprang from nv bed IN +n-
ror that amounted to FRENZY sn5
rushed to the door. A faint ugbt
gieamed in the passage. ana &C
stood in II, heard tie shrek repeate5
ioAoWed by sroans and cries of a
sort that batled description Hurriedlv
ninging on cloak and driven to do
so by sheer fright, I flew in the direc-
ton OF the tumult toward the counts
apartments. The door leading to them
was atar. 1 pushed It open. and tore
headlong in, intent only on locatj,p
those awful, agonizing screams. Fhe
Z.
from within the terrifying sounds no.
eeeded Nearly wild with fear. I peep
ed in TO see a spectacle that froze he
blood IN my veins
The awful sounds had heard en-
anated from the courts lips. and he
was mad. raving mad-that could be
seen at glance.
In ever-growing horror. shrank
back against the wall when a heavy
hand fell on my shoulder, and the
countess eyes glsred into mine.
Col" she Kissed. "and beware. For
those who see too much-there are
dungeons
Sick. ana almost bind with terror, I
staggered away, a vision OF the awful
dungeons had been ia zen 20 visit be-
meath the castle recUrring TO my mind.
AS l went 1 stumbled. and a hard
helped me up. Through the mist be-
fore my eyes I saw the Secretarys