The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-15

easy about her situation.
Not long after tea the young lady
said: eff you will allow me to spent
the night here 1 will make some ar
rangements by which 1 can meet my
friends farther on in the morning"
81 shall be very glad to have yor
stay" replied Tillie, "as my father
and mother have gone on journey,
and it will be pleasant to have com
pany."
By and by Uncle John came in, and
was introduced to the visitor, who
made herself agreeable to him, as she
chatted about crops and other mat
tiers that she thought would interest
him. She soon retired, and Tillie
gave her the spare bed room, which
opened out of the parlor.
"Wbere did that young woman
come from?' asked Uncle John, as
Tillie returned to the kitchen.
She explained the story of her
having become separated from her
friends and seeking rest there.
Rather a strange statement, /
should think" replied Uncle John.
"Do you think there is anything
wrong about her, Uncle John :" asked
Tillie anxiously.
81 won't say that there is," he re-
piled, "but there is a strange glitter
in her eyes once in awhile that I
don't like. 1 think she'll bear watch
ing"
There were two bedrooms leading
from the kitchen. Tillie occupied
one and Uncle John retired to the
other, where Mr.. and Mrs. Clifford
usually slept.
About midnight Tillie awoke with
a start and thought she heard strange
sounds in the kitchen. She crept
out of bed and looked through the
crack of the door, which was ajar.
There she saw a sight which froze
her blood with terror. Her young
lady guest was standing by the table,
wildly brandishing the carving knife,
whose edge every now and then she
would apparently try upon her finger.
"Ha +! She'll make nice victim !"
she muttered cher neck is so thin
and white. The fends tell me I'll
have a fount of blood tonight. Ha,
ha p
Tillie tried to scream, but she could
not utter a sound. To her intense
relief, Uncle John, who, as he after
wards related, chad not undressed at
all, but had slept with one eye open" f"
rushed out of his bedroom and seiz-
ing the frantic woman, took the knife
from her hand and marched her back
to her room. By the time she reach
ed there the fierce glitter had disap-
peared from her eyes and she seemed
as docile as child. Shutting her
into the bedroom and barricading the
door, Uncle John returned again to
the kitchen.
In the meantime Tillie had dressed
and stood there with a white face,
awaiting him. "Oh, Uncle John !"
she cried in hoarse whisper, II do
believe she meant to kill me what
does it mean -
cit means, child, that the woman
is crazy, and has probably escaped
from some lunatic asylum"
ooh, dear I'm afraid to stay here
another minute Uncle John, and as
for sleeping, I'm sure I shall not
close my eyes again tonight"
"Her madness comes on by spells,
l think, and we won't be troubled by
her any more tonight. You go to
bed and I'll keep watch the rest of
the night" said Uncle John.
Assured thus of safety, Tillie re-
tired to her room, but she was too
excited to sleep soundly, and only
caught a short nap now and then.
Next morning the young lady came
out daintily dressed to breakfast and
looked and appeared so perfectly sane
that Tillie was fain to believe that the
incident of the night before was only
a horrible dream. She retired to her
room as soon as the meal was finished,
and while Uncle John and Tillie were
consulting as to what should be done,
they were startled to see handsome
carriage with aspan of horses drive up.
A pale, anxious looking gentleman
came hastily up the walk and knock
ed upon the door.
"Have you seen anything of a
young lady, dressed in black silk
dress and sack, and white hat,
trimmed with lace and feathers :" he
asked, hurriedly.
Eyes, sir, she is here row," said
Tillie. won't you come in and see
her 7"
"Thank God p he exclaimed, fer
vently. Then, turning to the lady
in the carriage, he called out:
Dismiss your fears, my dear.
Alice is here
The lady soon after entered and
Tillie Immediately conducted her to
her daughters room.
Upon her return to the kitchen
Tillie told the circumstances of the
young lady's arrival, and Uncle John
related her midnight visit to the
kitchen and the muttered threats they
had heard her make while holding
the knife.
my unhappy child" said the poor
father in a broken voice, while the
tears rolled down his cheeks. "She
has been bereft of reason for three
years and been the inmate of an asy-
lum until recently. Her kee pers
thought she was so much better that
they let her come out and try a
change. While we were riding slowly
along yesterday she suddenly leaped
from the carriage and plunged into a
piece of woods by the road. / fol-
lowed as fast as I could, but she es-
capped me, and her mother and l
have been suffering tortures of sus-
pense in regard to her fate. She has
spells of frantic thirst for blood. l
shudder to think what a tragedy
might have happened here"
cit was a narrow escape" said