Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
CHAPTER K.

OF the Woman With the Lost Mind.
Scrambling to my feet. glared into the
darkness with frightened eyes. The wild
cry still ran in wailing echoes along the
vaulted roof, but the person who had
made 1t seemed to have vanished. The
waters rose and fell, and rose again, in
| their everlasting song: the breeze wllis-
pered gently in my ears; but. except for
these, the silence was absolute l crept
back to the protection of the rock wall
| and leaned against 1T, shivering.
A moment passed-another-and another,
until 1 could stand the strain no longer.
''Who is it," [ demanded, with husky
catch I'm my threat.
A low moan answered me
Don't move or I'll shoot" l said,
threateningiy, turning In the direction of
the sound.
1T would do no good; you couldn't kill
me-"
The voice was a woman's, and freighted
with world Of hopelessness. Surprised
into action, / stole nearer.
WHO are you?''
"A soul in agony"
What"
The spirit of pain"
Was she making fun Of me? Half
angry 1 drew still closer
(" Hdt dIc you lCic
notwithstanding"
For what?''
Happiness"
I laughed. You haven't chosen very
| likely place.
The choice was not mine. But would
| have found i'll had found 1t. And you
came and drove it away"
Resentment woke a spark Of life out
| of the dead calmness of her voice.
I'm very sorry" / returned, soothing
w of
"No-no!' The words rang out with
startling vehemence. It's not too late.
Well find 1t together-you and /.
The swish of skirts rose sharply out Of
| the darkness and l felt her ley fingers
| close about my wrist.
Gomez she whispered. Come now
at once. There's not a moment to be
| lost"
Hold on I expoztulated Where are
you gOing?"
"only a step-just one little step-and
then rest-oblivion-
She began to drag me toward her. The
ground slipped treacherously under foot,
and, Of a sudden, the horrible truth
| choking cry. She fought like a demon.
scratching, tearing, beating my face with
her open hands. But L had grasped her
| firmly by the waist, and, though she
struggled furiousIy, twisting and turning
with strength which astounded me. she
could not get away. For one dizzy In
| slant we tottered on the brink Of the
| water. Then, with a superhuman effort,
| / swept her off her feet, and, lifting her
| in my arms, threw her roughly to the
ground. A sobbing whimper broke from
| her. but she made no attempt to rise.
| Striking a match l found the candle,
| which had been dropped in the struggle.
and. lighting it, held it close to her face.
| The weak rays revealed a countenance of
singular refinement and breeding. She
| had been beautiful in her prime-was
| beautiful yet, in spite of the deeply PEN
| ciled lines which time and sorrow had
etched upon her forehead The slightly
| arched nose, the f1rm-set mouth. the de-
| termined chin, all betokened strength and
! character. But 1T was a strength which
! had been and was gone, character
| which had faded into a mere shadow.
| And as looked into her eyes, l saw the
reason. Fixed and CLASSY, with the dumb
surface appeal of the hunted animal. in
| their depths there glowed the smolderins
| fires Of madness. An ineffable sense of
pity seized me-
| Gould you find no other way than sui
cide?"
Can you??' she demanded. bitterly.
Yes. The boat"
Where is ftp
"Gone tonight But tomorrow
"Gone, too-or guarded. And II you did
get away, do you think that would be the
end OF it? He'd follow you, hound you to
| the four corners of the earth, until he
| had run you down. And them With
a CHASTITY gesture she drew her finger
| across her throat
| 1 shuddered "One can take precau-
| TONS"
Against him. Impossible There was
another man who tried
But he was drowned?"
Yes. And by whom?"
Il don't know"
! by him.
|
now dancing with insanity. I backed
away from her.
1.-The day will come. young man." she
cried, raising her hand above her head
like prophecies Of woe. when you will
| repent Of what you've done topight--when
you yourself will seek escape and cannot
| find it. KNOW know'-her voice lifted
into a Shrek. This Is not the first time
| I've tried-nor the second. But he Is al
| ways watching-always waiting. Oh, God |!
| Is there no help for me? Can l never
die?"
"You mustn't talk like that" said, in
gentle reproof There's always hope If
youth only have faith and patience
II have had falkland patience. too
for years. And see what they have
brought me- She gave harsh laugh
| It's ease enough for you with your free
dom and youth. But wait until YOU have
| worn out your life, as l have. and they
| lock you up, and guard you night and
day Then you'll talk about death, and
wish for 1t and it will never come
| Perhaps" / asSented. realizing that 1t
might be dangerous to contradict her.
Don't think I'm blaming you. | sympa-
thiZe with you very much indeed And
| then, in all effort to divert her thoughts
| from her wrongs: But you seem to be
able to get away from them whenever
you like, in spite of their watchfulness
| A sly CLEAN of cunning flashed into her
eyes. Il triclsed them. Oh,sI tricked
them SO neatly. When they brought my
supper l stole the key and slipped another
| into its place. They turned it in the lock
| and never knew the difference. They call
me crazy But / can outwit them yet
! And / will will She raised her
clenched hand in the air with a wild ges-
ture of determination.
| "Of course you will l agreed. soiemnly
| Just wait your chance and try the same
i looked up at her srddenly-.if your
absence has not already been discovered"
| A spasm of fear shot across her face
She leaned over swiftly and clutched me
| by the arm.
do you think it has? Do you think
they know now-at this moment?"
| L can't say. You've been away some
time, you see. But If they have
shrugged my shoulders eXpressively
| "Oh, they mustnt-they mustn't" She
swung me around, and. with her fingers
still grasping my arm, literally forced me
over the slippery stones. "Come-cOme
| We must hasten! l can slip in SO quietly
so quietly. And they'll never know
| The scheme had worked to perfection.
Still unwilling TO provoke her anger,
allowed her to lead me as far as the
shoreward entrance to the cave. But as
she made a motion to pass 1t I drew back
/ INIT tn1xr