Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-31

then heard deep breathing. ns Of
some one slumbcring uncasily. ! WAS
terribly startled, my heart standing
still for an instant. Then n Thought
reas3ured me. II was Rambler. the
house dog. who had gotten under my
bed during my absence. drew It box
or matches from beneath my pillow.
| ana, lighting candle on q table near
the bed, prepared to investigates AS
! did so the heavy breathing ceased
There was Il sound as of some one
. struggling to his feet. and then photo
Graphcd upon the darkness. which the
rather than dispcllcd. was the wan
FisaIe of the woman had seen at the
asylum.
There was an unnatural glitter in
! the dark eyes usually so blank, and
! tho hopeless expression was cx-
changed for the look of ono animated
by distinct purpose. For a moment
lay motionlcss. hardly darin,; to
breathe, ms eyes fixed with a horrible
; fascination upon my wild-eyed visitor
l sprang TO the floor on the Opposite
side Of the bed. and. rushing to the
door. would have opened it. 1t was
locked. fast locked. and the key ,vas
! gone.
| AS ] turned in despair from this, my
only place OF cgress. the woman con
fronted me. PlunginE her hand into
her bosom. she drew forth the KEY.
ana with Il mirthleSS laugh like the
cry of some strange animal waved I.
about her head. Then replacing 4,
1 she seized my arm and, dragging inc
towards the lounge. seated me upon it,
You are here" she said. standing
before me and speaking with incon-
ceivablo rapidity, and now YOU will
see Tor yourself how cruel thcs. at
t"ndhnts are: but let III. tell YOU 4
secret she went on. lowering her
voice to whisper. and putting her
, mouth close TO my ear. don't r.sist
them. or II Will be the worse for YOU"
had heard of the s:Ipcrnatur,l
strength which comes 10 ones aid on
occasions Of this sort. but no such
strength came to me. | was faint and
sick with terror. Every faculty which
! possessed, however. was intensified
The most trifing peculiaritics in the
appearance oil the woman before me-
even the minutest details Of her dress.
assumed q startling disiinctucss
That she believed me TO be an i'm
mate Of the asylum was evident, but
! whether she fancicd herself ,ny Gus
tod!an or merely fellow patient.
could not tell. ] was not left long in
doubt. however. Going to 4 window.
she took from the curtain a long cord
helI in,
she proceeded 10 bind my hands to-
Gcther. She bound them tightly. 50
tightly, indeed, that the cord Gu; into
the flesh, and the veins started out
! with purple distnc;neSs
! There were many was in which she
| might have put an end 20 my life and
! one py one they came into luy mind
| w!th a sickening dread. Being salts
ned that was disposed TO be quiet.
, however. she seated herself in A chair
before me and began TO rock violently
/ 10 and fro. talking all the Willie with
an incoherent velocity. incomprchen-
. sible 10 those not familiar with this
/ phase Of mental disturbance And
now new fear seized me. the fear OF
| being left in the darkness with this
! creature The rapidly consuming
candle was running race with the
!
/ It's socket, and now the lcngtheninc
/ wick. charred and blackened. fell upon
the circular surface surrounding il.
! making a deep channel III it's waxcn
side.
St!li my companion. with head rest
J ing upon the chai-back. and wild.
! E!ttcrirg eyes fastened upon the cell
ing, seemingly oblivious to all around
/ her. swaycd back and forth, her in
! coherent talk flowing with the rapidity
! OF a mountain stream. Looking back
upon that night, estimate time by
/ the burning OF the candle. ana The
interval could not have been a long.
one. but during that brief period |
experienced every phase of terror.
from the first faint sickenine horror OF
my situation to "a caliousncss born OF
| desperation.
! At length the suffered windows op-
posttc me gradually frightened Then
| beam from the rising sun stole
/ through an open Stat and fell a yellow
strip. upon the dark, polished floor
There was a stir below, the servants
were up and about their morning work
| The music of the night. so lately vocal
the rustic of leaves. the chirr of in
sects-was lost in the harsher sounds