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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1904)
FETTERED BY FATE BY ALEXANDER ROBERTSON "Jolette'a Fate," "little Sweethear-," "Lottie, the Sewing Girl," "Soldmaker of Lisbon," " Wedded to Win," "Diana Thorpe," "Nora's Legacy," Etc., Etc. CHAPTER XVI.-fContlnued.) r. 77 " . , , , . , . On that morning-she had received her rRt tprnnlo nuniuhmanf- that rt n II f.tv. first tprrihlo nuniuhmant that rt nll.n. Ing cold water to fall upon her head for a certain length of time, and she shudder ed even then at the recollection of that torture. She knew that the edict must have gone forth, that the doctor must have re ceived orders from the Captain to com plete the terrible work, and there were times when a nameless chill crept over her frnine 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 Nora Warner that ere many weeks passed, if this water tor ture 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 stop 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. Kseape was the only thing that occu pied her mind besides those ideas of re . venge upon the man through whose vil lainy she had been incarcerated in this frightful abode. Plans feasible and oth erwise filled her brain, and, as she com prehended what a terrible state her af fairs were in, she can be pardoned for weeping bitter, scalding tears. 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 wildest maniac, and her puny strength would have availed nothing. True, she had a small bottle of aquafortis secreted on her person, which she had secured when free so as to be ready in case of recap ture and incarceration, but her cell was quite a 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 tile acid. Thus it was she saw no reasonable plan open before her by means of which ehe could hope to escape from tile demons who held her escape from the terriblu fate that, like a great abyss, seemed f yawning to engulf her. She saw the sun sinking toward the west with mingled feelings, such as can only be erperienced 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 rattling of a key in the lock brought back to her the immediate situation, und she turned just in time to see the door open and the figure of a man enter. He was a new hand at least she had never seen him before during the long period of her stay nt the asylum, though he might have been engaged during her absence. In stature ho was rather tall, and his dress and looks proclaimed him a ruf fian, while 'there was something about his language that spoke of a previous ac quaintance with the (Jreen Isle. His face was dirty and red. th lnttnr probably the result of debauchery, nnd there was a half-comical leer in one of his eyes that would have made some peo ple laugh and others shudder, according to their disposition. iora could not understand the trem bling that seized upon her ns she gazed Ux)ii this terrible looking creature. What did it uichii? Was intuition telling her that she was to meet her death at the hands of this villain? lie advanced to ward her, and she shrunk bnck, appalled. V,'hnt new system of torture wits about to be applied to her? . She watched him with startled eyes lis he held up his hand, pressed his linger to his lips, littered the one word "hist!" and then, gliding to the door, bent hia head in n listening attitude. Did he mean to murder her, and was he listening to make sure that no one approached? Again he turned nnd advanced. Was that a grin of triumph on his face, or did her horror-stricken' eyes deceive her? She tried to cry out, but her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth, and her limbs seemed paralyzed. He stood before her now; his arms moved. Ah, what sen tenco was he about to pronounce upon her? "Nora J" 01IAITHU XVII. When that one word fell from the lips of the keeper, Nora Warner tittered a low cry, in which was blended amaze ment and joy. She had expected some thing terrible to happen, but in the place of it something wonderful had occurred. Iever would she have penetrated the disguise assumed by the other; hut when he sM)ke a lijflit dawned upon her soul, for only one man in the world could Seak her inline like that. It was Jack! When he left the widow and Carol, the man had immediately turned his steps toward the mad house ou the Potomac. When he gazed upon those grim walls, and saw how "Almost ImiMistrlble It would . be for an Inmate to escape from them without outside influence, he began to despair, but, remembering what he wns working for, he began his labor nt once. In the end he succeeded in being hired by the doctor in the place of a man who bad been recently discharged. Evidently it was the ferocious look Of the new dation in the eves of tho mnri-hmma ii.. tor, and, knowing this, the disguised Jack gave him to understand that he was by nature quite a bjoody minded rascal, ready to obey all orders without ques tion. He had already been in the institution two days, and his soul was sickened by what he had seen. The doctor had hired him for a special purpose, and as yet he had not been required to indulge in any work, though he accompanied the other keepers so as to familiarize himself with the inside arrangements of the asylum. One of the men complained of feeling sick on this evening the result of n powder which Jack had cunningly mixed with his supper the latter had volun teered to visit the patients in his stead, and leave them the frugal repast that was intended to be their supper. Thus it was he entered the cell in which was confined the young girl. When NdTa realized who it was thus stood before her in disguise, and that love for her had been the object to lead him on, she felt her heart fill with rapture. "Oh, Jack, you have come to save me, to take me away from this terrible place!" she cried. They could not say much, for the time was limited, and there might be danger of some one overhearing them, but Jack told her to, be ready and expecting him at any minute. When he stood in the doorway before leaving, he called back the one encouraging word: "Remember!" He did not Bee the dark form that had come to a sudden halt down the passage and stepped into an alcove. It was Dr. Grim. "Remember what?" that worthy mut tered to himself as he watched the new keeper go on down the corridor; "he came out of her cell, too. Besides, it seemed to me I missed his usual accent in that word. Yes, I shall remember to keep a watch on your movements, Lanty O'Shane, and if you trip up, so much the worse for you." Thus Jack was shadowed. The doctor was too shrewd a man to let the other keepers know that he suspected the new man, for his influence over them would be gone. Already they feared the bogus Lanty O'Shane, who could tell such ter rible stories about himself, and seemed ready to back up the argument Ht any time, that they instinctively acknowl edged In him a leader, and we're ready to give him the allegiance inspired by fear. It chanced, however, that Jack was very circumspect in his actions. Per haps he had caught the cunning eye of the doctor fastened upon him. At any rate, as time passed on the master of the mad-house found nothing to complain about in his actions, though he did not give up watching him entirely. Nora Warner now lived in an agony of suspense. She feared for the safety of her lover much more than she hfid flnnn for herself. There were times when a fierce joy would sweeD over her aa nlin rnnliviwl hnw near he was to her, this noble man who loved her so well that he had taken sides with her asrainst the one tn whom aha owed such a debt of hatred. She watched for him pnntinnnllv .ml yet guarded well her feelimra. fur unions she was careful his betrayal might come tnrougn ner, and should such be the case, sue would die of sorrow. Whatever plans Jack had formed' he had to be so careful in their carrying out that time passed by; but Nora, conscious of his strong presence, and the fact that he was risking all for her sake, felt her spirits buoyed up. Twice again had she suffered the ter rible torture of the falling water upon her head. Heaven alone knows what the result might have been but for that one thought ever before her the fact of Jack's presence under the same roof. On the second occasion she had fainted dead away, and when Jack came to visit her in the evening he mnnaged to have the keeper remain sick he saw from her pale face that something was wrong. When he tiually managed to force the story from her, he was filled with the greatest horror nnd indignation, nnd vowed that not another night should pass without his making an attempt to save her from this plnce of horrors. Fortunately for them they spoke low, for just outside crouched the mnd-honse doctor, and his keen ear was bent to the key-hole. He could onlyhear the mur mur of voices, but the very fact of his new keeper, the bloodthirsty fellow whom he had hired especially for any work of an extra severe nature, being engaged in a conversation with Nora Warner was enough to excite hi suspicions. These were partially allayed upon heir lug the curses honest Jack gave vent to when he learned what torture the wom an he loved had nlren.lv xnl.nut (.,.! v., iut though, of course, the doctor was not supposed to understand what it was brought them from the lips unused to swearing. The mnd-house doctor was a man far above the average in cunning, and, once his suspicions in regnrd to the mock keeper were aroused, he was like a tiger in the wutch. Although Jack wns not fully conscious of being watched, except on general prin ciples, he was very careful In his notion, fearful lest nil might be discovered at the last minute. ' The nlirlit fell. Cirmlnnllv tho tinU.. of the house died nwny, for the doctor wns severe in his rules, nnd If his most linrillv nntients iwroinfoil In ninklnir n I, rlit hideous with their wild shrieks, he quick- UB iuiis iook 01 me neti keeper that had been his best recommen I rltl 1 ly discovered where their particular fear lay, and treated them tq a dose of it un til they learned to obey. Jack entered the cell just after the hour of midnight, fully prepared for the venture. He found Nora Warner ready. She had been in a fever of impatience and anxiety, fearing lest some little thing which they had not counted on would oc cur to mar their well-luid plans. Jack had observed the way well, nnd had even gained a couple of keys which would aid them in reaching the yard at least, though the great gate would still bar their way, unless they could discover where the key was kept. Softly they glided from the cell and along the corridor. Suddenly the death like silence was broken by a terrible shriek as some madman awoke from his awful dreams, and so highly strung were her nerves that Nora could not but utter a cry. Out of the mad-house they passed, nnd across the yard. The moon was shining, and the trees cast gaunt shadows upon the white ground. They came to the gate, but a hurried search failed to dis close the key. What was to be done? Even while they stood there, irresolute, a low, mocking laugh smote on their ears, and, turning like a flash, they saw the mad-house doctor standing within n few yards of them, an evil smile on his face. At almost the same instant the great bell in the tower clanged out its wild ap peals of alarm. All was lost! CHAPTER XVIII. Strange things often come to pass In this queer world of ours, but never could anything happen more singular in its na ture than the meeting, face to face, of Lawrence Richmond, the man of strong impulses and fierce passions, with the woman who had been his wife, nnd yet upon whom his eyes had never once fallen during the past fifteen years. Between those two, though they seemed separated by but a step, lay a chasm so deep that it would have been almost im possible to have crossed it. This was the pit time had dug and over which even love had not built a bridge. She knew him at once, but as for him, he had not the remotest suspicion of the truth as he stood there. That this kind-looking, elderly lady, from -whose life his hand had driven all happiness except what she drew from within, was his wife of the past, was something that did not enter his mind just then, so that he hnrl not n trim, of the truth, and was all unprepared for what was to come. He was hot with anger. Having fol lowed Roger Darrel in the direction of the haunted mill, he knew just where his child had been hidden away, and had hur ried on as fast as possible. In common with others, 'Lawrence Richmond had heard of the widow vho occupied the old mlil, but he had never paid any attention to the gossip that wns circulated concerning her, and the fact that she never seemed to, want for any thing so long as money would buy it. He was enraged at the idea of his child being carried off in the audacious. manner she had been, and then kept so close to home. In his anger, he forgot that Carol was of age, and that the law could rot and would not help him in the matter. When he found himself face to face with the mysterious widow, hn antv with some satisfaction that she evidently seem ed disturbed by bis presence, and the fact gave him pleasure. "Yes, it is Lawrence Richmond, mad am. At last I have found you out. By tracking young Darrel I have struck the bower to which he carried her. ln t.nt attempt to deny it, madam; my child is here!" lie thundered. ' . At first she had susnected thnt ho hml recognized her. but Wan illllnerlintnlir tu assured on this point by his words. I 1 snail not nt tempt to deceive yon; Carol has been here. She is out for a walk now. but will be back soon, whon you can see her if you wish. We have nothing to fear from you, Lawrence Rich- j mo iul. for the trirl is of ace. nml nn lni.,r. er subject to your authority, do your way, or remain and see her if you will." He started at sound of her voice. n though memory had given him a stub. ! and yet just then he could not compre- j nonet why he should act thus. His keen eyes seemed to search the face of the woninn. but she wnu'nn utter ly changed from the one he had loved, yet sent rrom mm, that not the faintest glim mer of the truth penetrated his brain. "Yon tulk boldly, mndam. Perhaps you forget the difference In our station. You nre poor nnd friendless, I the rich nnd powerful Lnwrence Richmond, of Rich mond Terrace. Which do vnn think would have the most influence 'in court?" ' MM. ... . . I i lie question wns cruel, nut the widow only smiled, ns though ready to meet it. "Think not your secrets nre unknown to me, Lnwrence Richmond. The Terrace is mortgaged to its full value, and any day the real owner may foreclose. In deed, it has been n source of wonder to you for n yonr past why he has not done so. This was one reason why you wish ed your (laughter to marry Captain (rant. You believed him to be wealthy, the heir to vast estates. Ilud you let him know the truth ou your side, lie would never have troubled you about yonr daughter's hand, for he believed her to be mi heiress." "Woman." gasped the -fld man. "how know jou this? 1 supposed there was not a soul In the world acquainted with the fnots save my lawyer and Lionel Mars don, to whom the mortgage belongs. What witchery is this? Am I to be ruin ed by a babbling tongue? Surely heaven punishes me terribly for that mad net of the past." He almost groaned these last words, nnd she know to whnt they referred, for a low exclamation fell from her lips, JTo be continued.) "Molnscult" in the name of a new cattle food made in the West Indies. It consists of 80 to 85 per cent, of mo lasses and 15 to 20 per cent, of cush- cimu, tho fluest part of tho fiber of su gar caua. ' Wilt m 'Mrs. Anderson, a x J woman of Jacksonville, Fla., daughter of Recorder of Deeds, West, who witnessed her signature to the following letter, praises Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. " Dea Mbs. Pinkiiam : There are but few wives and mothers who have not at times endured agonies and such pain as only women know I wish such women knew the value of Lydia 13. 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