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.)
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Wilt m
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Could Dm Him.
"Do you know," said the pretty
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"Yes. You make me wish he w
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