Grey Highlands Public Library Digital Collections

Flesherton Advance, 23 Jun 1892, p. 2

The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TO THE BITTER END. A Tale of Two Lives. ( IIAPTEH \\V. "THANK UOU THAT HE HAH <luN !* For ""iiic time Lonl Clunavon stood with the paper in bin hand doubtful how U> aut. Then he quietly dropped it again where he had found it and strolled away to another part of the room When Mr* Smith entered, a few minute* later, with th luncheon tray, he did nut c\eii mention the subject. " Not at all an unpleasant loom, thil," he remarked, a* the commenced letting out tin- things ; "hut where did my father leep when he came down here ? " H>- was watching her very closely, and he could detect a slight uneasiness in her manner as she answered, after a moment*' hesitation : " In here. sir. There is a sort of chair bedstead stands in my room, and lie used to have that brought here. If you are pending the night hsre, my lord " I m Dot," hu interrupted. " I nhall be leaving this afternoon." It was impossible for Mrs. Smith to alto- gether conceal her relief. Lord ( 'lanavon uoticeil her changed aspect, I ml he made DO remark. " This is a very queer old place Mrs. Smith." he rem;iiked. "It is, Diy li. very old-fashioned, and I'm sure the d*n i> is something awful. In the wet weather I'm most of the lime down with rheumatic*. For thorn who's njt used to tucji places it must be most unhealthy." He turned away to hide a slight smile. " I'm not surprised to hear it, Mrs. Smith he said gravely. " Hy th ">'"> when I was youngster I used to hear some queer stories about the place or was it my fancy? Aren't there some secret room* in this tower and a passage leading somewhere or other? I fancy I used to hear my father talk about thrm.' He I. id strolled away to the window, but had care fully placed himself opposite a small mirror. In it he *aw the sudden start which had set all the rililions in her cup rustling, and watched the deadly pallor creep into her wrinkled face. It was enough for him. He forbore to turn around, and Mtood idly gazing out of the window, as though the matter were of small interest to him. " It must be a mistake, my lord. I have never heard of any." He shrugged his shoulders. " Very likely. If you have never heard of any it muit have U-en. Well I'll have sonir luncheon now. and then liuiih looking through thee paper*. I cipect a Hy or carriage of some sort here about four - \\ ill you let me know when it is heiv, and bring me a cup of tea?" "Certainly, my lord, Is there anything Ise I can do now ?" " Nothing, lliank ym, Mi Smith. Your chickens look very good, and the air has given me an appetite. \Yliere did this claret come from ' ' " Your father had it sent here, my lord, several years ago. There is a great deal of It i.i the cellar. ' " I'm very glad to hear it," he answered, empty-nix Inn glawi. " I think I'll havs it sent luck to London, an I don't mlend com- ing c|.,n here again. It's too good to lone mglit of. There's nothing else at preienl, M-- -Mnitli." "Very good, my lord. I'm sorry you'll liml there's no bell ; hut I'll come for the tray in balf an hour.' 1 She left him alone, closing the door care- fully after her. When she returned he had limxhed bin lunch and was seated once more at the writing-table. This time, as he appcan d in I busy, there was no conversa- tion Ix'twei-n them. Sin- cleared the Ihlug* away in silence and depai ted. He waited until she had got out of hear- ing Ix-fore he moved. Then he lit a cig-ir, and, opening the door, walked out into the corridor connec;ing the tower with the mum biiildinx- A few yard* down it there wa* a great (insure in the inland wall. Hu leaned over this, and folding his arms upon the stonework looked thoughtfully at the tower. Two things struck him alwut it: First, that taking into account tbs small i/ of trt I..OTU which he had just quitted, the wslls must either be of entraordmary tin k- ntss, 01 there must be some hollow span* bet ween ; secondly, that from it* great height, an. I the foci of the only room In it being right at the top, it had probably been built lor a watch-tower. The last theory made the possibility of the existence ol any secret room* about the place somewhat unlikely. Yet it penned a very feasible one, fur a Hong light burning in that little rhamlier at (lie top of the tower would cut its reflec- tion far over the sea winch rolled in to its very bam*. I i there had been time, and if ha could have I evn sure that Mrs. Smith was not watching him, he would have liked by lome mean* to go down on the boach below, and iminne the tower from its base. Hut (lancing a'< his watch, he saw that there was scarcely time for this, so he dctcrmin d lo put the plan which he had previously determined into eiecution. He walked I*, k into the room, and, throwing away hi* cigar, carefully examined the wall* on li'- north liile. He tried them inch by In. h all the way along without result. They were perfectly *olid itone and mortar. Ha looked all around the fireplace ; it waa even oiore unpromiMiig. Then he tried the walls on tin 1 other side, though lie hopnl for little from these, for from the window he could tell that there wa* not much apace for a passage of any sort be- tween the inside and outside of the wall. Finally he concluded his search with a slirug of the shoulders, and confessed him elf beaten for the time. He lit another cigar, anil sitting down in the easy chair, once more read through the In tie packet of letter* which he had secur- ed. Thry told him so little, and yit so niu<,h lis could scarcely we, now thai lie had them, how to act. It was all vague and unsatisfactory. In hi* heart he knew that he was sorry that he bail found them. It was a rhapt'ir of his father's life winch had betu-r been kept closed forever. Hud it not IKM-II for that marriage certificate bad there been mention of an angry father or hiothrr, of Hie diigrac* which, save for tli it slip of paper, he might have brought upon that dead woman and her family thru it might have lieen possible to connect tbii in id- ut with his father's murder, and thus he might have hunted down tin assas-. in. Hut as it was it seemod to Imn impossible to do so. This was an i pi "*. a, startling episode, hut it l.ad I a finite ending. It was finished and done . w.lh. There was no point in it which he i could lay hold of and follow out with any hope of its leading him to a definite clew. Four o'clock came, and soon afterward Mrs. Smith knocked at the door and enter- ed, carrying a small hag. " The fly from Mewlton has arrived, my lord, an 1 1 have brought you your tea." Ho drunk it, theu carefully In.-ked up the writing de*k, and prepared lo depart. "I slull Bend down here some time, Mrs. Smith," he said, " for the pa]M>rs in that desk. I will let you know when. Or pet- haps I may write and ak you to forw.u il them. You will he able to do that?" " Certainly, my lord. I would use great care. " He drew on his overcoat, and then iwunji the key thoughtfully backward and forward upon In* linger. " I'erbaps," he >aid, " until I do so I had belter take the key and let Mr. Brnduell have it." She seemed a little distutU-d, and there was an anxious gleam in her eyes. Hut she triiL'Kled to hide it. "It would be perfectly safe here, my lord, where you found it. I would not lei it out ol my night." " 1 .1 .n i doubt il, Mrs. Smith," be said, walking by her tide Jown the corridor ; " but lawyers are very particular sort of people, you know, snd there are important papers in that desk. I think, in fact, I know that Mi Brudiiell would prefer having the key himself." " Very good, my lord." They passed through the gallery and the dreary succi-s- | lion or uninhabited and uninhabitable mom* and out into the yard, where a closed fly, 1 drawn by a pair of nondescript* one pony and a horse was waiting. Lord Alceston took his seat at once, ami made his adieus to .N. rs. Smith from the window. "Good-day, Mn. Smith. Much obliged for your attention." "(iooil day, my lord, and thank you." She dropped bimanold-faihioiied courtesy and itoi.il with a very forced smil on bar lips, till the carriage drove off. A* it van- I uned her whole appearance changed. She had stood watching the vehicle with a tiled ea^er ga/c, which changed tin- moment il finally disappeared into a look of intense relief. The tear* glistened in her eyss and h. r lipn trembled. It had been a great train on her, but, thank Cud : it was over. He had gone. Thank God ful it ! i HAl'TKK XXVI. A -I Klsii DOOR. The carriage which was conveying Loid Abeston back toward more civilized regions had scarcely proceeded more than a couple ot null's in n it* occupant thrust hit head .out of the window and called to the driver I to stop. The man pulled up at once and tin in-. 1 round to find that his lordship had .Imnotinled and was ktandmg I iy hit side. " Look here, my man," he said slowly, "do you want to eirn a sovereign ? " "I dhouldii t make no objection to that, ' your lordship," answered the man, touch- ing hi* hit with a broad grin of anticipation. By his accent and readiness of speech he wa* evidently no provincial. " Very well, then, listen lo me, and I'll tell you how,' l.urd Alceitou continued. I " I've alt red my mind about going sway to-day. Don't ask any questions, but just do as I tell you. Urivo back to tho inn, slid imply >sy thai you were m t wanted, but re to come to the castle for mo to-morrow ni.iii nik! On you understand ? " " 1'orfectly, your lonhiliip. Am I to diive you b-i.-k to the oastle now, or leave you here?" " Yon are to leave me here. I shall re- turn mi loot." " Vi i\ good, your lordship," the man an- sweied, gathering up his reins. "You can go.' " Very gooa, your lordship." " Then why don't you t*rt* " The man touched bis hat aud smiled in- sinuatingly. " There waatimall amount to In earned, your lordship." " And you want it in advance, do you ?" Lord Al< esloii remarked, muling and feel- ing in his pocket. " Well, it'* like this, your lord*hip," the man said, confidential Iy, "they might not put n i on the job to m< in w, in. I then, you see " Lord Alceston handed him up the coin. " There you are, then. You're no fool, I see. Kemeinlier to keep a suJl tongue ill your he.nl." " There ain't no fear, your lordship. I know* wut I'm to say, and no more. I wish your lordship gond Afternoon. ' The man drove off and left Lord Alceston landing in the middle of the road. It waa barely five o'clock, but it wa* already al- most dark. Buttoning up In* coat, hu turn- ed round, and with tbe wind in his teeth, started hack toward the castle. In about half an hour he had leached the aide of the cliff fronting the hay, immediately above the cottage*, and about a quarter of a mile from the castle, which wai now in full view. Me looked first at the tower. There wa* no light there. He drew a quick breath of disappointment, although it was only what he hod expected. He looked around him, and choosing a flat rook, a little shelii i. .1 from Ibs wind, he ist down and lit a cigar. An hour passed, two hours three hours. Lord Ales* ton was smoking his last cigar, his feet were nuinhed with cold, and hi* patience was almost exhausted. Suddenly hi- jumped to hii feet with a quick exclam- ation. A light had suddenly appeared in the dark outline before him, and twinkling unsteadily for a niiinim or two had settled down to barn with a clear, steady glow. He threw away his cigar and watched it with a peculiar smile. There could be no possible doubt about it. It came from the dumber in the tower, the key of which wa-i t thai very moment iu bit pocket. Mrs. Smith was titling alone in her room, half parlor, half kitchen, with her eye* do*. .1 an. I her Imnds idle in her, lap. llefore her on thu oaken table wot an open Iliblo, a lamp, and her knitlinp, but neither had received very much attention from her. She was an old v, i>in:in, and for hi r il had lieuai a terrible d >\ . Tin suspense hail wearied her, and now that it was over she was feel- ing tht.. train. But she waf very grateful. She felt that >he had reason to be, and (he was genuinely grateful. Hark ! What was that ? cl-cking of the latch ! the wind a mouse. Surely not a It must hive liuen Hark ! Waa that not a footstep on the stone flags ? Some one had entered the house was closing the door. Oh, Got), if it should be he, come back ! She clutched the side of her chair, and better come out and let me see you t If you don't I shall burst the door I" There was no answer, save a half-stifled moan. Lord Alcoatou planted his feet firm- ly upon the ground and prepared for the struggle. "I warn you to stand aside !" he called out. "I am going to have this door open!" Again there wo* no answer. Lord Alces- lowly opened her cye. lief ore her, hi hair i ton wasted no more time in parleying*, tosxed by the wind and the rain streaming Setting his teeth, he commenced the trug- from hi* clothes, stood Lord Alcoton, with pale Bet face, and holding something in his hand which flashed aud gleamed in the dancing firelight. She looked at him, dumb, her eyes gla/i-d with an unutterable horror andher aged limb* shaking. It waa an awful moment. The perspiration stood in great beads on her dry, wrinkled forehead. Often afterward she wondered that the strings of her Ine had not snapped with the tension. It was enough to kill her. His voice broke the spell which had numbed all her senses. " Mr*. Smith," he said, sti-rnlv, " you have lied to me about that room. There is some one in there now. I am going to solve this mystery foi my self. " ( 'oncionni ss had come to her like a flash. She Un-w what il was hi- proposed to do ; he foresaw the result. She aaw the stern, set look in hu face and the barrel of the revolver in bin hand. It was the face of a man undaunted, indomitable, fearlsa*. Yet he tried her best. She threw hcr*e<lf on her knees before him. She grovelled at his feet. "My lord," she cried. "Listen tome! Be warned ! A* sure a* there is a God in Heaven I swear to you that you will repent it every day of your life if you do tkis thing !" He looked at her curiously, but utterly unmoved. " Though I face death itself I shall go to that room and dicuveriU occupant," he said quietly. " You have done ill in keeping thi* thing secret from me, whatever it be, and if you have made my house the refuge ot criminals you shall answer for it, old woman though you are. Get up. You do no ood there." She "prang toward him and wound her arm* around nit neck to hold him liack. He :liaeiigaged himself as gently a* he could, but still with some little force. With a thriek which rang through the bare rooms and empty ruined corridors and awoke a thousand strange echoes at every corner, he sank back upon the bare stone floor fam-.ing. He hesitated, but it was only for a second. She must take her chance. He could do little for her if he stayed, and if the sound of her cry had reached the tower he might find the occupant fled. Catching up the lamp in his Icfl baud, he hurried away along the wide gallery. Twice be lost his way and hod to retrace his steps, and many time* he stumbled over the task of overcomin ercoming as he had gle. He did not fii.d his unven adversary quite so easy expected. For nearly a minute he put forth his whole strength, but his feet blip pi- I more than once on the damp slippery ground, and when on the eve ot auc- ces he hsxl lost his advantage and had been obliged to make a fresh start. The labored breath and groans of his adversary told him lhat he wax in sore distress, but nevertheless he held on, aud though the door creaked and trembled with the strain put upon it, it never budged an inch. Breathless himself, Lord Alceston relin- quished his efforts, and after a moment's consideration changed his tactics. Stepping back into the room, he took a few yards' run, and charged the door with irresistible force. The result wo* an unexpected one. The door went down before him with a crash, and he, not being prepared for such an easy victory, overbalanced himself aud fell heav- ily upon it. He picked himself up at once, unhurt, but a trifle dizzy. The reason of his fall WAI obvious. The opposing force which had been holding the door up had vanished. His adversary had fled. He stood quite still for a moment, lean- ing forward into the darkness aud listening intently. At first it seemed to him that the sileuc* waa as the silence of the grave ; then as his senses grew a littl* more accus- tomed to his surroundings, he could faintly hear the sound of steeJthy retreating fool- step*. His first impulse was to leap forward in the direction from which the sound came, and follow it in blind pursuit. Then he hesitated, for he was in black darkness, unrelieved by a (ingle gleam of light. Feel- ing hastily in his pocket, he found his match box fortunately full -aud, striking a light, hold it high over his head. He glanced around in horty curiosity. Tbe faint, flickering light was just sufficient to show him the hare.dauip wall* of a wind- ing passage about ix feet broad ani scarce- o high nothing else. After a momentary glance he threw the match down, and stooping low to avoid knocking his head against the roof, he turn- ed and hurried in the direction of the fleet- ing fooUteps, now almost indistinguishable. It was a chase which he remembered all hi* life and with reason. More than once he miated his footing on the wet, slimy earlb and fell forward on his hands. But the Ihe startled rats and nearly fell. At lost he iound> now plaiulv to ^ heard.of the hurry reached tho ruined , or, idors leading to the in footsteps in front was enough to spur tower, and In* heart gave a great leap. He hlm on a ^ in heedies* of his aching limbs s'i" M ;ilong with the key ready ill his hand. When he reached the part where there was a great gap in the side and roof the wind blew bii lamp out. He threw it away over theside, and heard il go crashing down be- low. With hi* free hand he drew his revol- ver from his pocket and lium.-d on. He reacbeu the door and thrust the key in the luck. 1 1 was stiff and creaked in the turning. There wo* a sound from inside likeaihaip report. Lord Clyiavon, with a final wrench, threw the door opeu and lepped quickly inaide. A lamp wo* burning on the table which had l>een his father's and a book lay open liusidc it. There wa* a itrong *mell of t< bacco in the room, and there were other evidences of recent occupation. But the room had no occupant. It wa* empty. Lord Alceaton looked eagerly around for some clew as to the means by which the mys li-rioiis 1-1 ciipanl had escaped him Sudden- ly a certain part of the Door attracted his notice. The carpet was all disarranged and two of the oaken b*tms were aslant from certain point, as though on a hinge. He limped down t examine them closer and saw at once that they formed a trap-door, Ho lifted it, and below was an iron ladder leading into lUrknoss as black as night. lie did not hesitate lor more than a mo- ment. aud cut hands. He ran into the jagged walls at sharp curve*, bruising his face aud arms, and al times he felt almost choked by the noxious ail. But he never dreauied of giving up the chase. So far from that, every fall Heemed to make him more eager and lo lend him renewed strength. Beneath a somewhat careless and insouci ante manner, acquired during his travels abroad. Lord Alcestou was a thorough Kng- liahman, and wa* possessed of a bull-dog tenacity of purpose. All this part of him was aroused now. Anger aud surprise had become merged in another and a stronger feeling. There had been a conspiracy to deceive him 1 His property was being made the refuge of one who dared not live in the light <ff day who was presumably a criminal ; and, mou heinous offence of all, his permission had not been asked ! Tbe shelter of his roof had len token advant- age of by stealth. Lord Alcestou was very angry indeed. Danger and discomfort were alike forgot leu. There was only one thought in bis mind, and one puipose ; and he meant to accomplish it. Suddenly, the iutense vault-like still- ness of the place wa* broken by a strange, awful sound reaching linn, faint- ly at first, but increasing in volume at every step forward he took. There I h.'ii .lipping In* revolver into hi. , jt a wn ation akin to fear, yet apart ,.cket and Kraspiiig the sides of the ladder fro,,, cowardice-awe. Lord Alceston felt it with Imth hand., he commenced the descent. he paused and listened with bated brjath. Five, six, seven, eighl ste Then it began to get a 11 he counted, lighter, and from tho ninth he stepped ml on to some sort of flooring. Tin n- wa* no sound, no At tirst it sounded like the low rumbling of t threatened earthquake like the thunder- on* splitting up of hill* and mountains Mgll of He* of any one else being near. s struck a match and looked curiously about him. He wo* in a rhamher similar in shape to, only smaller than, the one which he had Jn*t quitted, bill wmdowles*, and with and the gularly used ll* were da as no aigtiHbf over having Iwen re a human habitation. The wal and spotted with fungi and huga cobwebs, the floor waa rough and uneven, anda vault like, musty Miieil rilled the pla^e. The only light caiiiu from a small opening in the wall on the leawnrd *ide, which luemed also to alloid xole meani of ventilation A little heap in the far corner attracted Lord Clanavon'i attention, and he made hi* way carefully toward it. Unfit though tho place was, it had evidently been used by some one as a temporary lodging, f r here in the driest portion were a heap of bed clothes, linen, and a few other articles bundled together, as though ill great hasce, with the view of hiding them. Directly he aw them Lord Clanavon knew that the object of hi* search could not be far away. lie itrin k another match, and looked around to see what means of exit the place allonled. Alinnat opposite him was a small wooden door, rotten with age and tottering mi it* hingo*. Some efforts seemed to have been made to stMngiheii it, for tprung iron hooks were roughly tied 1111 with rope, but lhro was neither lock nor lx>lt to lU Lord Clanavon looked at it for a minute, and then took a quick step forward and lit . ..... .... parting asunder oi tho solid earth. He stood quite still for a moment, listening intently. The ground beneath his feet wa* loft and wet ; the walls were glistening with drops of wet which seemed to be oo/.ing out from their. He put hi* fool on a *oft, pulpish substance, and saw that it was a starfish clinging to a mas* of dull brown, dank seaweed. Then tho truth flashed in upon him, aud he underatood at on. v that low rtimnliiiKSound which seemed to make the wall* of the passage shake aud groan tin* underground passage must lead to thu >ea. He pushed on again without hesitation. Drowned in tho monotonous roar which was Hinging now in hi* ears, he had no longer the sound of the footsteps in front to encourage him. Hut a few more yards along the passage brought him within meas- urable distance of the end of his quest. The passage contracted into an opening scarcely wide enough for a man to creep through. Without a moment's pause he crawled through. Then he saw lhat he could go hut a little further, for scarcely a dozen yards in front of him was another wider opening, like tbe mouth of a cave, and lieyond there was the sea. Lord Alceston stood upright, and looked eagerly around him. In the dusky semi- twilight it was hard to make out at all the lliapcless objects which loomed about him. Hy degrees, however, as his eyes grew more accustomed to the. light.they stoououtcloar- >k a i|ui. another match. There was no doubt about er> am l he'began to take in his surroundings, it. The dour was shaking slightly back- ward and forward, as though held en the other side by an unsteady band. Drawing a step nearer, and listening, he oould hear a faint, I. iw sound the sound of an ex- hausted aud panting man struggling to hold hi* breath. CHAI'TKU XXVII IN THE i.ow l I i or I'll K IABTII. It did not take Lord Alceston long to make up Ins mind a* to a/hat course to adopt. Propping the match which he bad teen holding upon tho ground, he strode up to the door anil luauud ui* shouldsr agaiust il. " Whoever you ar*," berried, "you had He was in a cave, a low, sea-stained cave, terminating in the aperture by which he had entered. The side* were dripping with wet and the ground, strewn with Ma- weed and dark puddles, at high tide the that bowed him sea entered. Several huge mounds of rock jutted up by his side in queer, fantastic shape*. Save for the dripping of the water into the pud- dle* from the roof and sides of the cave, and the more distant ebb and flow of the tea, a deep, gloomy silence seemed to brood over the place. Nowhere was there any sign of any human being. He had already taken one hasty step for- ward toward the entrance when a curious omenon presented itself. From be- one of the masses of rock, on hia Icf 1 - pheno hind on hand side, he became suddenly aware of a pair of bright, gliitening eyes fastened upon him. At lint he wo* almost inclined to think that they were *tartish, but while he hesitated the dark, thin figure of a man stole out from behind the shelter of the rook and darted toward the aperture of the secret passage, liefcre he hod taken half a. dozen steps, however, Lord Alce.iton's right arm was wound around his neck, and he felt himself lifted bodily from his feet. An unearthly cry rang out into the silence, and was echoed back from the roof and side* of the cave till it died away in a plaintive wail -A cry which seemed to come from a soul in agcny, rather than from any mortal being in phyiical fear. Lord Alceston shud- dered, but he only tightened his grasp. " Out into the light !" he cried, fiercely dragging his captive toward the entrance of Ihe cave. " Let me see the man who has led me this mad chase !" The man sank down upon the ground ast though exhausted. " For the love of (od and for your own everlasting peaoe of mind, Lord Bernard," he moaned, ' ' leave me here ! I swear by everything that i* holy in heaven or earth that it will be better for you not to look upon my face. Let me go 1 Oh, let me go!" " Not I !" cried Lord Alceston, peering through the twilight in a vain attempt to distinguish the features of his captive. " (jt up, and couie outside, or by hesven I'll carry you." " Listen to me, Lord Clanavon !" cried the other in a weak, hollow tone. " There I is no exit from this cave, and as the tide comes in that passage," pointing backward, " is impsvssabie. Go back quickly, or you will be too late, and leave me here. Death will be welcome to me." Lord Alceston mode no answer, but reach- ing down he lifted up the crouching form like a baby, and stooping low down he car- ried him to the entrance of the cave and out into the fading daylight. Then h set him down. " Get up, and don't lie there grovelling like a woman," be said sternly. " Get up, and tell me what you mean by this strange behavior, and who you are. The man did not move. Lord Clanavon stooped down on one knee, and tore asund- er the interlaced hand*, which covered the wan, thin lace. Then he let them go at if they had slung him, and staggered back. " Neillson '." he cried. " My God 1" (TO BK UONTTM7X1). ) A I I II L I Kl I KM I M.I I nx'-ii lu il * 1 1 I n h. ma n < u.U url With Which Hr (Jinnee* si tarsaer. A Fonytbe, Mo., despatch says: Ten days ago Henry Sullivan, a prosperous 1 farmer and cattle raiser of this vicinity, left home to go to a neighboring town, where he purposed buying a number of cattle. Mince that time nothing wai heard I of him until to-day, when he walked into his home looking so haggard, unkempt, and disreputable that no one recognized him. He told a stiange story of his mishaps ' while absent which investigation subslau- 1 ti\tes. Some time ago, in making a deal with Charles Wilson, a farmer, Sullivan got tbe best of it to the extent of several thousand dollars. This so preyed upon Wilson, an eccentric bachelor, that be deter nined upon a fiendish revenge. In a deep canon near Ibe rood which Sullivan travelled wa* ; a large cave which no one had ever explor- ed, and which wa* reputed to be tbe den of ferocioui wild animal* and venompus rep- tile*. Assaulting Sullivan at a point near the cave, Wilson dragged his captive into it. Stripping him naked, he bound him firmly to a glint column and left him. Here, with , the slime from the cave dripping en him and with vermin, bugs, and repulsive worm* crawling over him. Sullivan spent several i days of unspeakable agony and misery. It was not his captor's plan to kill him at once. He was to die by inches. Koch day he visited Sullivan, bringing with him juste too'l enough to prolong life and to make hi* sufferings a thousand times worse than the agony of death. What Sullivan suffered, he says, can never be lold. It was worae than the torment* of hell. His fiendish csptor would bring heaped up dishes of food, and, placing it just beyond his reach, would gloat over his agony. A week of this and the prisoner was so weak and mentally such a wreck that Wilson, fearing he might die before he hod satisfied his revenge, adopted milder tactics, and fed him liberally for a few day*. In one of the effort* made with revived strength Sullivan broke hi* bonds and fled. He found hi* way home and told his pitiful story to his wife, who started the authorities on the track of the inhuman Wilson. The latler has fled, and, as yet, no traces of him have heeu found. If he is caught no cour of justice, will try him. Sullivan is a mental and physical wreck at the result of his sufferings in the cave of horrors. o M> I "I- I I 1 II' I . rrl I.I.- -I.. rm W hi. h Hwept <> i r Neva Hrvlla T*rlay tlfhl. A despatch from Halifax says : One of the most terrible electrical storms witness- ed in i In maritime provinces in recent time* swept over tho country early yesterday morning, aud was repeated with even great- er fury last uigla and this morning, demor- alizing the telegraph lines. On Monday evening the thermometer was down to :u, yesterday It was SI) in the shade. The lightning storm of yesterday morning did considerable datnage throughout the coun- try. Another storm of evon greater violence struck Halifax last night. At 10 o'clock a meteor-like flash darted across the sky, and broke and spread in forks in thousands of directions. At 11 o'clock a tartlmgly vivid flash of lightning and a roaring peal of thunder broke over the peninsula. The lightning, which seemed to move from the north-west, flashed across the harbor in vivid chains of fire, lighting p the whole harbor. About I - o clock aa appalling heet of flame, accompanied by a peal ol awful thunder lotting some seconds, lit up the whole city and snowed the Dartmouth shore quite distinctly. The rattling peals of thunder and the flashing chains of cloud fire made the scene at once appalling and magnificent. At Truro the electric light* were extinguished, and the midnight ex- prcu from St. John dashed into a box car which the high wind hod blown on tho main line. The locomotive was wrecked, the postal car was wrecked, the whole train de- railed and other damage done, but no pai- nenger waa injured, 't rainmen say the view of the storm while cn>**jrg the Cobequid i ' cut ouo.

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy