United States or Western Sahara ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Jeffrey's drawer, where you could have no business, unless it was to see if she had taken his pistol with her?" Miss Tuttle's head fell and a soft flush broke through the pallor of her cheek. "Because I was thinking of him. Because I was terrified for him. He had left the house the morning before in a half-maddened condition and had not come back to sleep or eat since.
She listened for the next move, but he made none. She knew then that he was waiting at the foot of the stairs. She was half-maddened with terror by that time, and she ran to the window. But it was high. Even if she could have dropped out, and before she could put on enough clothing to escape in, he would be back again, his rage the greater for the delay.
The sobbing, frightened women; the white, stricken faces of the men; the agony of those who had loved her; the distress and dismay of those who had only admired her; and there was one trembling, shuddering wretch, in her satin and her jewels, standing white and haggard apart, with knees that shook together, and teeth that clattered, and tearless sobs that shook her from head to foot, staring with a half-maddened stare upon the fatal waters.
The subtle effluvia permeating the night air for miles around might have guided these messengers into the German trenches had not a nearer and more imperious perfume annihilated it. Headlong, amorous, impatient they had whirled toward the embraces of Madam Death; the nearer and more powerful perfume had drawn the half-maddened, half-drugged messengers.
The half-maddened animal was overhauling the fugitives perceptibly at every enormous stride, and in a few moments more shot by the buggy and up to the head of the terrified mare. As he did so, his rider reached out his left hand and caught the mare by her bridle, reined up his own horse and threw both of the animals back upon their haunches.
"I can't do any good, I am afraid. You shall hear from me again. Don't come to the door. Shall I send my servants to you?" "Who's that? Who's that?" screamed the half-maddened woman, beginning to fling herself wildly out of Janetta's restraining arms. "Let me get at her, you bad girl! letting people into my house " "Can you manage? Do you want help?" said Lady Ashley, quickly.
One by one the gun teams swung in a half circle, each dropped its mud-spattered gun, the cannoneers sprang to unhook the trails, the frantic, half-maddened horses were lashed to the rear. The Special Messenger rose quietly to her feet, and at the same instant a passing cannoneer turned and saw her in the doorway. "Hey!" he exclaimed; "what you doin' thar?"
Two deaths yesterday, one to-day, three hourly apprehended; doctors incessantly occupied, nurses, however unfit, not to be procured by any exertion of the half-maddened relieving-officer; bread-winners prostrated; food, wine, bedding, everything lacking.
Still she persisted, with tears streaming from her eyes, with white arms upraised, on her knees even, catching at his coat, and beseeching him in broken accents. In her wild, fierce beauty and passionate abandonment she might have been a deserted Ariadne a suppliant Medea. Anything rather than what she was a dissolute, half-maddened woman, praying for the pardon of her convict husband.
She started as the half-maddened woman closed the door, locked it behind her, and cast herself on her knees at her feet. "My husband is here," she gasped. "What shall I do? In heaven's name help me!" "Is Van Loo still here?" said Mrs. Horncastle quickly. "No; gone. He went when I came." Mrs. Horncastle caught her hand and looked intently into her frightened face.
Word Of The Day