The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-03-21
a Madnlan Still.
HIS OWN STORY.
BY MRS. NJ. A. DENIs0N.

in my eye-isn't its glance cool and steady ?
A mailman couldn't look at you, in that way;
no, not in that way Before was born, they
say my mother was crazy, so you see in
hcrit the malady-not but what I'm cured of
it now, you know Why don't you answer?
When say you know, YOU must reply yes,
as though you comprehended in corner Of
your brain-where the temple Of Venus was
built five hundred years ago; ell, you nndcr-
stand me- p
10 yes, l understand said the young
man, with cheerfulncss he was far from
feeling.
"Well, ifyou understand, always say Yes,
that's all. l have heard that my father was
a fierce, passionate man; suspect he was;
| knoW he was, for saw him strike her once.
That reused the malady in me; caught up
box in which was costly glass, and threw
it at his head was very sorry afterward,
though for when he got well he put medown
cellar in the wine vault and kept me there
a week without clothing or victuals. That
was nothing, however, to me; I've gone years
at time without touching food Well, the
house in which was born was large, and old
and grand | suspect it was Solomon temple
now, though didn't know it then. re-
member the angels wings in the holy of ho-
lies | took them off once, and put them Oh
my own shoulders. You wouldn't believe me
ifI told You that flew to the moon, now
would your
10, yes' was the reply
"Well, then, you'd be fool, that's all I've
got to say; for | didn't do any such thing;
never was in the moon in my life. No. went
out in the garden and got up into an apple
tree; and there sat all day and scared the
birds. But that wasn't what was talking
about. Let me SEQ, our house, it was
richly furnished, and in the hall hung three
hundred pictures-my ancestors, YOU know"
"Yes, was the reply
well. l called that my pistol gallery, and
80 every morning went in and practScd.-
Sometimes Id hit EN- in the eye sometimes
Id knock their teeth out; sometimes I'd put
a ball in the tip end of their noses, so at last,
you know, my ancestors gotto be very tipsy-
looking set-eh?'
"Of course they did"
'Yes, there was one old gentleman there
with a wig-ha ha the way did scatter
that powder-it was real powder, you know,
a real wig; to tell the truth, he was a real man
my grandfather They put him in par
lor after that, the finest room in the house
but he was in finer; you must understand he
was dead; killed him!"
"Killed your grandfather cried his list
ener, in accents of horror, edging towards the
door.
"lcs; and I'll kill you, if you try any Of
that game. I'm going to put my chair a.
sainst the door, and if YOU don't listen qui-'
etly, Ill do my grandfather over again; you
understand And placing his hand under
his coat, he exposed to view pistol which
was probably loaded
He was giant, and must have been once
a powerful man. His eyes were wild, hollow
and black and seemed the tencmcntS of hor-
ror and despair. His hair was fashionably
cut, and so was his beard. There was an
indescrbablc expression fitting now and
then over his palid features; it seemed as if
some ghost haunted them. He was well
dressed, had entered the room as if it belong
ed to him, and ith the power Of his weird
eye translixcd asst were, the thoughtful-faced
student, who sat reading at his desk AT
first, as he was newcomer, the latter deem
ed it some intimate of the professors, per-
ambulating the college-rooms, but now, to
his extreme terror, he saw his peril and knew
not how to escape.
swell, sir, to resume l fell in love with my
father housekeeper; that was very strange,
was it not Picture her to yourself; you
have vivid imagination; most students
have. An antique maid, with high cheek
bones, blue eyes, faded corkScrcw curlS,
bleached white with age, yellow skin re-
sembing parchment, bony fingers, and a
form like the slendcrest end of meeting
house steeple. Wasn't that an object to fall
in love with?'
Il should think So, articulated the trcmb-
ling student.
"Well, so should I; bat you're out, young
man our houSckeeper wasn't that, let ME tell
you. She was divine Ia Hebe Of a girl
young, bright, blooming, beautiful; fresh as
the first morning in young spring. Her hair
fell round her like cloud of glory; her eyes
were vciled meath the longest, the darkest,
the most bewitching aShes; the bloom on her
cheek waslike the tenderest touch of the de-
parting sun when he tips the white fleece with
crimson; her lips we're small, luscious, pink
nectarines; her forehead was whittier than the
finest ivory. She charmed away the evil
spirit whenever heard the light tripping Of
the little foot the devil within me was still ;
II croucbed siy. il croucbedl~-,i hid It's fery