The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-09

thought me of reading. So, rum
maging in my portmanteau, I found
the last number of the Virginia Uni
Uersity Magazine, which had come by
mail the day before J left C., and
had been thrown into the bag, with
the careless remark, "T might fancy
something to read ON the way
''The contingency had arisen, sure
enough" was my mental ejaculation,
as cut the leaves and disposed my
self comfortably to enjoy its contents.
Being thus engaged, I was inter
rupted by the opening of the door at
the farther end of the car, and the
entrance of another passenger. "You
are rather tardy in making your ap-
pearance on the scenc," 1 thought,
glancing at him casually; ''been
smoking segar in the baggage car
suppose Verify, 1 had reason after
ward to be sorry that he had made
his appearance at all.
However, at first, felt very little
concern about the other passenger,
and turned, for companionship, to
my book. There was the usual
variety of such publications, poetry.
stories, literary essays and short arti-
cles, very pungent and witty. /
would edo it." thought, like coun-
try people read the newspapers, lat
least I've been told So, begin at the
first column and wade through to the
last, advertisements and all. Having
decided on this admirable plan. /
had Just gotten into the merits of the
opening article when the dim CON
sciousness dawned upon me that my
fellow-passenger was n most unmiti-
gated tidget. '.In the name of
wonder, why does the man change
his seat so frequently?" was my men
tai comment-for, be it observed, on
first entering, he had taken the seat
nearest the door, and by frequent
changes, was now somewhat beyond
the middle of the car. He came still
nearer and nearer, and at last my Gu
rlosity became SO excited, l lost all
interest in the magazine, and LAYING
it idly in my lap, employed myself in
trying to imagine what could make
the man SO dreadfully restless. His
malady, whatever its cause, did not
improve; he continued to move about
uDeasily, and was now so near. us to
admit of close inspection of his
person. | scanned him narrowly.
when thought he did not perceive
my observation trying, if possible,
to discover if there was anything i'm
his appearance, indicative OF an evil
which was, at that time.
the only reason | could assign for
i Il
He was Il tall, young man, scarcely
over twenty-five, l should Judge;
slenderly, slightly built, and must be,
thought, in delicate health. This
supposition did not originate alone
from the almost unearthly pallor,
which characterized his face, but also
from his white, emaciated, almost
transparent hands, and the general
air of melancholy which marked
his appearance. He was certainly
an invalid-a great sutfercr-there
could be no doubt of that in my
mind, for l noticed that occa-
sionally the blood would mount ND
III crimson flush to his cheeks, and
then as suddenly recede, leaving his
face more shockingly pallid than be-
fore. He was dressed like a gentle
man, in Il suit Of bluck-eood mate
rial and fashionably made, but he
wore them carelessly. His cravat hung
loosely around his neck, and there
was an uir of wildncss and excitement
pervading his whole person. AS he
continued to approach, I noted all
these things. but the popularity of
his face, which frs: attracted and
then absorbed my attention, were his
eyes. They We're remarkable eyes.
deep set, hollow, keen as Il falcons.
with something mysterious. super
natural in their fiery glance. The
expression once seen was never for
gotten. What was it? What was
the fascination which made me look
in spite of myself. which made me
powerless to resist their wild, un-
earthly charm? I tried to analyze
the secret Of their power Was the
influence they exerted on the behold
er plcasurable? No; far from it.
On the contrary, the moment 1 caught
the expression Of the mans eye,
felt an inward shrinking, an indie
finable fear take possession of me.
But where hal | seen that expression
before, Surely somewhere Yes.
Good Heaven. on sudden the truth
flashed upon me. | had once been
at the Lunatic Asylum in the city of