The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-08
BLOOD WILL TELL.

| BLOOD WILL TELL.
FROM 11pp1Ncorr's mAaAz1NE.]
This trite saying, used so frequently
with disregard Of its true import, re-
ceived an application new to me in TIE
strange experiences of a friend, Of
which he has lately given me the de-
tails. 1t shall be told as nearly as pos
sible in his own words. As we sat
smoking in the calm summer evening,
catching last elimpses Of the distant
hilltops before tho duskY mantle had
drawn itself over them, Richard Eus-
| tace spoke IS follows. ~
Avery curious incident befell me in
Germany :perhaps l am too mild in u.s.
ing the term ourlous-I might rather
! say terrible-for it was full of horror,
and left an effect on my nerves for
months afterward.
I was travelling for pleasure, and had
stopped for a few days. sojourn at an
ancient town which boasted of small
university. Here became acquainted
with a young student named Gustavc
Heindl. The first time [ saw him I
was struck with a peculiar expression
in his face, which was singularly attract
i've, and at the same time cc:singnIarly
suggestive Of responsiveness. :" When I
was introduced to him these impress
sions seized me vet more powerfully,
and moved me with a deep desire to
know him intimately. I had not con-
versed with him many minutes before
the image Of 'Margrave in Bulwer's
Strange Story was brought vividly be-
fore ue-not SO much by his converse
tion or actions as by a certain atmos-
phere which seemed to pervade his
presence.
He had pale face, full of vlvacity,
yet indicative Of a deep, or at least a
persistent, thinker. His forehead was
high aud intelligent, his eyes open and
frank, yet full Of unrevealed medita-
ton, while bis motions were quick and
teeming with vitality. But with all this
there was something lacking: ais one
gazed at him there was an undefnable
vacancy mauifest-a want that could
not be expressed. It was not made
known "a a. modes Of expression, no,
in bis reasoning, nor yet in his daily
life. BE was. .free-hearted and open.
pursed he would:g give his last farth.
ing to beggar, and he was the nos,
agreeable Of companions.
| To detail the progress Of our &C.
quaintance would be wearisome and
useless. It will suffice to say tfat j
remained for several weeks in the towr
where he resided, enjoying his daily
and almost hourly society, and holding
long discussions with him on abstract
subjects, which, so far as the veal Of
woe Of the world was concerned, nigh,
as well be buried in oblivion.
he was an unmitigated skeptic, and
in saying this I use the word advisedly
In its generally.accepted sense skepti.
means the most credulous of all NOR
taIs.s In rejecting one thing the ordi
nary skeptio viii generally, in order t,
maintain his position, fall back upon
half : dozen absurdities infinitely NOR,
ridiculous aud unreasonable than wha
he condemns Is unworthy the serious
consideration of an@enlightened mind
But Gustave Heindl was skepti'
through and through he did not be
lieve in anything. =. .-s -
"Certainly man has no SOUL" h'
would say. "If ho has, where does b,
get it.? When does hesget it? What j.
it2 Where does it come from? Has .
babe in its embryo state soul7 And
when the perfect form of human be-
ing comes into the world dead, has it q
soul, or had it one? Or, if it is born
alive and perishes within an hour afte1
breathing the air, has it spirit to fly
away to heaveu-or hell I don't be-
lieve it-yous don't believe it. Bu,
lyou bavc beentaught that it is so, and
You think itJour duty to proclaim the
absurdity:' ~
! I listened to him as he enlarged on
this theme, which was his favorite one
and which he enforced with all his iu.
genuity. But ! was too lazy to under
take to convert him, and indeed I wa.
always too late with my answer to hi,
sophisns, for it only came after study
ing over them in solitude.
One day, Heindl and myself, aui
Hubert Clarke, a.young American VIII
was attending the university, happened
to meet in saloon. Clarke was
pale, slight young fellow, Of tende,
health and = sensitive nature. He helt
an American AM newspaper in his hand
which contained an article giving re
pert Of 8 horse-race, and I saw the ex
.EploitS of celebrated horse recounted j,