The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-04-28
Original Story.
For the Democratic AdVoeate.
A Rather Peculiar History.
by W. DUARIG.

W iuANIh a Htth'
Hdry unfortunate man"
These words were uttered by a man
in n room of the little Public House,
situated on the main street of the town
Of Don Pedro, in the Province of B,
in the Empire of Brazil. There were
present. quite number of persons,
mostly travellers for pleasure, amongst
whom was the contributor Of the fol.
lowing narration.
We had been conversing within doors,
for the rainy season had set in, aud
each in turn had related some experience
or adventure calculated to relieve ennui
and assist the slow hours on their course.
Our party had at last given up the un-
derIaking and were quietly and moodiy
sitting awaiting something to turn up,
when suddenly in distant part of the
room a coarse, harsh voice VS. heard
to say: Gentlemen, am a very un.
fortunate man; yes, gentlemen, | am
indeed peculiarly unfortunate man !"
At these words we turned and gazed ut
the speaker. lie was indeed pecu.
llarly unfortunate man in appearance.
As we gazed he arose aud came towards
US; his height could scarcely have been
five feet six, his feet and hands were
small, aud his figure not at ul robust,
but upon his shoulders was placed a
head-lIeavens what head Its
size from the sharp contrast with the
body seemed enormous, and surely
weighed within fraction of its weight;
the hair upon that head was long and
shaggy, aud the beard on the face
seemed never to have made the nc.
quaiutance Of razor or scissors. The
features were large and coarse. aud the
whoe face repulsiye. Around the neck
that joined that strange head to that
body there was wrapped thin scarf
apparently much worn, and through
openings might be seen what seemed
d black band, Such was the man at
whom We gazed, and if the description
seems obscure, il is because the subject
was inlescribable. This man now ad.
vanced towards US, and reaching our
circe, deliberately unwound the scarf
and showed US the black band eneircling
the neck; above and below the band
we could see that the flesh was inflamed,
and at places the skin seemed rubbed
off.
Gentlemen do you see this black
bandY Do you mark the inflammation
above aud below All, gentlemen, that
tells Of strange experiences. This head
is not mine, or rather | should say it
does not belong to this body, whether
it belongs to me or not, Heaven only
knows, | do not"
We all gazed in astonishmcnt at this
singular creature, aud thought surely
that the man was mad, but at last the
boldest of the party veutured to say,
&" Sir you astonish us greatly aud should
it not be asking too great favour We
would beg to hear your story"
'Sir you shall hear my story or
rather the story Of these two odd fel-
lows, this head and this body. | live
for no other purpose than to spread over
the Empire and u world the story of
my horrible treatment. and to hand down
to posteriiy in deserved infamy the name
of a villain. But pray do not interrupt
me, as Interruptions excite me. and un-
consciously jerk this head, and the
pain is consequently severe"
| Here the strange creature groaned
crossed himself, aud filling large glass
with our wine proceeded with his story /:
81 formerly lived near the city of
Rio de Janeiro Twas there prosperous
and almost wealthy, aud above all had
been married only few months to a
lovely young woman, when by a most
unfortunate series OF circumstances |
was thrown into the company of Doctor
William Blaukc, an English physician
who had recently settled iu the city of
Rio, Blanko All, hated name He,
gentleman, is my more than murderer.
Could | again NEE thin, would crush,
aye tear him limb from limb | would
=" Here the head gare slight jerk
and an expression OF agonizing pain
passed over the face. The narrator
continued:
"You see gentlemen the neck is still
sore, | must avoid becoming excited.
With this Blanko, it matters not how.
| became intimate. We would sit for
hours together, sip our wine and con.
verse sometimes on indifferent subjects
and sometimes on scientific. Little did
| then taink that every hour brought
me more and more under the inauence
of this wonderful man. Thus our in.i-
macy continued until one night, it was
quite late, aud as my young wife strong.
ly objected to late hours rose to wend
my way homaward. / took my hat, |
advanced towards the door, When Blanko
softly said, "ah, goingl Don't 60 yet"
Il answered, f'can't stay, my dear
Biankc, it is getting very late"
Then il was heard the voice Of
Blanko in stern authoritative tone ex.
claim; "Retun 70 yo,n seat sir !"
"lturpedtowards him, his form seemed
enlarged and taller; the expression Of