The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-05


and sometimes raises in its place a morb'
Affection fact established in France q
the end Of the last century by an empirica
test of horriic character, but which n
knowledge of mans mind could hav
dreamed of a. PRIOR. Why had ! for
gotten this matter Of history, and allowed
myself to be led astray by vain theories anc
partial experiments What was | now t
do? The mans appetite for the blood7
narratives was so wrong that, even while
was thus cogitating, his greedy eye haC
again sought the page. 1t was necessar,
that | should conceal from him MY appre
tensions, and take up his words on feigneC
construction.
This kind Of reading" said |, Inter
ests you, | presume, because it fills youl
mind with salutary disgust and terror
makes you loathe the act of the suicide
and mans your scpl against the hatefn
purpose you enterta ned against your owr
life
He looked to the door, and becSoned tC
me to see if it was shut. | went and salts
fed him that it was, while was my self as
sured that she whom be was so anxious t.
deceive was again at her post behind it.
You ask me-" he continued, :" if thi:
book has disguised or terrified me against
my purpose O deein. Are we 1isgusted
and terrified at what we love? | hae seen
the day when thae stories had sma' at,rac-
ton for me. Dut, alas alas | am a
changed fearfully changed man. My
soul nov gloats owre tales o crime AMI
scenes O. blood. To me there is an interest,
an understandable, mysterious interest in this
book, beyond the charm O. the miser's
wealth, or the bridegroom's bride-ay, sir,
or what | ance tbOcht was in life to the
deem sinner It is a medicine butt
pausing, and cycling me sorrowfully v" do
you mean it to XIII OF cure ~
" To save you from self-destruction,n =
said L" the most fearful and most coward
~ Of all the examinations Of human life."
" If you could keep me rcadin this for
erer," be said, yer object would be
served"
80 l can give you no more of it, said |,
conscious that, by indulgiDg his morbid ap-
petite for blood, had been leading Inn to
his ruin.
= Then | must read thae volumes owre,
and owre, and owre again" said he I" and
when | hae dune, nae naetbing mair to
interest me in this dark, bleak warld.''
lie fell now into one of his fits of dejec-
ton, assuming his accustomed attitude of
folding bis hands over his breast, and fixing
his eyes on the bed, while deep sighs and
groans were thrown from his heavng breast.
lt Was necessary, | row saN t. take from
him the book which had Pro,iueed ~ effect
the very OpPosite'of what | lac Intended
and expected. | took it up and placed il
beside the other volume that was lying on
a side table, with view to take them away
with me-blaming myself sorely and de-
servedly for the iniuTv I had -A9ne hu exnA-
ton that gentleman was made Der
interests Of human being. As | moved
away the volume, he observed me, and fol-
lowed it wistfully and sorrowfully with his
eve.
. Ye hae dune weel,' he said We hae
my appetite for my ain life and it
matters naet hing that the Whether and the
whet-stane are taen ava when they're nae
mair needed ~
| felt keenly the reproach, for it was
just. | might have taken credit for good
intention but my sympathy for the wretched
being restrained any wish | had to defend
myself. [ endeavored to change the subject
Of our conversation, and turn his mind to a
subject which | knew engaged his interests
and feelings more than anything else on
earth.
g Your daughter" said /, " is unwell.
She seems to be miserable. | know a
change upon her both in mind and body,
since | called here only a few DAYS ago
Her body is thin and emaciated, her cheek
is blanched, and her eye dimmed. These
signs do not visit the young frame for no
thing. | fear she has heard of the deadly
intention you still persist in entertaining
to take away your own life. 1t is clear to
me that her sickly constitution cannot long
stand against terror and an apprehension
which even the aged and the strong cannot
endure without grievOus injury to all the
faculties Of the body and mind. Sir, take
heed "-pausing and looking at him Sc
riously and impressively-" you may be-
come a daughters mu, derer before your
cOVdrdy courage enables you to become
yOur Oscn 7"
"Hold, sir hold !" cried the reused
man. &C ou now speak daggers to me ! |
could hae borne this when you were here
last but ye hae unnamed me--ye bae
made me familiar wi him, the King o ter
rors, wha waits for me. | know him in his
worst shapes. He j. nae longer hideous to
me and, being his friend, csruna We my
dochter 5 father and guardian tVhy ca'n
you here to revive struggle that was past =:
My mind was made up Owre the p1ses D
that book, my resolution was fixed; now
YOU wad re-resOlve me back to my doubt,
my pain, my insutIerable agony. by bring
ing up into my mind the tender image o
sutferin, sOrrowin, starvin dochter. My
Margaret-my Margaret her mothers
image-the pledge q a love dearcr than
life
The door opened, and the young woman,
who had been listening at the back of it,
rushed 10 and flung herself on the bosom of
the agonised man.
90 father she cried, / ken every
thing. Yer dreadful purpose has been re-
vealed to me. Ye intend to tax ava yer
ain life, which my mother, yer beloved
Agnes, on her dea;h-bed, bade We preserve
for my sake. But ye Gamma do that without
takin also mine. Ter death will lie my
death. | hae already seen yer bleedin body
in my dreams-the image haunts me like a
spirit, and leaves me nae rest. The doctor
says true-ye will kill me before yer dreadful
purpose is fulfilled; but if, in Gods will,
should be left when We are ava, wba is to
guard me, wha is to comfort me-withOut
friends, without means, and without
health -
Iho Snono pau Y,raSnntnl n mo tran