The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-12
"Why so, sir ?"

cause of my misfortunes."
, "What misfortunes do you allude
; tO?" may ask.
. Hooper was perfectly respectful, even
deferential, in his manner.
"Why, my good fellow, every one
knows that Miss Fairfax won't have
me-"
"Indeedw said Hooper.
"What is the reason 2" continued
Mr. Hardy.
~ am sure I don't know, SIR"
"Then / will tell you. Her father
objects to me, and says l am mad.
Why does he say so? Because you
are always about with me-yOu, mad
house bird that you are. / might have
known that I could not touch pitch
without being defiled"
Hooper said nothing; he bided his
time, and let his master have his say
out.
ayes" resumed Mr.. Hardy, you had
better 60. People will think all the
better of me when you have vanished
from the festive scene"
He emptied his glass and replenish-
ed it.
For some time after this he remain
ed silent, then he began to mutter to
himself.
~ must kill him!" Hooper heard
him mutter to himself.
This remark he repeated several
times.
The keeper felt sure that Mabers re-
jectiOu of his hand had acted upon a
weak and fevered brain until a return
of his hOmicidal mania was to be
dreaded.
That this was the case he did not
doubt for a moment
What was his duty under the cir
cumstances? Undoubtedly to remain
with and endeavor to check him in
every way in his power.
Having come to this resolution, his
first act was to remove the brandy.
Mr.. Hardy saw him doing 50 but,
oddly enough, made no observation,
though his eyes followed Hooper all
over the room, and glared like those of
a crOuching tiger.
With difficulty Hooper persuaded
him to 60 to bed. When he saw him
between the sheets, he seduluusly re-
moved all razors and other likely
weapons he could see, and took the
precautiOn to lock the bed room door
on the outside.
The next day Mr.. Hardy was odd in
his manner; but he did not occasion
Hooper so much uneasiness as on the
day before.
He said nothing more about his
leaving him, and Hooper imagined
the attack to be slight one which
would soon pass away.
In the afternoon Mr.. Hardy talked
nationally enough.
81 was rather wild, was not, TOm?"
he said.
"When, sir ?" asked Hooper.
Last night"
| "Nothing out of the common, sir.n
"Oh, yes! l Was. l am not such
fool as you take me to be-. 1 know
well enough. Is there such thing as
recurrent mania? 2"
81 believe So"
ado you think am subject to it ?n
Mr.. Hardy appeared to look forward
to the answer to this question with
considerable anxiety.
II should say not, sir" was Hoop
er's judicious reply.
| "NOt, eh But have been subject
to it. / don't believe l am cured. /
wonder what jury would say to it ?"
Say to what, sir?"
"My state of mind.u
"Undcr what circumstances ~
"IfI was brought before them"
"On what?" asked Hooper.
"As-as-let us say, for the sake of
argument, rs a murderer"
"As it is not a case likely to occur, it
is hardly worth while to reply to such
a question"
"FOOlish But il is not foolish"
cried Mr.. Hardy, rather angrily. "YOu
know very well that juries always pay
great attention to the fact of man
having been in an asylum if he is
arraigned Oh a capital charge"
| "Well, sir, you must excuse me; /
have something to attend to-" said
Hooper, who wished to get away.
"You shan't go yet. Answer my
question:" persisted Mr.. Hardy.
"Since you insist upon it, all ! have
to say is, if l were YOU l would not
try it,"
"Why not?"
"You might get choked before your
time," replied Hooper significantly.
Not l." said Mr.. Hardy with
wild laugh. "The hemp is not spun
that will hang me.''
Don't he too sure of that" answer
ed Hooper.
II am going out for walk, Tom.
Will you come with me?" said Mr..
Hardy, changing his manner alto
gether.
From being defiant and bold, he was
catlike and stealtby.
~ am at your SERVICE" replied
Hooper.
Putting on their hats, they started,
walked through the town and going
toward the coast.
| The road was wild and rugged, the
weather unsettled. Heavy clouds drift
ed up from the southwest, and big
drops of rain splashed OH the ground
occasionally.
The sea was lashed into foam by the
angry and impetuous wind, and large
waves broke on the beach.
Sea-mews, driven on land, flew in
eccentric circles over their heads.
The road for some distance ran by
the side of the sea.
a wall some eight feet high had
been erected to keep back the ell
crOaching waters; and, it being the
commencement of the ebb tide, the
sea was within foot or two of the top.
Hooper was getting tired of the
boisterous weather to which he was
exposed, and proposed to return.
Mr.. Hardy made no objection to this
proposition; and Hooper turned round
to retrace his steps and lead the way,
when he suddenly felt hand on his
throat.
Hardy had sprung upon him, and
was doing his utmost to bring him to
the ground and strangle him.
Hooper at once closed with his an
tagonist.
The struggle that ensued was fear
full one.
1t was for life that they wrestled.
Being COrnishman, and once well
versed in athletic tricks, Hardy had
the better of him.
Like poplars i'm storm, they sway
ed to and fro.
Dangerously near the edge of the
wall they came now and then.
The sea appeared to yawn for them.
Hardy had never relaxed his grasp
of Hooper; and, as the latter staggered
under a passing faint sun, he dragged
him to the brink.
| Then, eXerting all his strength, he
dragged him forward.
| They lost their balance and fell-fell,
clasped in tight embrace, and We're
| np,up,tr,hnI IN. L4