The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-04-12
MY OTHER SELF.

1t is all very well to call this place an rs
ylum-tO speak OF it to visitors, and evei
to the inmates, as an institution built ami
condu ted for the humane purpose of hold
ing in check or eradicsting that WORT 0
human maladies-insanity; but the close
barred wiudew,. through which the ora,
sunlight filters into the apartment In which
1 pen these words-the stone foOred cor
rider without, that resounds to the foot
steps of well-paid keepers : tell a differen
story. '...''.i
1t is prison. Not prison which, in t:r
sentence of the law, wrought into ireD nm,
granite; but a place of confinement. tho
walls and bars of which are those worst q
passions. ayarice, hate. and Peridy petrifed
am here prisoner, and devoid OF hone
no longer anticipate the coming of a day
when shall 60 forth free. My patrimony
has passed into possession Of broJheri Basil
aud he can well afford 10 bribe those Who
call themselves medical attendants to keen
me safe and fast. 7. y. q .tor I'll
Well, so be it have not found the world
such an altognther A.heht,ri ri.-.~'.,,&4 !,
am incOnsolable at the thought OF separating
from 1t for good. Here, az least, / nave no.
thing worse than my own thoughts and So
itt~de, and, besides, / have one recolIec-
ti0n that always keeps me- ju5iant., MY
other self, that diabolical s'doubie," that
Internal thing that was neither shadow nor
substsnce-or, rather, which was b0sh-is
forever disposed of, aud thst out OF the way,
L can enjoy myself even here. g. 375. >
Life commenced with me Pleasantly
enough. Ny Isther's death lett large
estate, to be divided between Basil apd nv
self. We were then warmly attached 10
each other and almost inseperable. We bad
similar tastes. followed the same literary
and artistic pursuits, and indulged 10 the
same description of dissipation COMMON to
young men of fortune; but mine was h
stronger constitution than his. ' =
Then Fortune gave IN indication that I
! was her especial favorite. An uuele,4 who
hsd not set ewes upon eiIher OF us for two
aud-twen:y years, died in town of Java,
where be had immense possessions and ii
was iouDd, when his papers came to De over
nauled by the legal gentlemen, that | had
peen remembered and Basil forgotten,
Through this piece Of luck became the
richest man in the country. [ forget the
exac amount of my wealth, 6 nd the thought
Wneures cOnfnses ne. but 1t was something
pfoogious. People talked about ii. and j
s;a paragraphs concerning myself In the
oally papers. : =
NY brother professed to congratulate me,
apu warmly seconded NY proposition TO
oieorate my good fortune by tremendous
Saouse, TO which all our mutual friends and
a.,auaintances shold be hidden. The more
taougot over the idea the better it l,feased
me; aud we spent day in filling mn tbe
o'shks 70 printed Invitations, that were
issued lar and wide 80
thaie az lne appointed time my guests made
aen appearance. The great mansion was
T giafe OF light from base meat to attic.
,,sao iasi arrival came about midniGht,
s, san 10 Singular, fashion. The carriaoe3 in
c,,san Sn ne rode was an extraordinary affair,
r,iasuhg Of close box painted black, bur
ON , ~ " aieerDate spots OF blue and criui-
,,,,a. nioaif'ea ON pair Of wheels at least
Th ieet In diameter, in ceior blood red.
:.e sne Vehicle was drawn by "A whr.. horse
I,ni oisck main and tail, a crest ire thai
twso. a. thongh he might he !.ross b.,-
NJ. aIomedsry and zebra. The driver,
ths 49, eup'eo sort Of pulpit on the roof of
no. a.,' tfge, was gigantic negro, with
| ae lhe pfohoscis of n tap,r, and one.
i,ss eye thar gliriered with the duh red
osha. Nh. W carbanele. The place which the !
sss Usual usual organ should bsye occupied
AZ s,d T.eisd by spmethipg thar looked like 1
M any, snsP, whietwss held jnffs place
az TINS sttaDRe eutijpsge drewsun hstora !
snn,r u'r me hideous, charioieer Seemed To |
n ~ nus tootto an underspripc. A door
ro,lad sn ar new open and u ladder OF ropes
ms, ,oown, by means OF which n yenfla.
Ss Saa aescen leo. l stepped forward 10 hid
a, r r,xseicome-although could NOT remem.
rnn,o sna, tnere was any invited r,,est yet ta /
u,a. ou. Stopped within pace of him IL |
byh, os tN.,,.. he stood in the strong
guy os brilliant lamp. which ra,s
very feature perfectly. xnt, .s,p sessated
' T the exact counterpart Of INV own ,"ess
lhs man, the thing. the phantom".,h
u Was-smiied tna half-iuesrin,ed aS u;aS
way and extended an t,np,ovs% q hInq