The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-02

:" He chung to me, and, when / pushedahim
into the water, an expression passed over his
face such as was never seen but then in this
world. 1t was near the bridge of Austerlitz.
How he glared at me as he disappeared the last
time! How is it that in the street the passers-
by do not say on seeing me, There is the man,
there he is-the man who had the dream =
But was it dream realityf Men often pass
me quickly in the street. Who knows but that
they know or see something's
The baron walked around the room, greatly
excited, and then, pausng, he sighed, and said
in mournful tone:
d" How do other men act-those who are not
followed? They can take a step without hear
in behind them another step that goes quicker
or slower, according they walk. Yet always
seek the noisest places; but noise ever
deadens the sound of that step, so faint but
invincible The noise of carriages, the roar of
cannon-I have tried every thing :. . If possible
would live amidst thunder; but the light
ming might fall near me, and cover me with
ruins still should hear that faint, almost
imperceptible noise, a foot that just touches
the ground. am cold L! How cold it is! Fire
no longer warns me! How lightly that foot
touches the ground 1t does not press heavily
it was reality. That foot never is tired but
when stop, it stops. 1t has a certain manner
of stopping that makes me always feel that it
is there. and that it will resume its walk when
do mine. Sometimes would rather hear it,
| and walk to make it walk when it is silent,
its menace is to me more terrible than the
sound of the STEP If it would only change
place 49, But, no; always at an equal distance
h hoe =
some one, think the most horrible spectacle
would be less terrifying than this dreary void.
To hear and not seew
Here the baron rapidly jumped back wards
and put out his hand as though to grasp some
thing in the air, then exclaimed:
"Gone He has escaped--escaped as ever"
The course of the baron's ordinary life flowed
on as smoothly ever. Nothing was changed,
and those who were not much with him per-
ceived difference to them he was the same
| as heretofore.
The following summer he wished to go to
the seashore.
They left for Brittany. They spoke of the
pleasant walks aud drives. and the baron, in
an absent manner, asked on which part of the
coast the most sand. He would not hear
of the cliffs he wanted sand-only sand.
Gavre was recommended by a gentleman who
was seated near them at the table d'hote.
| The baron instantly decided upon going to
! Gavre.
cat what hour shall we leave ?" asked the
baroness
The IRE evidently displeased the baron. He
wished to go alone. He gave a thousand pre-
70 wifi
AS she would not admit thepa, he said, con-
trary to his usual Gust ON, " will go. wish to
go alone" said he Am l in prison Do you
take me for u criminal?'
The baron left Port Louis in the steamboat
His wife followed him, without being seen, on
another boat, and watched his movements
through glass, as lie paced up and down
the shore at Gavre.
First, according TO his usual custom he as
sured himself that be alone. Then he
would take several steps, and return quickly,
seeing nothing; he searched in the sand, and,
fuding his footsteps, he sought little
farther on the trace of the OTHER oue. All in
vain. Disappointed, he went to another spot .
and recommended his weary walk, always
| seeing his own footprints, never the other. He
had hoped in the sand the sand had proved
false, every thing else.
VII
Meanwhile, the doctor was in Paris and one
evening in a salon in the faubourg ST. Germ ain
| The conversation was madness and the
doctor, who celebrated aIcniste, was
asked many questions to the causes of in
sanity. 81
"The causes of insanity" said he, are so
profound and mysterious that to know them
one must mako the tour OF tho invisible
world"
81 have known" said one gentlemen {" in
sane persons who thought themselves guilty
of crimes which they had never committed
innocent men, intelligent and good, incapable
of harming a bird, and who thought them
| selves assassins."
Among the guests that evening was famous
artist, NJ. Paul Bayard, whose most admired
works, "The First Glance" and Cain after
his Crime" ranked with the chcts-dourre of
the greatest masters of the day.
Said NJ Bayard al have not stndied 1;l-a