The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-12-26


r tied wife.
Meantime Mr.. Tripler was slowly walking
J.. down the path through the wild and solitary
Glen that led to the road where, twice day
he Lendyille stage rolled by, conveying pas
Il enrers TO the train at Martins Station. !
, was cheaper to live in the country, and st
u Mr.. Tripler lived there, although, rs far a
r actual taste went he didn't know buttercuI
from burdock.
AS Nathan trugged along, thinking how
best to get rid of some troublesome shares OF
railway stock that were sinking uncomf0rt
ably on his hands, he suddenly became con
!, sCious of the presence OF a man, stOtll, anu
mlddle-aged, with a head rs smooth aud SHIN
ing as billiard ball, who was sitting on
boulder of moss. grown stone just where Tue
pathway merged into the Leadyllle road
Good morning, sir said the stranger
!, Have seat?'
Mr. Iriplcr had no very strong soclal enc,
ments in his nature, so he stlitly lncIineu -
head and kept on his way. But the fIrSt nc
, knew two iron graspS were on ms ehouiu'i ;
he felt himself twired around, Ike hut'lan
humming top, and seated with more ioiCe
than was exactly agreeable on the uou'ocl'
what do you mean
Dear me" suddenly interrupted ms un'
comfortable companion, what very nice
g, changing hats, Mine is very nice straw,
but find it's somehow heating to the brain.
D You are quite welcome, sir faltered the
tremulous Nathan, speaking all the more
rapidly in that the ireakish maniac had al
ready deity affected the change.
= and your coat, toO-nlce cool linen. Upon
my word, now, that coat is infinitely prefer
/ able 10 this swaIlow-tailcd concern OF mine,
with the brass buttons YeS-it fits me very
nicely. | hope you don't object, sir, to the &c
commodation?
I 'N-no! faltered Mr. TrIpler.
well, good morning. said the stranger,
looking around with IL bewildered air. i
don't really see where my chief orderly IS
| told him to be here precisely at nine . CLOCK
and everything will be in confusion II l
don't attend to it personally.
/ He plunged into the green, dense iastncs,
ses of the woods, talking rcstessly to himself
as he went, and Mr. Nathan Tripler was lett
solus IN a coarse straw hat and coat OF
coarse blue cloath, garnished with huge metal
buttons, whose brillianCc was considerably
furnished.
Dear me- what Il figure | cut groaned
Mr. Tripler, cying himself with disgust. |
must 90 directly home and get IN something
decent. A man would be hooted through the
streets of New York If he ever ycntured TO
make his appearance IN such costume as
thisn
lie arose, brushed away the chill drops Of
persplralun from his forehead and was Just
replacing the crimson silk pocket handkef
chief in It's resting place when he was sud
denly grasped from behind and thrown Skill
fully upon the ground.
We'll, we've cotch you at last my hearty,
said burly man who stood over him, while
another man bound both his hands and feet
together before lie could find words or breath
to demonstrate You thought you was goin'
to give us the slip, hey? Come, it tisnt worth
while to cut up like that, you know, unless
you want the straight jacket brought out
Straight Jacket? gaspcd Tripler, what DO
want Of a straight jacket
Nothing; unless you behave yourself IN
ruy like. Steady, them Tom, bring up the
wagon.
! Where are you taking me to- rcemonstra-
ted our hero, as he was tumblcd into a one
horse wagon,
TO the asylum to be sure, where you'd
have been two hours ago if you hadn't been
little too spry for the stage-driver and your
keeper
Light began to dawn on the troubled chaos
of Mr.. Tripler much bewildered mind.
It's all mistake, my good fellows-a
ridiculous mistake he exclaimed, I'm not a
mad mani
No, of course not; we know you're not
responded the larger of the two, with wink
at his companion Drive on, Tom
But am not indeed; your mistaking me
for somebody elsa man who just forced Inc
to exchange hats and coats with him, and
went down into the woods-he Is the mad
mani
'Oh, no-I guess not said the big keeper,
with fearful attem ut at pleasant irony.
/ My good men. you are laborng under
some very singular deluslon, demonstrated
/ the victim, trying to speak plainly between
/ the ioting OF the wagon and his own excite
men,. | am Mr.. Nathan Triplcr OF No,
John Street
i 'Ob, Yes said the keeper, lighting cigar,
| yesterday you was Napoleon Bonaparte, and
TO day you're Nathan Tripler and tomorrow
likely as not-youli be the king Of the
Sandwich Islands. I've heard this Kind o
talk aiore.'
Tripler's heart began to stand still with I'M
defined horror. Was this ii hidcous dream?
or was he to be actually immured within the
! high stone walls of the asylum he had so OF
ten walked past with II feeling OF dread anu
horror beyond all description, the lifelong
victim of some scarce credible mistake? In
vain he reasoned, argued, protested; his words
fell on the unhcedlng ears of his two con.
ductors like drops OF rain patting on the sto
ny surface OF Table Rock, until at length he
was carried-more dead than allvc-into a
narrow apartment at tao end of a long row of
! similar ones
1t was lighted and ventilated By an iron
grating in the door, with Il corresponding
window high up on the wall, and furnished
with only narrow couch and a stand built
intn the wall and there Mr. Nathan Trlplcr
releaacd from his combining bonds, was left to
: enjoy the interrupted society Of his own cheer
less mediatiors.
5 : 1t can't be possible! must be asleep and
+ dreaming thought Nathan.
But il was possible and he was never
= wider awake in MS life
Toward evening, pitcher of water and a
I piece of bread was dealt out 10 him Mr..
7 Triplcr ate IT under sort of mental protest to
relieve the gnawing sensation OF iaintncSs
. that was al his vitals.
g II, y,