The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-07-30

"Good morning, SIT. Said the stranger.
"IIave seat?'
Mr. Trpler had no very strong social ele-
ments in his nature, SO he stihy inclined his
head and kept on his way. But the first he
knew two iron srasps were on his shoulder,
he felt himself twirled suddenly round. like
a human humming top, and seated with
more force than was exactly agreeable on
the boulder.
''What do you mean"
''Dear mel" suddenly interrupted this
uncomfortable companion, "what very
nice hat you have. Now, what do you say to
exchanging h3tsf Mine is a very nice straw,
but I find it's somehow heating to the BRAIN"
'You are quite welcome, SIR faltered
the trenulous Nathan, =peakingull the more
rapidly in that the freakish maniac had Ut
ready. delty affected the change.
"And your coat. too-nicc cool linen.
Upon my word, now. that coat is infinitely
preferable to this swallow tailed concern Of
mine, with the brass buttons. Yes-it fits
Inc very nicely. hope you don't object sir,
to the accommndationY'
"N-no," E,ltered Mr. Tripler.
"Wcll, good morning said the stranger,
looking round with a bewldercd air. Il
don't really see where my chief orderly is
1 told him to be here precisely at nine
o'clock-and everything will lie in confusion
if don't attend to it personally"
lie plunged into the green, dense fastnes-
ses Of the woods, talking reStlcs>ly to him
self as he went, and Mr. Nathan Tripler was
left soi,ts in a coarse straw hat and a coat of
coarse blue cloth, garrrisfed with huge metal
buttons, whose brilliance was considerably
tarnshed.
Dear me, what figure cut" groaned
Mr.. Tripler. cycling himself with disgust.
81 must go directly home and get on Some
thing decent. a man would be booted
through the streets of New York it he ven-
tured to make his appearance in such a
costume as this ?"
lie rose, brushed away the chin drops of
perspiration from his forehead, and was just
replacing the crimson silk pocket handker-
chief in its resting place wlea he was sud-
denly grasped from behind and thrown
skiltully upon the ground
hearty said IA burly man who stood over
him, while another man had bound both his
hands and feet together before he could liud
words or breath to rcmrnst,ae. "You
thought you was goin' to give the Zip.
hey? Come, it isn't worth whi.r to cut up
like that, you know, nn!cs, you want tie
strait jacket brought out"
"Strait jacket?'' gasprI Triplcr, "what
do want Of a strait jacket?'
Nothing; unless ycu behave yourself
unruly like Steady, then! Tom, bring up
the wagon"
"Where are you taking me p remon-
strated our hero, as he was tumbled into a
horse wagon.
"To the asylum 10 be sure, where you'd
have been two hours ago if you hadn't been
a little too >pry for the sta se-dri, er and your
keeper"
Light began to dawn on the troubled chaos
of Mr.. Triplers mucl bewildered mind.
"It's all mistake, my COED iellows--a
ridiculous mistake he exclaimed, "i'n nc,
mad man,''
"No, of course not; we know you're not
responded the larger Of the two, with a wink
ut his ccmpanion--"Dri on, Tom
but am not. indeed you are mistaking
me for somebody else-a man who just forced
me t. exchange hats and coats with him
and went down into the woods-he /. the
| madman -
"Oh, no--I guess not,'' said the big
keeper, with fearful attempt at pleasant
irony.
My good men. you are laboring under
some very singular dclusion." demonstrated
the victim, trying to speak plainly between
the joting of the wagon and his own excite
ment. II am Mr.. Nathan Tripler, of No.
John Street,,
"Oh, Yes" said the keeper, lighting q
cigar, yesterday you was Napoleo Bona
parte, and to-day you're Nathan Tripler, ant
to-morrow-likely as not-you'l II he the king
of the Sandwich Islands. I've heard thi:
kind O. talk afore."
| Tripler's heart began to stand still with un
/ defined horror Was this hideou> dream
| or was he to be actually immured withir
the high stone walls of the asylum he had SC
| often walked past with feeling of dreat
! and horror beyond all description, the life
| long victim of some scarce credible mistake
| In vain he reasoned, argued, protested, hi:
| words fell on the unheeding ears of his two
conductors like drops of rain pattering or
the stony surface of Table Rock, until a
length he was carried-nofe dead thar
! alive-into narrow apartment at the enc
of long row of similar ones.
1t was lighted and ventilated by an iror
grating in the door, with a corresponding
window high up on the wall, and Furnished
with only narrow couch and a stand bull
into the wall and there, Mr.. Nathan Trip
! ler, released from his con6ning bonds, wa
left to enjoy the uninterrupted society of hi
own cheerless meditations.
"It can't be pos>ibler' | must be ASLEEP
and dreaming, - Thought Nathan