Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-03-19
sa1ors Asf4TABULA, OHIO; FRIDAY, MARCH 49, 1875

there were occasions when he would
surprise me by violent outbreaks of
temper, excited by the merest trifes.
A dog barking suddenly at his heels.
or boy throwing stones in the road
or an importunate shop-keeper try
ing to make him purchase some
thing that he did not want, would
throw him into a frenzy of rage
which was, without exaggeTatiOn,
really frightful to see. He always
apologized for these outbreaks, in
terms which showed that he was
sincerely ashamed of his own vio-
lenee. But he could never succeed
| in controlling himself. The lapses
into passion, like the lapses into ST.
lence, took him into their own pos
session, and did with him, for the
time being, Just as they pleased.
One more example of Roland's pc
culiarities, and l have done. The
strangeness of his conduct, in this
case, was noticed BY my father, and
my brother, as well as by me.
When Roland was with US in the
evening, whetherhe came to dinner
or to tea, he invariably left us exact
ly at 9 O'Clock. Try as we might to
persuade him to stay longer, heal
ways politely but positively refused.
Even l had no influence over him
in this matter. When I pressed
him to remain though it cost him
an effort-he still retired as the
clock struck 9. He gave no reason
for this strange proceeding; he only
said that it was habit of his, and
begged us to indulge him In it,
without asking for any explana-
ton. Ny father and my brother
| (being men) succeeded in controlling
their curiosity. For my part (being
a woman} every day that passed on
ly made me more and more eager to
penetrate the mystery. privately
resolved to choose my time, when
Roland was in q particularly acces-
sible humor, and then to appeal to
him for the explanation which he
had hitherto refused, as special IA
yer to myself. ai.15 3G
In two days more found my op-
pOrtunity. asa
Some friends of ours, who had
joined US at Eastbourne, proposed a
picnic party to the famous neighbor
ing cliff called Beachy Head We
accepted the invitation The day
was lovely, and the gypsy dinner
was, as usual, infinitely preferable
(for once in a wayl TO a formal din
ner indoors. Towards evening our
little party separated into twos and
threes to explore the neighborhood::
Roland and I found ourselves to-
gether, as matter of course. We
were happy, and we were alone.
Was it the right or the wrong time
to ask the fatal question? -a I am not
able to decide; / only know that l
asked it. ~ a..- --'= ---'.=.
/ .t --ase- q ''.-5 III
Mr.. Cameron, ] said, tswilI you
make allowances for a weak woman?
and will you tell me what ! am
dying to know?" @ a.7
He walked straight into the trap,
: with that entire absence of ready
wit OF small suspicion q leave you
to choose the right phrase) which is
so much like men, and so little like
women. sa-laal go s-
Of course, I will! he answered.
Then tell me, / asked, why you
always insist on leaving US at nine
o'clock. q = .-s --5s az s-s .-s I'D
He started, and looked at me- so.
sadly so reproachfully-that /
would have given everything that I
possessed to recall the rash words
that had Just passed my lips. 80
If. l consent to tell you, he replied
after a. momentary struggle with
himself-will you. let me put ques-,
tion to you first? and will you prom
ise to answer it. u d..
/ gave him my promise, and
waited eagerly for what was coming
next. s.. ..
Miss Brading, he said, tell me hon
estly--do you think | am madr
1t was impossible to laugh at
him; he spoke those strange words
seriously--sternly 1 might almost
say ss....ss 1,'-aI aHf BE ia=
No such thoughts ever entered my
head, j answered. as ala.r'f f
He looked at me very earnestly.
You say that on your word of.
honor? .l ysF $50. ..ee.
On my word of honor.
/ answered with perfect sincerity;
and evidently satisfied him that
had spoken the truth. He took my
hand and raised it gratefully to his
lips. -
encourage me tell you very sad
story. s.
+ Your own story? 1 asked.
NV own story. Let me begin by
telling you why 1 persist in leaving
your house, at the same early hour.
Whenever go out / am bound by a
| PROMISE W 1uO pCAoOh WAsh "AOA
am living at Eastbourne, to return
at quarter past o o'clock.
The person with whom you are
livingP 1 repeated. You are living
at a boarding house, are you not?
am living, Miss Brading, under
!. the care Of a doctor who keeps an
! asvlum for the insane. He has Ia
ken q house for some of his
weather. patients at the seaside,
and allows me my liberty in the day
: time, or on the condition that l
faithfully perform my promise at
night. 1t is a quarter of an hours
walk from your house to the doc
tors; and it is rule that the pa
tients retire at half past 9 O'Clock.
Here was the mystery which mad
SO sorely perplexed me, relieved me
at last! The disclosure literally
struck me speechless. Unconscionsly
and instinctively / drew back from
, him a few steps. He fixed his sad
ewes on me with touching look of
! entreaty.
n DON'T shrink away from me? he