Fair play., 1876-11-23

weary of living. Noel, l do assure You
that the most miserable wretch who
passes you on the street is happier
than l."
"If am to DO you any good, Eton,
you must contide in me fully. Let me
feel your pulse-feverish-yes, depress-
ed. 1t won't do, old boy; shake it off.
You must make long, long journey"
Well, in shOrt-I am almost ashamed
to confess it to you-I tod him the
story of my unhappiness.
"Can't you like her if you make an
honest effort?''
"Impossible; We are SO different
incompatible they call it, Hausser, don't
they? No; l am determined to end it :;
therei is only one way for me, and that
is to make an end of myself"
"You are determined?"
eyes"
These were the last words addressed
to me before my death by Hausser; for
when l awakened from my dreams and
slumber the old things had passed
away.
Ihad recollection Of seeing Hausser
take down from a cupboard strange
Eastern bottle, labelled in the cabalistic
chirography of Indian lands. 1t SEEM
ed full Of some sparkling, dancing ra-
dance; when it was uncorkeda strange
blue mist hung full Of dreams filled the
room. 1 also remember drinking
something from his hand-that is all.
When awoke it was in land Of palms
and summer glory; dark and strange
people fitted here and there like phan-
toms of dream.
Hausser, my old friend, was busy with
his reptiles and dried birds near labO-
ratory; he had on very light clothing
suitable to tropical countries; all the
familiar sceneries of my land and home
were changed. Ipassed my hand over
my brow in a confused way, for l
thought my intellect must have receiv-
ed some fearful blow.
Noel Hausser looked at me. ERE
stored, by Jove. Old boy, began to
be doubtful about you. The herb took
the strangcst effect. expected sleep
or 4 trance for a week at the longest;
behold it is six months since lost my
old friend Eton."
In short, 1 had been down in the
grave. YOu must acknowledge have
passed through unharmed; but Hauss:
assures me l lay there nearly twelve
hours. have no dreams to tell you of
its silence, its chilliness or darkness;
for the strange effects of the drug d.
not pass for six months. Noel trans
ported me over the great oceans into
the heart of the Indian summer lands.
Belle bore my death bravcly, so Noel
Hausser tells me, and took her third of
my estates like queen. They say l
have monument over the water, a very
good one too, and quite creditable to
Belle. She is married again to some
spectacled professor, and leads quite an
eminent life, presiding at ear and eye
societies Of country doctors, writing
pamphlets on nervous diseases, occa-
sionally shedding some effulgence over
hospital wards. She has even been
known to visit patients afflicted with
raging typhus. On all ques-
tions Of measles, chicken-pox, sore
throat, and kindred domestic
affections, she is delightfully."- at home.
She has her hearts desire. She has
become rather an eminent doctor wom-
an, but when tell you that 1 never
could like doctors as well rs other men,
you will understand that for me to love
her was impossible. Our old Doctor
Hope never came to the house but l
could smell for hours after all the herbs
of the phamacopGia; jalap and calo-
mel, with squills and rhubarb, ipecac,
sweet flag and rue, lavender, ether,
and chlorofOrm, made mingled at
mosphere which surrounded and en-
veloped our venerable family doctor,
and in which he 1" lived, moved, and
had his being" These are my ex-
plantations and excuses to you for my
death, burial, resurrection and eternal
separation from Belle. Still I feel my
self bound as 4 man of honor not to 90
in the matrimonial market again. This
is the reason that, with thanks, must
decline your kind invitation. You have
thought me young, almost boy. like
yourself. l am nearly fifty. The herb
that Hausser gave me has very strange
properties. 1t arrested the changes