, 1877-05-25

'HOW long we were making the pass
age 1 know not. A gentleman-rather
rough FELLOW, though-who had vol
unteered to be my constant companion,
said it was short voyage; to me it
seemed years. At length we arrived,
and taking n stage, We drove to the
'Yews.' [ told my companion on the
way that l did not require his company
any more; but he would not leave me
until he saw me, as he said, safe in my
cousins care But why dwell upon
this painful history? [ rushed into this
very room, and embracing Elvina,
cried, 'Elvina! Elvina! behold thy Bri
areus returned to claim his bride! To
my horror she thrust me from her, and
rushing to my cousin, threw herself
into his arms, asking her dear, dear
Tom to save her from the mailman.
'Madman, 1 cried, are you not my
afianced?'
4" 'Briareus, exclaimed Tom, 'you
are mad; this lady is my wife
81 saw it all at a glance" " moaned the
poor mad creature, making my heart
bleed for him. 81 knew then why 1
(had been sent to India-why this wo'
man had made me keep our engagement
secret. She loved my cousins goldl
MY passions rose; could not con-
troll myself. With a cry more like
wild beast than a man, sprang upon
Tom. 1 had him by the throat, and
would have killed him, but the man
who came with me from India-he who
called himself my friend-turned traitor
for gold. He dragged me away from
my cousin and felled me to the earth.
My keeper! They said 1 was mad, and
locked me up in the chamber. Not
alone; no, no, not alone; they cannot
shut out the ghosts. They come and
tell me stories-wild, horrible stories.
1 will tell them to you some night.
Harkl the ghosts call me. must go at
once, or they will come here. Fare
we'll; tomorrow"
Slowly he crept from the room, Mrs.
Gruesome and following. Our hearts
ached for him.
We saw him enter the mysterious
chamber and heard him lock himself in.
Mrs. Gruesome," said 1, 1--WE will go
to bed. He, poor fellow, is harmless,
but tomorrow 1 will see the agent, who
must provide keeper. 1 do not want
Mr.. Briareus removed until have
heard his story. 1 will save my eye
sight, not reading at night. Good
night. Good night Janet. Say nothing
of this to the servants and do not be
afraid. He is quite a gentleman and
harmless"
1 retired to my apartment, double
locking the door, and barricading it in
case of any accidents.
Next morning / arose late, and de-
scended to breakfast, which ought to
have been ready at least an hour earlier.
Judge my astonishment at finding the
room in confusion, and Janet Gruesome
in even greater confusion than the
apartment.
"He has gone, sirl" she cried, as 1
entered the parlor.
"Who has gomez" 1 demanded.
"The mad gentleman. He must have
left the house in the middle of the
night"
"Well, WE'LL" replied, perhaps it
is better so. He was nuisance. II he
has drowned himself, it is no fault of
ours; we were not his keepers; so let me
have breakfast. Get the tea and coffee
service my uncle left me-"
"Your uncle left them, sir, but the
mad gentleman didn't" sobbed Janet;
"he's taken 'em sir, and the silver spirit
stand as we'll"
"Whatl taken my silver service?"
Eyes, sir; and every other piece OF
silver, and all the iewelry he could find,
as well as"
could hear no more, but rushing to
the house agent, told him all about it.
"You have been done" he said quiet
ly. "there never was Mr.. Briareus
Balcombe. The room only contained
pictures and some old furniture of no
particular value, but favorites OF Mr..
Balcombe, SO he locks them up. Come
to the police"
He hurried me off to the police in
spector, to whom l related this sad
story.
''That's Solomon Smiths work for a
wager" cried the inspector, laughing.
"I heard he had been in this neighbor-
hood. Deuced clever fellow; could
have made fortune on the stage if he
liked. No doubt he found out all about
the room, and also heard-asking your
pardon, sir-that you had queer crotch
cts, so got into the house when it was
empty, picked the lock of the room, and
played the madman. know him, sir,
and will be after him"
This was four years ago. And the
police are after my Mad Tenant still.
PETROLEUM AS LUBRICANT FOR
TURNING Considerable COM
ment has appeared of late in foreign
mechanical journals relative to the use
of petroleum as a means of facilitating