The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-01-19
POISONED IN DESPAIR.

behind the counter OF large relreshmen
saloon, he could pretty well tell what mar
meant by his looks.
He was sitting very quietly one day read.
ing his daily paper, and trying to understand
how it was that the Turks and the Russian
were both getting the best of it, when Q
seedy-looliing individual entered the place.
Glass of bitter" said the stranger heay-
ing deep sigh, and staring hard at John,as
he took down clear glass, and drew foam
ing draught of the amber liquid, which he
placed clear and sparkling before the visitor.
" Here are my last two coppers," said the
stranger, with heavy sigh, as he laid them
on the counter for John to rake them into
the till.
The last two-pence, said the man again,
as he laid his hand upon the stem of the
| glass, staring hard the while at John as if he
had expected the twopence to be refunded.
If had come down to twopence," said
John to himself, al don't think l should
spend it in beer. might in tobacco; but
think it would go in Bread"
He did not speak, however, but sat down,
and took up his paper, and began reading
again. There was no one in the place so the
stranger went on again.
My last twopence," he said more loudly.
"When have swallowed this beer, shall
be a beggar and an outcast."
With glass of beer inside him." said
John sententiously.
"Eh?"
With a glass of beer inside him." said
John, quietly.
Yes to be sure, said the stranger; "but
the last glass-the last. The world has
never given me chance; the world rejects
-scorns-does notca for me. Twill poison
myself-mix a deadly drug with this last
glass, and be free of the world"
John returned his paper, gave it punch
il the middle, got it folded conveniently and
went on reading.
" l say" continued the stranger, loudly,
81 will poison myself where stand, and
fall here dead, as warning to brutal and
unfeelng world"
John went on spelling through his paper
without moving muscle.
Here, then, is an end of my worthless
self" said the stranger, very deliberately
taking small packet from an envelope-a
packet that looked like the white powder
that goes with the blue under the name of
seidlitz; and this he opened very deliberate
ly, and emptied it into the beer, where, for
the most part, it lay on the froth,
John looked up, saw what he was doing,
and the state of afiairs-how the white pow
der emptied out Of the paper refused to mix
with the beer.
"Like a spoon?" he said, getting up and
handing one.
A spoon? Yes" said the stranger, with
a motking laugh that would have been worth
ten shillings a night at the Surrey Theatre.
As he spoke he took the spoon, stirred the
liquor, and threw the little piece of metal
down, while John resumed his place and
went on reading.
" Farewell, cold world, farewell p said the
stranger. "They may bury me where they
will might have been great; but now
ah, now, poor neglected bne they may
bury me in sunshine or in shadow, care
me not"
He took up the glass, drained it to the last
drop, and then, standing the glass down,
held on by the counter, and heaved a tre-
mendous sigh-one which sounded like salts
faction at the goodness Of the bitter beer.
As for John, he went on reading as coolly
as could be, his lips moving as though he
were spelling over the big words.
The man uttered roar, and moved to-
wards the entrance, but unable to contain
his annoyance, he turned sharply round, and
came back.
Villainous type of a cold and heartless
world" he said, addressing John Grimjohn,
"you have taken my last coinj and you sit
there and let Inc poison myself without
stretching out hand to save-without say
ing word"
Have you taken poison?"
81 have-I havew groaned the stranger.
Have you really? Was that poison in
the paper?" said John, coolly.
" Yesi have just swallowed a fatal dose
of arsenic-one of the most dangerous of our
posons,
"Ah, know what arsenic is, said John,
coldly,
" And have taken enough to kill six
men," groaned the stranger in hollow
voice.
Well, that was wasteful," said John,
grimly. "You might have bought enough
for one, and spent the balance on beer"
Enough for six-enough for sikh" said
the stranger, rolling his eyes, and speaking
in tragic tones.
GOOD - said John opening a flap in the
counter "Come in here"
He caught thestranger by the collar, drew
him in behind the counter, through the bar
parlor, and into a kind of store behind
where there was a large cupboard.