Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-06-12

pshaw! have lost the thread Of my conclu-
sions. No matter, the subject is not worth
discussion. You interrupted me, doctor" he
continued, bending stern glance upon his
visitors, Gin train of thought Of highly
serious and interesting nature, when you came
in; and now you intrude upon me subject
so puerile, SO triaiug, that I do not feel justi.
fed in wasting my attention upon it"
"Pardon me, my dear sir. I feel a great
regret for having so unfortunately interrupted
your reflections; but do you not like little
conversation sometimes?" asked the doctor.
"Very seldom" gloomily replied Mr.. Wv
ian. '"I am weary Of the idle title tattle Of
the outer world; I court solitude and refec-
ton, as most congenial to my frame Of mind.
1t was for this reason, as you know, that l
sought your retired dwelling, far from the
haunts of men"
"Of course-of course. But had a spe-
cial reason for introducing this apparently
triAing topic this morning, and you must,
therefore, pardon me for reverting to it again.
My young friend here wishes to know if you
recognize the hair contained in her locket-
in fact, if it recalls any remembrance Of"
"stop, sir, STOP" interrupted the patient in
an agitated voice "That word, remembrance,
lars upon me. 'Tis fatal word-a cruel
word-a word pregnant with very bitter
meaning. Remembrance, sir, is the curse of
the human race. Without tive should be
happier than we are; il, indeed, such thing
as happiness exists at ALL" He paused,
sighed heavily, and remained for moment
absorbed in thought; then rousing himself,
turned to Rachel, and handed her the. locket
with courteous bow.
"Pardon me if my behavior has seemed
churlish, young lady," he said, in gentle
tone. "Take back your pretty trinket, which
you wear, no doubt, for the sake of friend
or lover. You are young enough, and guile
less enough, dare say, to prize it as token
of that remembrance of which we spoke just
now. For me, have no faith in either love
or friendship; my day for cherishing such
delusions is past and gone" He sighed again,
more heavily than before, and, yelling his
eyes with his hand, continued for some mo-
ments silent and motionless, as if oblivious Of
the presence of his visitors.
"He will continue in that way sometimes for
hours" said the doctor aside to Rachel, "un-
less he is reused and it is always harder to
manage him afterwards. Come. Mr.. Vivian"
he continued aloud, in cheerful tone, "let
me persuade you to take little stroll in the
fresh air; Rachel and I are going in the gar
den, and would like to show you fine pan.
sy, new sort that has just blossomed."
Mr.. Vivian started from his revery. mo,
no, you must excuse me-you must indeed"
he quickly replied. II have particular
reason for not quitting the retirement of my
room to-day"
"Would you mind telling me what it is ?"
asked the doctor.
"It is an anniversary-the anniversary Of
an epoch in my life," replied Mr.. Vivian ;
"a day to be marked by tears and mourning
if I could weep; but It's given only to the
young and innocent 10 6nd vent to their
sorrows thus. No more, sir to-day I am not
fit for company, and must earnestly beg you
now to leave me-" He rose pointedly as
he spoke, and DR.. Snow, unwilling to anger
him, took the hint and followed his example
"Come then, my DEAR" he said, addressing
Rachel, 1--WE will take our leave for the pres
ent. Some other time, I dare say, Mr.. Vivian
will allow ns to call again"
Certainly" rejoined the latter, as he open
ed the door for them to pass out; though l
am, at best, but poor society for any one."
"Not very successful visit" remarked the
doctor as they walked away. "Have you any
idea, what anniversary he alludes to9"
"No," said Rachel, after a moments
thought. "As far as I remember, it does not
mark any special event-but it may be that
he alludes to something which has occurred
since our separation"
"Or, what is just as likely, the whole idea
is merely the result Of fancy" said the doctor
"Doctor," remarked Rachel, after pause,
ut is the strangest thing in the world, but do
you know that when ! am in bis presence l
cannot realize his identity in the least?"
"Ah he is, then, so greatly changed since
you knew him?" was the doctors rejoinder
"Changed-yes; the change is terrible
But still-it seems to me incomprehensible
that, even in spite of this I should not have
some feeling, some assurance that it is really
himself-and 1 have none; absolutely none
His face is not so changed but that it is ia.
miliar to me still the form, the features are
not more altered than they might be by long
illness-and yet, though I knoU they are the
same, do not feel it. There is change
about him beyond that which see and com.
prehend- mysterious, incompre-
hensible, which I cannot defne-something
which seems to put a gulf between us so i'm
mense that I cannot realize that we ever
stood on common ground"
my DEAR" said the doctor, seriously, "it is
simply a conclusive proof of the immense in
Auence of the mind over the body. Destroy
the reasoning faculties, and the whole being
is changed The higher and nobler part Of
our nature is that which makes us what we
are-alter that, and what remains? Simply
the physical or brute part of US, which can
not excite love, or sympathy, or any Of the
emotions of the heart which are awakened
by mutual interchange of rational ideas.
Thus it is with Vivian, as with the rest of