Morris tribune., 1880-12-02

2TOUQus he udu Naturally SOu6LuluS VI
the Students stoop. and now he bent so
low that he looked the very picture of
abject misery. The physician whom he
addressed gezed at him meanwhile with
intense compassion. Walter Clifford
and Cecil Graham had been schoolfel-
lows together at Herrow, and fast friends
at Oxford. Graham, (the doctor). after
passing his examinations creditably,
though without distinction, had taken a
degree as phycian, and being man of
much sound sense and observation, rather
than an abstract scholar, had rapidly ris-
en- to the first rank in his profession.
Clifford, who had gone through his acad.
emic career much more brilliantly, and
had taken high honors, was poor, de-
graded vagabond, begging letter writer,
a creature whom it was not safe to re-
ceive into ones house lest he should steal
something. Yet in spite of all there was
a nameless dignity about the castaway,
and il was hard to believe that one who
in his calmer hours spoke and thought
so nobly should be so vile. The night
before the conversation just recorded he
had been brought senseless to DR.. Ora
hams house, shameless bundle of dirt
and rags, but the doctor, being un-
married end free to follow his instincts
as a good Samaritan, had regocnized
him at once, housed, fed and clothed him
anew. The same thing had happened at
least twenty times before, end Graham
was wondering how and when such visits
would end.
"Come, cheer up, old fellowl' he said
kindly. "I've got an idea. Go down
and live with my aunt in Cornwall. She
is worthy soul and makes capital tea.
You used to Ike zee, remember. You
will do as you like, eat excellent apple
puddiugs, and hep her to manage her
bees and her cucum3ers whenever you
feel inclined. heve got little estate
down there, too, you know, which I in
herited from my dear mother. Be my
agent till something better turns up. l
can't afford to give you more than a hun
dred year, but you will, of course, live
at free quarters, ahd there Is really some
vary good fishing. Promise me only
not to tipple, and-Come, is it a bargain?'
The doctor stretched out his hand and
looked brightly on the human ruin be
fore him. He tried to seem as though
he were asking a favor, instead of con-
ferring one. s
Clifford moved uneasily in his chair
but made no motion to take the doctors
proffered hand. Presently, however, he
turned his head away, and began speak
ing in vague, musing manner, as though
he was talking to himself.
''You all fancy it is drink which is
the reot and organ of mischief in my
case" he muttered. Gas a matter Of
fact, it is only graft upon what is a
deadlier, because a far mole subtle and
invisible malady. Since childhood I
have been given to habit Of dreaming
IF completely withdrawing myself
from my surroundings, and retiring into
a world of my own creation-What Cole
Ridge required opium to effect, I could do
without eStraneous aid, for time, but l
soon found out that stimulants would
rouse my jaded imagination when it
tagged. First tea and coffee were enough;
then, as these lost their effect from con-
slant use, resorted to wine, and as wine
was slow in its effect, to spirits. The
doctor, who was not devoid of humor,
here laid his hand on Clifford's arm, and
said, demurely: "My aunt has an old
pony who has habit of shying at un-
considered trifies. He is also a wrong
headed pony, and she will not bear OF his
being whipped. Whenever these fits come
on you, take her out for drive, and your
attention will be fully occupied. For
the rest cold water shower baths, fresh
fruit, indexing books-anythirg that will
keep your mind occupied; and-well, if
that won't do, birch your body we'll wit
stinging nettles.' It is very ancient
remedy, and I should think might an
swer q mental diversion in your case.
At all events, forswear the bottle"
"The bottlef' answered Clifford, sad
ly. "How shall convince you that do
not care for ita Up to yesterday even
had fought for some time pretty sucesS-
fully against the dream demon, as you
will call it, and had only drank moder-
ately of wine at my brothers table. 1t
was the afternoon, that time toward four
o'clock when our vitality is said to be at
tine lowest-m,re certainly is. I thought
glass of ahsirthe would relieve me,
but then it occurred to me that the sb-
sinthe would not give me The slightest
pleasure or solace if could not dream
over it. If I had to think on the past
and present after drinking it. it would
only intensity my feelings and makejs them
the more terrible. So I did MOI drink,
and turned my steps toward home, sor-
rowtul and detected. Il was then that
the enchanted castle rose before me in al.
its allurements. wao drawn, or went,
If you will, toward lis portals, and once
I enter there my will is gone That
means drink. To resume-primary evil,
dreaming. Graft upon it, drink"
Grouse yourself, man." replied the
physician with affectionate earnestness.
I"Your cese is in your own hands. Think
of all the wise hold dear in life--oi
mans esteem, of woman's affection and
of the worlds honor.
"Supposing thai I ike my world bet
ter than yours!' replied the dreamer.
"Who knows which is the better, the
world OF facts or that or fancy9 Here, !
am shabby outcast; tae very children
on your streets cry out on me. There,
not royal Israel in h;l glory was arrayed
with more magnificent than I. I feast
of sumptuous fare served to me BY
Numidian maids on golden salVers. I
drink rich wines from jeweled goblets,
cooled with mountain snow. Ny abodes
are ivory palaces, built by pleasan:
waters, where the while cygent woos the
lily queen, and there I am made glad.
Il Tn nv gardens the tall cedar spreads her