The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-11-06

Whole ahall appeared TO be shrOuded
which attracted my attention. For what
are those petty mysteries of every day
life, which crowd our daily papers, to a
professional journalistic tool of his
profession, an "item' to lie disposed of
as conclsely as possible-nothing more.
1t was that me-Stella-which the
poor idiot had shouted out into the street
IN his madness, which sounded familiar
In nay ear, and recalled in me long for
gotten memories of once dear friend. It
was more than twelve years ago-in Lon
don. Things and men were different
then, and looked somehow brighter and
more hopeful than now. Even the Lon
don fog assumed rosy hue, viewed by the
| hight OF the hopes, the dreams and the
illusions of early youth. And as | looked
back into this long past sunshine, there
arose in my memory face, which tor
me, was in some way associated with sll
those hopes, dreams and illusions.
George Nordhott was indeed, a bright
fellow. Though about ten years my SEN
| ior, he was in character and disposition
| certainly the junior of the two He was
| the son of one of the oldest families of
livonia, and held at the time the Office
| of Second Secretary OF the Russian Lega-
tlor at London. | never met man who
seemed so completely born on the sunny
! side Of life as Nordhof. Not very rlch,
but just rich enough to indulge in his
| artistic and social tastes, the universal fa-
vorite with both young and old of both
sexes, possessing an excellent physical
constitution, and endowed with that
precious quality of the mind which en-
ables the man to always keep the golden
middle In sentiment, passion and enjoy
ment, Nordhof was the type of the hap
py man Somehow or other his happi-
ness seemed contagious. All ill-humor
vanished at his approach, and looking At
his beaming, geod-natured face, it seem
ed impossible that such thing as tears
could exist in the world.
Poor Nordhoff! All this was true to
the day when Stella crossed his path; she
was an actress, belonging to the French
opera -boufe troupe which had given 9
few performances in London. She WAS
neither handsome nor clever, her singing
was so wretched that It could be compar
ed only with her acting, and yet. Who
shall ever be able to fatnoA4b mystery
of lovel Nordhof fell madly in love with
this second rate actress, All of sudden
he disappeared from the social circles and
haunts we had been wont to visit togeth-
er Strange inconsistency OF passion be
actually seemed to be ashamed OF the
unworthiness of his feelings, for he stu
diously concealed even from me what It
was that engroseed all his time and ener-
gy Al last the day came when all at
tempts at dissimuation were useless.
Nordhoff began even TO neglect his 9th.
cial duties, light as they were The Am
bassado1, Baron Brunnow, had already
on several occasions reprimanded him
in a friendly, tatherly manner, and Nord-
hotf had promised to amend, but in vain;
the passion devouring HIM was stronger,
even than his sense of honor.
At last the catastrophe came. One
night | awokc suddenly and found Nord-
hoft standing at my bedside. He held
candle in his hand, and by its tiickering
light could see that the appearance OF
the man was utterly transformed. His
face was pale and worn, his dress in dis.
order, his sunken eyes had an unsteady,
searching, almost fierce look IN them,
like that OF hunted animal.
"Get up and help mel he gssped.
must be off this morning to America, or
IN be dead man tonight. Don't ask
me any questions, If you still have any
friendship tor me, but lend me the mon
ey for the passage.
had indeed no questions e ask. HIS
face was answer enough to ali. ! got up
and we went together to Zone OF those
benetactors OF the human race Tor
whom there is no difference between day
and night, when aservlce can De rendered
at 100 per cent On leaving the money
lender, Nordhotf positively refused to
let me accompany him further. We took
| leave Of each other on the street.
Since then ! never heard any more OF
Nordhotf. His disappearance produced
something OF 4 sensation, ani was spoken
Of anei commented upon good deal. In
due time, however, the whole story was
fargotten, and even /, it must be owned.
scarcely thought of Nordhoti and his
miserable love, until the name Of Stella,
which I found in the story OF the ponr
maniac. revived in me old recollections.
Could ii be possible, thought, that II
| had come to this.
At all events | resolved e investigate
tne matter. at the station house the
maniac was first conveyed 70, was ln-
formed the latter had been sen, 70 the
CITY hospital | proceeded thither &C
cordingly The employees had no trouble
~ remember the case, and was directed
70 bed No. 302 A young doctor accom-
panied NE. 4.
.What IS the matter with tie man. l
asked on the way. :.