The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-02-08
A STRANGE coMRAN1oN.

"Dead men tell no tales. Humphl
! know betteri Never believe such an
absurd assertion, madam"
1t was tall, thin gentleman, with
gloomy countcnance, and hat Of
the sombrero style, who made this re-
mark to ME; and he came, upon me in
the wood path very much as though
he had been 8 ghost. go
OF course it was not consistent with
the laws Of etiquette that ne should
speak, or that l should answer HIM,
bnt scarcely think that If Mrs.
Grundy herself should encounter In
in the woods, between postotiice and
farm house, a Brntleuan with such
wild eyes, and such curious way Of
rolling them about, that shc would
think Of anything bat modifying him
Certainly did not.
at once agreed with the stranger,
and walked rather faster than iefore
Il trust you are not afraid Of me-.
madam" said the stranger, noticing
this latter fact. II sincerely trust
that my abrupt address has not alarm
ed yon. ] have been 80 long exiled
from society that ! scarcely know how
to address ono Of its fair ornaments.
| have no card; no matter. You are
not alarmed, madam"
said | was not.
Gas / saw yon pass the spot where
| lay under the trees. madam, it
struck me that You were exactly the
person / desired to confide in. | c'n-
sequently hastcned after you. Per-
lbsps, too, | may have desired to warn
you that il you desire to be rid OF a
Troublesome person tho worry worst
way is to kill him. Shut him up il
| You can; chain him in some black
dungeon, but don't kill him. II yon
do You never can get rid oi him again
never, l assure yoH, xever' You
can lock and bar living person ont
| bat dead ones coine to YOU in yon'
most private rooms, and stand at your
bedside WHEN you wake in the night,
sit at your table, follow you where
lever you 60"
/ Here ho looked over his shoulder
and inyolurtarilv looked over mine
Ifyou're Jealous Of anyone, mai
am, don't kill her. mol mol mol III
very FOOLISH"
Nothing" instantly agreed viii
} him, "could bc more foolish than L
Kill anyone"
And l was glad 10 Know he held I
his belief, and hoped he would consin
ne to hold it until reached the farr
! house Of the Simpkinses.
IL am glad that we agree so well.
1 said the stranger "Mada.n. oxcus
my want Of tonrtsey. Shall | oiie
. yon my arm over this rough path
} way?p
| replied, hi voice that soundo'
to my own ears like the bleating Of
worry meek Young lamb, that, il h
plea sed, he must excuse me. | wa
9 Obliged to hold up my drcss.
Il He instantly assured me that m
n word was his law.
a "Bcfore mado my grand mistake
g was known as Polite Patterson !
the very elegant circles in which
y moved" he added; "but, since thci
} I've betotnc a recluse. 1t was gran
: mistake. Yes--yesl / never shoul
II have killed him, nevcrl'' -
I involuntarily gave small shricl
: "You realize at once how very fool
lsh 1t was" said tho tall gentlcmal
o twisting his sombrero, and lifting h
Q eyebrows higher than ever saw un
u man lift them beforei "but yes-i
!, killed him. Twas vely fond Of he
: Her name was Pamela Peyton,
v beauty, d belle. and heiress-tha
Il however, was nothing to mo. | love
r. l.her for herself; and she smiled upo
y me until he came; and no was young
n er, haudsomer. better than /. A
d yes! much betcr-much better!
Y pattern yonng man. Mothers beggc
u their sons to initiate him; and l--wel
confess, madam, that besides bein