Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-11-16
HOW ITCaNE ABOUT.

..Yes. he was very eccentric, remarked
-be doctor. I've had a deal to do with
nstients whose heads, as the saying
runs were not level.
.I liked Mr.. Fortescue. He was a
pleasant fellow when the fit didn't come
on When it did, ii was just as well no.
TO trouble him with unnecessary ques-
tions
He was insane then?" queried DIR.
Tarbord's business associate.
well, ycu would hardly call it by that
name. You see there was woman-as
there always is-at the bottom of the
trouble. 1t was too much brooding over
the lost love, if lmay so call 1t, that
gave him a-well, suppose we call it an
idiosyncrasy. That word viii answer
very well.
''What Of the woman and the idiosyn-
crasv?" asked the partner, with slight
laugh. ''As for a woman, of course you
drag her N, my dear associate in pill
dispensing, because you are confirmed
bachelor
Bah, replied tine doctor, whose first
name. by the way, was Calden. The
woman was greatly to blame. As for
Fortesque, well, he was fool. I'll tell
You the story, metaphysically speak
inc, it is interesting. Briefly then,
Frederick Fortesque had just left col
lege with the honors. He had been an
Industrious reader for four years, living
Ike a monk, never looking in a woman's s
face, and conversing only with those
dry old fellows whose profession it Is to
cram ambitious students for the closing
examination. When young Fortesque
finally severed the strings which had
tied him to the apron of his alma mater
he felt ike a rudderless ship humping
against sea rocks. While in this unhap-
py condition the young fellow was
thrown into the society of the most
charming and, L will add OF myself,
most heartless Of hirts that ever donned
woman's outer garment. Poor devil
The young lady. L will call her Grace
Lysander. played with the verdant youth
very much as an experienced disciple of
Isaak Walton plays with a prize trout
before landing him.
AT first, Fcrtesque was as bashful as
agirl, but Miss Lysander knew what
was troubling her gudgeon. She en-
eOuraged him, and so far as she was IN
teresting, coaxed HIM, out of his natu-
ral timldity in the presence of herself, If
not OF other members of the sex. For
tesque adored her, of course, as all
young fools 10 when they indulge IN
loves young dream For six months
She kept the poor fellow on the tenter
hooks, and, finally, when she thought 1t
Was time to end her cruel, but womanly
sport. she managed to bring the really
manly looking Frederick TO an avowal of
his profound regard for her, asking her,
Ia impassioned tones, to make him hap
py 10y becoming his life friend, his init
mate companion-in fine, his wife.
Grace Lysander affected TO be great
ly surprised at this declaration. She
had not the remotest idea, she said, that
he had ever entertained other than a
friendly regard for her. She liked him
as a companion well enough; but had
she for one moment believed his regard
ior her would grow into a feeling that
would demand any sacrifice on her part,
She would have as gently as possible
have severed their intimacy. She thou ght
tnat, like all her associates of both SEX
es, he was aware her affections were ir-
reyocably fixed ON gentleman to whom
Indeed, she was betrothed, and with
whom, on his return from Europe, in a
lew months, she would so to the altar,
there to plight her troth for aye.
Had the incorrigible and heartless
Young woman struck HIM OF the heart
with dagger her words could not have
been more damaging to the soul, mind
and body of the snubbed suitor.
In his heart he felt that Grace Ly-
sander was unworthy of one thought;
but, Notwithstanding, she had so en-
ehanted, so bewildered him, that he still
ielt himself a slave to her. Contradic-
tory as 1t may seem, he, while despising
her, would gladly have laid down his
iie-aye, damn his soul for all future
by so doing he could nave given her
even transitory pleasure.
1t Is wonderful, resumed the doctor
alter shor pause. ''what influence
~omen-not all of them, but many, toe
many-have over menu
"Fortesque was, 1 repeat stunned al
the reception he had met at the hand OF
,he winsome fiirt; gradually he fell to
"foodlngs, to solitary walks, to eccentric
actions. His parents, not ignorant ol
MS love for Miss Lysander, were becom'
ing alarmed at his manner They re
quested me to observe the conduci
oi Their son. ana to tell them my in