New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11

ocss and even abstinence. But was continually
relapsing The latter stages were even worse IMAM
the former | lost all relish for study, anu spens
DAYS and weeks in a lethargic state VergIng Il
moral paralysis 1t was neither me dreamy para
disc OF the lotuseater, nor even the eGsVa'o t
cinatiOns Of the opium cater IN the ealor hot
his fatal indulgence. Rather did experience that
chronic sense of conscious dellrlum anu VI alnIoo
demoniacal possession which Is saa 10 au rn. ne
victim of opium in the later stages oI MS plJSieo1
One hy one all nv friends had reluctantly cu n
HIM " HON they considered the 'dlsgrace Oh S S1
family | found myself alone IN liie , woiiu. Id
married sister, residing IN the south Oh m"u
thrOu ghOnt maintained atiectonate anu ~ J
thetic correspondence with her errlng DrQtnel "nS
now kindly urged me to spend Wlhtel t Soao
under her roof. accepted gratefully anu, nh"1ho
to her watchul influence. reganed for wl VIM . nj
mastery my passion But AFTER orleI SUI
of reform. were again forced 10 sePaia'e, 10 ~
fear of public scandal and u bad example u tno
household ,,,
abound IN hcalth-rcsorts for SUMMER tourist %
SOON then as found myself once more cast aGIiIt,
resolved seeking ous the most remote ana lease
frequented of thse mountain Businesses. mere IL
was my fixed purpose to put sure, aud, 40 noped'
speedy finishing stroke to a useless ana Illuminating
existence In short, had deliberately determined
on perpetrating alcoholic suicide. On the extreme
frontiers of France aud Piedmont perched soue
sevrn thousand feet above the sealeS ell, lies mar
row plateau. or mountain ledge, commanding an
extensive and almost unriVaieu pr0spect; ne
place takes its name OF NOtre Dame &c Ia enctro
from windOw-like aperture in an overhanglng
mountain, which piOus tradition attributes 10 tLe
miraculous passage OF the Blessed Virgin. bearing
the IN fant Jesus in her arms. On the sitc OF nor
resting place below this mountain, chapel has
been erected, consecrated to the cult OF the MA
donna. 1t attracts thousands OF pilgrims from Ln9
distant towns and villages bOtn of France anu
Italy on the 9th Of August the FIESTA OF the AS
sumption Here is also u modest but cohIOrtsolo
auberge for the accommodation OF the numerous ,ds
tourists who visit this romantic anu sdIuO[ous ePV'
during the brief summer season. A..
took ND nv abode in tins little hosiery. I'D the
month of July. IS. with the 1nl eAPectat29n a., VI
IL md at
MEANWHILE | held dOggedly aloof from all inter
course save with the rough but kindly ana honesO
folks who supplied my daily needs; buG 10 no pur
nose did invoke Death. could pether i've nor
die A. last. strangely enough IL Sudden reVUIsoh
of feeling took possession OF me Hope rs u "oro,
even aguinht hope, seemed To- revive III me Agaln
I hantered alter life and aspired to more normal
Reader, do you believe in presentlments' Hlth-
erto mad been n soeptlc, and proud OF 10y scepu-
cism i'm all matters savOrlng OF spTltuh OF extra
material agency. But natural instinct VIII re-
yeuge itself from time to time, upon even tne H'sU
stnbuorn oi unbelevo:s. In IA moment lei a VIC
tim to crcdullty: felt vague, but none the less
posItive assurance OF SUMO event about 10 DeIaIl
me which was destined to change the current OF NY
whole life. OF Its precise nature ! nan not even
glimpse but II was strange fancy come ted WIN
hopefulness rather than mlsgiylng Dld not
already know the worst surely any cHanSe. no
matter what mast be welcome 10 ma Ne'eIl nc.
less M the Quiet, ] strOye TO stlue IL, as the
prou pturs OF childish superstition; or YET more
prObably a symptom of mental deterioration; per
haps even OF brain softenlng. Despite az my
efforts. il would whisper III my car IIhc o''l Slaii
E"c ,nnrniug woke with this idea more wildly
Immersed on my mind than ever; aud, at late
hn,r M usual rose and dressed for my solitary
midday meal. ! heard strange voices IN the acJoih
in 10 nm. and clearly distinguished the unW0nted
ac outs OF my native tongue We 5 w.. fayy
DAYS mad elapsed since such IAN announ 'cuieht
would have failed to awaken the iaintest interest IN
my mind. The ease was other"lse now Iels .
sndden craving for COngenlal intercourse Win my
unknown iellOw-cOnntryw omen. .
moro deeply than usual. but the excitement OF a9,
tripgtion secured 90 me- the idl possession OF oil
NV faculties ! entered the salon Inc two ladies,
seated at the omen window, were sieuty auuIilHe
the prospect. In foreign land IN general anu III
Nm ont -ot-tne world place Ike that IN which was
now STAYING IN particular, the sight OF a felio"-
ccputrvuan IA welcome. Within half an hour We
were On terms OF cord al intimacy. Tho two ladies'
stood IN the relation Of aunt and niece. Inc
fpifuer. though somewhat advanced IN me- was
sill n roluely dame The years If the latter could
barely have reached quarter ot century; VIM
ont any ureiensOns to regular beauty oil features
sylvia for such WAS her name, was uhaGhIapiy
and an intellectual ami nmlaDle type
a. lnnttrrnnce proved faithful index to her neral
and mental qualities. Both were evidently women
OF culture and refinement.
On this memorable evening. when matkel new
epch i'm In. ives OF two of the party, the truth OF
the adace in VINO verlias WAS Strlklngly e&eh
pliied. In the course OF conversation my conpah-
ions expressed natural though well Ored chtIOHi1y
ia learn The motives which could have prompted an
educated Engi ishman IKE myself, 70 seek living
tomb IN these mountain solItudes, My heart, which
had 80 long borne tie burden OF ITS Silent seal
burued within me- ana spoke MS secret sorrows
uureseryedly. Little by little nniolded the SAD
story of nv whole past lite. spoke the truth. tue
whole truth nothing but the truth. And my conli-
deuce was amply repaid by the rapt attention anu
unaffected sympathy of my listeners. Nor dld !
omit "A tlmId reference 10 that strange lotesluo "
inc of "A coming crisis m my lire when had lately
taken ~ mysterious hold OF my Inauguration; 10
my SURPRISE they expressed less Incredulty tLah
4, nftaI
lur story of a kindred character drawn from per
sonal "a Dereuce founded on the testimony OF re-
liable friends and aclnaintahcrs, III prog o. Hne
credIbillty of presentlmcnts IN general Not tll a
late hour IN the evening ana We part company WIN
the mutual promise To meet early next morning Ior
"A stroll before breakfast
do not pretend to explain the phenomenon, bnt
TINT night went to bed. Tor tho iirst tne IN ten
wears, without my usual night cap.' lei mere
stood the fatal narcotic by my bedside, powerful
enoigh 10 plunge most rrn INTO Lethean tOrpOf Oi
twrnty- four hours duration, but whlch had ohly
the effect of dIugSlng my GFer,eAc''e, pia'" ioa
couple of hours disturbed repOso at me most
%rither can | clam the merit of resisting the
t.mptrr / simply forgot it; Ii was az II some good
ANGEL had spread an invisible wing around me, anu
,,,, evil peuius had niUmentarlly departed.
Next morning awohe early. aud more refreshed
than was my wont. None us failed to keep onr
annotnted ttyst. Gentle reader. rs cannot mpart
10 Won nv own eyes Wherewltbdl To see the ncred-
iblr fact so shall not complain OF yout hardnt -
OF heart if you Withhold your 0eHei rom my Dare
assertion Yet wise man once said: 4 believe 10
becausr A. is incredible For ten long years mao
never once dispensed with my stlrrup-cup ON RS
ing OF a morning; aud We; It IS fact that my obly-
ion oil tho previous evening was repeated on thls
very morning. | left my morning dTaught my
'pick-mc-up, untouched on my dressng table, and
sailed forth with brisk step aud SMILING lace 10
rect my fair companions. | had again literally
torvottrn my temporary remedy-my chronic pot
son! Nav, more, encouraged by the unobtruslve
but ever-rradv sympathy OF my now constant COM
nanions | never once Tolapaed INTO my former hab-
its of excess during the whole of the ensuing week
Having the house entirely to ourselves. Tor the sea-
son was noN tar advanced, we naturally became III
s,norables Together we enjoyed our daily walks
III ,,cr,sinnS shared the same meals, held our