Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-15
GaIes arln Sketfkts.
THE ODD-LOOKING MAN.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

On this memorable evening, which
marked a new epoch in the lives of two of
the party, the truth of the adage I'm rfno
reritas" was strikingly exemplified. In
the course of the conversation my COM
panions expressed natural though we'll
bred curiosity to learn the motives which
could have prompted an educated English
man, like myself. to seek a living tomb
in these mountain solitudes. My heart.
which had so long borne the burden OF
its silent seal. burned within me, and
spoke its secret sorrows unreservediy-
Little BY little unfolded the sad story of
nv whole past life. l spoke the truth,
the whole truth. nothing but the truth.
And my confidence was amply repaid by
the rapt attention and unaffected sympathy
of nv listeners Nor did I omit a timid
reference to that strange foreshadowing
Of a coming crisis in my life which had
lately taken so mysterious hold Of my
imagination. To my surprise, they ex-
pressed less incredulitv than | anticipated.
Each, in turn. narrated some startling
story of a kindred character. drawn from
personal experience or founded on the
testimony OF reliable friends and acquaint-
ances, in proof of the credibility of present
ments in general. Not till a late hour in
the evening did we part company, with
the mutual promise to meet early next
morning for stroll before breakfast.
do not pretend to explain the phenome-
non, but that night went to bed, for the
first time in ten years. without my usual
..pieht-cap. Yet there stood the mar
cote by my bedside. powerful enough to
plunge most men into Lethean torpor OF
twenty-four hours duration. but which
had only the effect of drugging my over
excited brain for "A couple Of hours dis
turbed repose at the most. Neither can
claim the merit OF resisting the tempter.
/ simply forgot it. 1t was as if some
good angel had spread an invisible wing
around me. and my evil genius had
momentarily departed.
Next morning | awoke early, and more
refreshed than was my wont. None OF
us failed TO keep our appointed tryst.
Gentle reader, as cannot impart to you
nv own ewes wherewithal to see the in
credible fact, so shall | not complain OF
your hardness Of heart if you withhold
your belief from my bare assertion. Yet
a wise man once said: Il believe it be-
cause it is incredible" For ten long
years had never dispensed with my
'stirrup-cup" on rising of a morning; and
vet it is fact that my oblivion of the pre-
vious evening was repeat on this very
morning. | lett my morning draught.
my "pick meup." untouched on my dress
ing-table, and sailed forth with "A brisk
step and smiling face to greet my fair con-
panions. | had again literally forgotten
my temporary remedy-my chronic pois-
on! Nay, more encouraged by the I'M
obstrusive but ever ready sympathy of my
now constant companions. | never once
relapsed into my former habits of excess,
during the whole of the ensuing week.
Having the whole of the house entirely to
ourselves, for the season was now far adj
vanced, we naturally became inseparables.
Together we enjoyed our daily walks and
excursions, shared the same meals, held
our long and ever more sympathic and
confidential tete-a-tete in snug corner of
the public sitting room. 1t caused none
of us the least surprise when at the week 5
end we felt as if we had never been stran-
gers to each other.
To one of US. at least. the idea of part
ing, perhaps forever, became almost in
supportable. Forgetting my former pre-
sentiment. had now become prey to tie
daily incubus of an impending farewell !,
Yet / was not in love Long since had
taught myself the bitter lesson that cell
bacy. in its dreariest aspect and phases
was my preordained lot, | was more than
what society calls "a detrimentaf'-I was
literally Fan impossible" Such, at least
was the stern judgment which my self
scrutinizing conscience had finally and ir-
revocably pronounced against myself. NV
morbid sens,iveness and quick self-con-
seriousness had, as 1t were. branded me,
to my own eve, with the stigma-the bit
ter brow-mark-of a social Cain, utthe
eyes of love are proverbially baudaged, or
rather love beholds its object thorugh
colored spectacles.
The last evening had arrived that we
were to stand together; and | proposed
farewell visit to the Lake of the Col n
favorite place of resort tor tourists. A
briet half hours walk from the auberge
brought us thither. Never was a more
lovely autnmnal evening! All three sat
down silently on the shore. side by side
No one uttered a word for some minutes
each of us thought the more. A light
shower had fallen a little while before.
and the distant mountaid range was still
spanned by the faint arch of rainbow.
We looked long at it and ut each
other alternately and speechlessly. The
stiffness at last became oppressive. for
there is silence which. like darkness.
must be felt, The spell was broken by
Sylvia.
How beautiful is yonder rainbow :"
she said.
Yes" murmured. half unconscious
ly: land Just rs Wonder brilliant arch
melts away into the dusk of the cleaning
so shall the brighter hues of my present
life fade again into the outer darkness OF
Yet" she whispered, edging uncon-
sciously nearer TO me. there is a beautiful
old Greek fable which represents Iris as
the chosen messenger of the gods to
mankind. the divine harbinger OF hope
and love-"
The last monosyllable fiuttered a little
| thought. on her lip, and caused me in.
stinctively to raise my face to hers. She
slightly changed color. and in that single
glance / read the oracle of woman
eye. Yet. even then, my conscience smote
me. and shrank and recoiled from accept
ing the full Interpretation. Involuntary
clasped her hand. and passionately ex,
claimed:
Sylvia, would to Heaven we had never
met or met never more TO part. Nature