Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-03-07

theless, at the outset, I strove to stiAe
it as the promptings Of childish super
stition; or yet more probably, symp-
tom OF mental deterioration, perhaps
even OF brain softening. Despitea all my
efforts, it would whisper in my ear, like
a still, small voice, day and night.
One morning l woke with this idea
more wildly impressed on my mind than
ever; and, at late hour, as usual, rose
and dressed for my solitary mid day
meal. 1 heard strange voices in the ad-
joining room, and clearly distinguished
the unwonted accents of my native
! tongue. Two English ladies had be-
spoken rooms for weeks stay. Only a
few days had elapsed since such an an
noGncemept would have failed to
awaken the faintest interest in my mind.
The case was otherwise now. felt a
sudden craving for congenial inter-
course with my unknown fellow coun-
trywomen.
70 brace my nerves for the interview,
l drank more deeply than usual, but the
excitement of anticipation secured to me
the full possession Of all my faculties. I
entered the salon; the two ladies, seated
at the open window, were silently ad-
mlrlng the prospect. In a foreign land
in general, and in an out. of the world
place like that in which was now stay
ing in particular, the sight of fellow
countryman is welcome. Within half
an hour we were on terms of cordial in
timacy. The two ladies stood in the re-
lation of aunt and niece. The former,
though somewhat advanced in life, was
still comely dame. The years of the
latter could barrel have reached a quar-
ter of a century. Without any preten-
sions to regular beauty of features,
Sylvia, for such was her name, was I'M
denlably prepossessing, and an intel
lectual and amiable type of countenance
proved a faithful index to her moral and
mental character. Both were evidently
women of culture and refinement.
On this memorable evening, which
marked great epoch in the lives of two
OF the party, the truth of the adage, "Zn
vino veritos," was strikingly exem-
pllied. In the course of conversation
my companion expressed q natural
though well-bred curiosity to learn the
motives which could have prompted an
educated Englishman, like myself, to
seek living tomb in these mountain
solitudes. Ny heart, which had so long
borne the burden of it's silent seal.
burned within me, and I spoke its Sc
cret sorrows unreservedIy. Little by
little l unfolded the sad story of my
whole past life. spoke the truth, the
whole truth, nothing but the truth. And
my confidence was amply repaid by the
rapt attention and unaffected sympathy
OF my listeners. Nor did omit timid
reference to that strange foreshadowing
OF coming crisis in my life which had
lately taken so mysterious hold of my
Imagination. To my surprise, they ex-
pressed less incredulity than I artici-
pated. Each, in turn, narrated some
startling story of a kindred character,
drawn from personal experience or
founded on the testimony of reliable
friends and acquaintance, in proof of
the credibility of presentiments in gen.
eral. Not till 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 phe-
nomenon, but that night 1 went to bed,
for the first time in ten years. without
my usual "night-cap." Yet there stood
the fatal narcotic by my bedside, power
full enough to plunge most men into
Sethean torpor of twenty-four hours
duration, but which had only the effect
Of dragging my over-excited brain for
couple of hours disturbed repose at the
most. Neither Can claim the merit of
resisting the tempt,r. simply forgot
it. 1t was as if some good angel had
spread an invisible wing around me, and
my evil genius had momentarily de-
parted.
Next morning I awoke early, and
more refreshed than was my won't.
None of us failed to keep our appointed
tryst. Gentle reader, as I cannot impart
to you my own eyes wherewithal to see
the incredible fact, so shall I not com.
plain of your hardness of heart if you
withhold your belief from my bare
assertion. Yet a wise man once said:
81 believe it because it is incredible"
For ten long years had never once dis.
persed with my 'sstirrup-cup" on rising
of morning; and yet it is fact that
my oblivion OF the previous evening was
repeated on this very morning. I left
my morning draught, my 'pick.me-up,"
untouched on my dress,ng-table, and
sailed forth with brisk step and smil-
ing face to greet my fair companions.
l had again literally forgotten my temp
orary remedy-my chronic poison! Nay,
more! encouraged by the unobtrusive
but ever ready sympathy of my now
constant companions, never once re-
lapsed into my former habits of excess,
during the whole of the ensuing week.
Having the house entirely to ourselves,
for the season was now far advanced,
we naturally became inseparables. To-
getber We enjoyed our daily walks and
excursions, shared the same meals, held
our long and ever more sympathetic and
confidential tete-0-tete in snug corner
of the public sitting room. It caused
none of us the least surprise when, at
the weeks end, we felt as if we had never
been strangers to each other.
10 one Of us, at least, the idea Of par:-
ing, perhaps forever, became almost in.
supportable. Forgetting my former
pre- sentiment, had now become prey
to the daily incubus of an impending
farewell ! Yet, I was not in love! Long
since had I taught myself the bitter les
sou that celibacy, in its dreariest aspects
and phases, was my preordained lot. [
was more than what society calls "a
detrimental II was, literally, Ean i'm
possible" Such, at least, was the::ete1n
judgment which my se]f-scrut1nizing
conscience had finally and irrevocably
pronounced against myself. Ny morbid
sensitiveness and self consciousness had,
as it were, branded me, to my own eyes,
with the stigma-the bitter browmark-
Of social Cain! But the eyes of love
are proverbially bandaged, or rather love
bebolds its object through colored spec
tacles.
The last evening had arrived that we
were to spend together, and I proposed
farewell visit to the Lake of the Col,
favorite place of resort for tourists. A
brief ha)f-hour's walk from the auberge
brought us thither. Never was more
lovely autumnal evening"! All THREE sat
down silently on the shore, side by side.