The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-12-25

he reported that haiph GARRISON
was man well known about London.
He was married and had house in
Dorsetshire; but the greater part of his
time was spent in town. Once he was
supposed to be well of; hut now it was
the general opinion that every acre he
owned was mortgaged. and that he was
much pressed for money. But" my
informant said, there IL but one life
between him and the reyersion to large
estates, and that life is poor one.
believe even now there is q talk about
the man who stands in his way being
mad. If so. Ralph Carriston will get
tie management Of everything.
After this news felt it more than
ever needful to keep watchful eve on
my friend. So far as knew there had
been no recurrence of the trance, and /
began to hope that proper treatment
would effect complete cure, when. to
my great alarm and annoyance, Car
riston, while sitting with me. suddenly
and without warning. fell into the same
state of body and mind as previously
described. This time he was sitting in
another part of the room. After watch
ing him for minute or two. and just
| as was making up my mind to arouse
him and scold him thoroughly for his
folly, he sprang to his feet, and. shout
ing: "Let her go! Loose her. say"
rushed violently across the room-sO
violently that l had barely time to in
terpose and prevent him from coming
into contact with the opposite wall.
Upon returning 10 his senses he told
me, with great excitement, that he had
again seen Madeline; moreover, this
me he had seen n man with her-a
man who had placed his hand upon her
wrist and kept it there; and SO. accord
! ing to Carriston's wild reasoning, be-
/, came, on account of the contact, Wis
IDLE t. him.
He told me he had watched them for
some moments. until the man. tighten
ing his grip on the girls arm. endeav-
ored, he thought, to lead her or induce
her to follow him somewhere. Al this
juncture, unaware that he was gazing
at vision. he had rushed 10 her as
sistancc IN the frantic way have de-
scribed: then he awoke.
He also told me he had studied the
mans features and general appearance
most carefully with view to future
recognition. All these ridiculous state
menis were made rs he made the former
ones. with the ar of one relating SIM
pie. undeniable facts-one speaking the
plain. unvarnished truth, and expect
ing full credencc to be given to his
words.
1t was too absurd! too sad! 1t was
evident to me that the barrier between
his Authorizations, dreams. visions, or
whatever he chose to call them. and
pure insanity was now very slight
and fragile one. But before gave his
case up a. hopeless l determined to
make another strong appeal to his
common-sense. told him of his cous-
in s visit to me-of his intentions and
proposition. begged him to consider
what consequences his extraordinary
beliefs and extravagant actions must
eventually entail. lie listened atten-
lively and calmly.
"You see now" he said. show right
was in attributlng all this to Ralph
Carriston-how right was to come to
you. = doctor of standing. who can
vcuch for my sanity"
"Vouch for your sanity! How can /.
when you sit here and talk such arrant
nonsense and expect me to believe it?
When you jump from your chair and
rush madfy at some visionary foe?
Sane rs You may be in all else, any evil
dcnce could give in your favor must
break down in cross-exam nation il an
inkling of these things got about
ho Ia
prove your sanity by setting about this
search for Miss Rowan in q proper
way"
He made no reply. but walked up and
down the room apparently in deep
thought. My words seemed to have
had no effect upon him. Presently he
seated himself: and. as if to avoid re-
turning to the argument. drew book
at hazard from my shelve, and began
! to read. He opened The volume at ran
dom. but after reading few lines
seemed struck by something that met
his eyes, and in few minutes wa,
deeply immersed in the contents of the
book. Iglancei at it to see what had
so awakened his interest. By a curious
fatality he had chosen book the very
worst for him in his present frame of
mind-tiilchrists recently publish, d life
of William Blake. that mastery memoir
| of man who was on certain points as
| mad rs Carriston himself. l was about
to demonstrate. when he lad down the
| volume and turned to me.
"Varley. the painter" he said. was
! firm believer in Blake's visions"
| Marley was a bigger fool than
Blake" lretcrted. "tancy his sitting
down and watching his clever but mai
friend draw spectral heads. and believ-
ing them to be genuine portraits of
dead kings whose forms condeSccnded
to appear to Blake"'
A sudden thought seemed to strike
Carriston. '.Wi,l you give me some
paper and chalk:' he asked Upon
being furnished with these materials he
seated himself at the table and began
to draw. At least . dozen times he
sketched. with his usual rapidity. some
object or another, and 3 dozen times.
after q moments consideration, threw
each sketch aside with an air of disap-
pointmcnt aud began fresh one. At
last one of his attempts seemed to come
up to his requirements Il have it
now. exact'y:' ne cried. with joy, even
triumph. in his voice. He spent some
time in putting finishing touches to the
successful sketch, then he handed me
the paper.
THAT is the man 1 saw Just now
with Madeline" he said. when l
| find him shall find her." He spoke
with all sincerity and conviction. /