The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07
THE MAN FROM EXCHANGED.
CHAPTER I.

CHATTER I.
 On the 4.h day of March, in the year 1867, being at that time in my five-and- twentieth year, l wrote down the follow ing words in my note-book--the result of much mental perturbation and con. Rict!
 The solar system, amid a countless number of other systems as large as itselE rolls ever silently through space in the direction of the constellation of Hercules. The great spheres of winch it is composed spin and spin through the eternal void ceaselessly and noiseiessly. Of these, one of the smallest and moss insignificant Is that conglomeration oi solid and of liquid particles which we have named the earth. It whirls onward now as it has done before my birth, and will do after my death--a revolving mystery, coming none know whence, and going none know whither. Upon the outer crust of this moving mass crawl many mites, of whom l, John .McVittie, am one, helpless, impotent, being dragged aimlessly through space. Yet such is the state of things among us that the little energy and glimmering of reason which l possess is entirely taken up with the labors which are necessary in order to procure certain metallic disks, where. with may purchase the chemical ele- ments necessary to build up my ever wasting tissues, and keep a roof over me 10 shelter me from the inclemency of the weather. thus have no thought to ex- pend upon the vital questions which surround me on every side, Yet, miser. able entity as l am, can still at times feel some degree of happiness, and am even-save the mark !-puffed up oc- casionally with a sense of my own im- portance."
 These words, as have said, 1 wrote down in my notebook, and they reflected accurately the thoughts which l had found rooted far down in my soul, ever present and unaffected by the passing emotions of the hour. Every day for seven months read over my words, and every day when 1 had finished them, 1 said to myself, "Well done, John Mo- Vittie, you have said the thought which was in you. You have reduced things in their least common measurep Att last came time when my uncle, McVit. tie of Glencairn, died-the same who was at one time chairman of committees of the house of commons. He divided his great wealth among his many nephews, and found myself with suffi. eient to provide amply tor my wants dur ing the remainder of my life, and be. came at the same time owner of bleak tract of land upon the coast of Caithness, which think the old man must have be. slowed upon me in derision, for it was sandy and valueless, and he had ever a grim sense of humor. Up to this time had been an attorney in midland town in England. Now l saw that could put my thoughts into effect, and leaving all petty and sordid aims, could elevate my mind by the study of the secrets of na- ture. My departure from my English home was somewhat accelerated by the fact that had nearly slain a man in a qsarrei, for my temper was fiery, and was apt to forget my own strength when enraged. There was no legal action taken in the matter, but the pa pers yelped at me, and folks looked askance when 1 met them. It ended by my cursing them and their vile, smoke-polluted town, and hurrying to my northern poses. sion, where l might at last find peace and an opportunity for solitary study and contemplation. l borrowed from my capital before went, and SO was able to take with me a choice collection of the most modern philosophical instruments and books, together with chemicals and such other things as might need in my retirement.
 The land which l inherited was a narrow strip, consisting mostly of sand and extending for rather over two miles round the coast of Mansie bay, in Caith- ness. Upon this strip there had been a rambling gray-stone building-when erected or wherefore none could tell me and this 1 had repaired, so that it made dwelling quite good enough for one of nay simple tastes. One room was my laboratory, another my sitting.room, aud in third, just under the sloping roof, slung the hammock in which always slept. There were three other looms, but l left them vacant, except the one wbich was given over to the old crone who kept house for me. Save the Youngs and the McLeods, who were 6sherfolk living around at the other side of Fergus Ness, there were no other people for AaAVS HI Co(n ID uOut ef the house was the great bay, behind it were two long barren hills, capped by ether loftier ones beyond. There was a glen between the hills, and when the wind was from the land it used to sweep down this with a melancholy sough and whisper among the branches of the fir tree beneath my attic window.
 l dislike my fellow mortals. Justice eompels me to add that they appear for the most part to dislike me. hate their little crawling ways, their conven- donalities, their deceits, their narrow rights and wrongs. They take offense at my brusque outspokenness, my dis regard for their social laws, my impa- tience of all constraint. Among nay books and my drugs in my lonely den at Man. sic could let the great drove of the human race pass onward with their poli- tics and inventions and tittle-tattle, and remained behind stagnant and happy. Not stagnant either, for was working in my own little groove and making pro- OrAeG | kava vAnaan <n h~I;>..N sl .s