Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-08-27
An Eyentful Night.

1
ly dual nature-the one dispassionate
and just, the other unreasoning and im'
petuous I Or in some remote and un-
guessed niche of our souls does there
sit enthroned small and potent de.
mon, which sometimes breaks restraint
and let's loose among our better sense;
the hounds of anarchy to deafen con
science with their yells and hunt oul
dearest loyes to the bitter death ?
can moralize and marvel now, since
all is over and done can marvel il
were possessed by some unguessed and
puissant spirit not my own, in one mel
ancholy episode of my life or if some
uncanny and unworthier duality OF my
being had quickencd to volition within
me. For certainly what had been be.
fore and what have been since, was
not in that deplorabls time which /
shndder to recall.
was not i'll, nor harasscd. nor des.
pondent l was strong of body, my
mind was content. my heart at rest,
when was suddenly impelled to the
maddening belief that I was wronged
as man had never been wrOnged before,
and when every impulse of soul and
sense seemed goading me on for ven-
geance and human blood.
That particular evening was sitting
alone in the yet unlighted library of
my somewhat isolated suburban resi-.
dence.
Outside was deliciously fresh and
balmy dusk-a serene and beguiling
hiatus between the setting of an un-
clouded sun and the rising of a stormy
moon /! The winds were still I; the
great naples were motionless there
were no sounds save those of occasion
al hoofs and wheels along the uneven
and ungraded highway, or those of the
uneasy river complaining with the bur.
den of the prolonged Spring rains.
Nothing was visible but the formless
shadows where all-was shade-nOthing
more but the dim gleam Of the scented
lilac bloom, and of one narrow beam Of
light which issued from a window of
the mushroom at the far end Of the
long and low veranda.
AS sat there gazing dreamily out
into the balmy dusk and listening
drowsily to the grumbling OF the res
tive river somebody began softly in
toning some fanciful operatic air, and
then presently an exquisite voice arous-
ed the hushed cleaning with strain af-
ter strain of happy melody.
With a sense of infinite peace, Of Sc
renest delight, leaned back in my
luxurious chair and closed my content
ed eyes. My Lyre was slnging-my
wife-the beautiful songstIess / had
lured from an anticipated career of
conquest and splendor, and Gagged in the
calmer and prosier stronghold of my
welded affections.
I had meyer wondered if Lyric might
some time regret her marriage with a
man neither particularly young nor
especially attractive /; I had never ques.
toned IL she might some time regret
the love for which she had renounced
more dazzling life ; I loved her, and
she was mine. And in the yet undi-
minished charm of our loving, 1 had
never cared to speculate of what might
be-of what might have been in time
of which had no knowledge !; of what
might be il for her the charm were DIS
solved in the alchemy of latent ambi-
titns or undlvined illusions.
distrusted nothing. / apprehended
nothing my mind was content and
my heart at rest, as in the dreamy dusk
leaned luxuriously back in my Ii
brary chair and serenely listened to. the
exquisite voice singing
"a passionate ballad gallant and gay.
A mental song like trumpet call !
Singing of Death and Honor which
cannot die ]"
But az listened the song ceased
ceased abruptly with sharp disson,
ance and with little janfile, as if her
fingers had come down with startled
crash upon the resplendent keys of the
piano.
Then all was silent. And in tht
midst Of the silence, with flash and a
shock, the unguessed demon unlasheo
the turbulent jealousies and madden
| ing doubts or the unreasoning duali
ty of my being quickened to a yolitior
which belied my sober senses. At the
| instant was assailed by neither era
zy suspicion nor a morbid premonltion
but by vivid and impellent conviction
that some concealed and gruesom'
thing was about to be disclosed to me.
'sSomething startled her from hel
singing, and she is not one to be star
tied ny what threatens no evil. Nv his
pered the voice which was so unlike m.
own. .'Some person has sulket
through the garden and through the
veranda easements, and 80, unseen ant