The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-11-26
iCARRISTON'S GIFT.
The Story Of an Occult and Mys-
FERROUS Power.
The Danger to Which It's Possessor Waa
sslJect. and How It Was Used to
Discover the LoAt-Evil Machi.
nations Thwarted.
BY Eugh sCos,seay. Author Of "Dd,k Dogs"
-"Culisd Back" etc.
PART 1.

PART i.
TOLD BY PHILIP BRAND. N. D., LONDON.
wish l had the courage to begin
this tale by turning to my professional
Westinghouse. and taking at random
any month out of the last twenty years,
give its record as a fair sample of my
ordinary work. The dismal extract
would tell you what doctor's-I sup
pose may say successful doctors
lot is, when bis practice lies in poor
and densely populated district of Lon
don. Dreary as such a beginning
might be. 1T would perhaps allay some
of the lncredulity which this tale may
probably provoke. as it would plainly
show how little room there is for things
imaginative or romantic in work so hard
as mine. or among such grim realities
of poverty, pain and grief as those by
which have been surrounded. 1t would
certainly make it appear extremely I'M
likely that / should nave found time to
imagine. much less to write, romance
or melodrama.
The truth is that when man has
toiled from nine o'clock in the morning
until nine O'Clock at night, such leisure
a he can enjoy is precious to him, es-
pec;allv when even that short respite is
liable 10 be broken in upon at any mo-
ment.
Still, IN spite of the doleiul picture l
have drawn of what may lie called ''the
daily grind" begin this tale with the
account of a holiday.
In the autumn of 1864 l turned my
back with right goodwill upon London
streets. hospitals and patients, and took
my seat in the Moth express. The first
revolution of the wheels sent thrill of
delight through my faded frame. A
joyful sensation of freedom came over
me. 1 had really got away at last! More
over. | lad lett no address behind me,
so for three blessed weeks might roam
an undisputcd lo,d of myself Three
weeks were not very many 10 take ont
OF the fifiy-two, but they We're all could
venture 10 give myself; for even at that
time my practice, if not so lucrative as l
could wish, was large and increasing
one. Having done a twelvemonth's
hard work. / felt that no one in the
kingdom could take his holiday with
a conscience clearer than mine, so lay
back in 4 peculiarly contented frame of
mind. and discounted the coming pleas
ures of my brief respite from labor.
There are many ways Of passing hol-
iday-many places at which it may be
spent; but, after all. if you wish to thor
oughiy enjoy it, there is but one royal
rule TO be followed. That is, simply to
please yourself go where YOU like and
mount the innocent holiday hobby which
is dearest to YOUR heart, let its name he
botany, geology, entomology, conchol-
sogy, piscation, or what not. Then you
shall be happy, and return well braced
up for the battle of life. l knew a city
clerk of literary tastes who invariably
spent his annual fortnight among the
mu> tiest tones of the British Museum,
and averred that his health was more
benefited by so doing than if he had
passed the time inhaling the freshest
sea-breezes. l dare say he was right
in his assertion.
Sketching has always been my favor
lite holiday pursuit Poor rs my draw
ings NAV be. nevertheless, as turn
them over in my portfolio, they bring.
to me at least. vivid remembrances of
many sweet and picturesque spots, hap
py days, and congenial companions. 1t
is not for ME to say anything Of their
actual merits, but they are dear to ME
for their associations.
This particular year went to North
Wales. and made Bettws V Coed my
headquarters. l stayed at the Royal
Oak, that well-known little inn dear to
many an artists heart, and teeming
with "reminiscences of famous men who
have so;ourned there times without
number. 1t wasChcre made the ac-
Quaintance of the man with whose life
the curious events am going to narrate
are connected.
On the first day after my arrival at
Bettws my appreciation of my liberty was
so thorough, my appetite for the enjoy
meut OF the beauties of nature so keen and
Unsuitable, that went so far and saw so
much, that when returned to the Royal
Oak night had fallen, and the hour of
dinner had long passed by. l was,
when my own meal was placed on the
table, the only occupant of the coffee
room. just then = young man entered,
and ordered something to eat. The
waiter knowing. no doubt, something of
the frank comdrQdeyie which exists, or
should exist, between the followers of
Melpomenc. laid his cover at my table.
The newcomer seated himself. gave me
q pleasant smile and nod, and in five
minutes we were in full swing of con-
versation.
The moment my eyes fell upon the
young man l had noticed how singular
" handsome he was. Charles Carris-
ton-for this found afterward to be
his name-was about twenty-five years
of age. He was tall. but slightly built,
his whole bearing and figure being re-
markably elegant and graceful. He
looked even more than gentlemanly-
he looked distinguished. His face was
pale, its features well cut, straight and
regular. His forehead spoke of high
intellectual qualities. and there was
somewhat of that development over the
eyebrows which phrenologists, believe,
consider as evidence of the possession of
Imagination. The general expression
of his face was one of seriousness, if
not sadness. and its refined beauty was
he ghtened by pair of soft. dark,
dreamy-looking eyes.
it only remains to add that, from his
attire. 1 Judged him to be an artist-a
professional artist to the backbone. In
the course of conversation l showed
him how I had classified him. He
smiled.
Il am only an amateur" he said;
ian idle man. nothing more-and
you''
ALAS. / am Doctor
'Tssn we shall not have to answer
for our sins in painting to each other"
We talked on pleasantly until our