Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-10-31
CaF?iStOl'S Gift.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
PART
ToLD By PRnH BRAND, N D, LONDON.

DUuuculUuL4 70 see, LOI tic last L4AliCs al Olu
friend who was dying Of consumption. Dur
ing great part Of the journey down had
for travelling companion Welldressed gen
tlemanly man Of about forty years Of age.
We were alone In the compartment, and aft
er interchanging some small ciVilities, such
as the barter Of newspapers, slid into con-
VersatiOn. Ny fellow traveller seemed to be
an Intellectual man, and well posted up IN
the dOings Of the day He talked huently
and easily on various topics, and judging by
his talk must have moved In good society.
Although fancied his features bore traces
Of hard living and dissipation, he was not
unprepOssessing in appearance. The great
est faults in his face were the remarkable
thinness of the lips, and his eyes being a
shade closer together than one cares to see
With a casual acquaintance such peculiarities
are Of little moment, but for my part should
not choose for a friend one who possessed
them without due trial and searching proof
At this time the English public were much
interested in an important viii case which
was then being tried. The reversIOn TO
vast sum Of money depended upon the tesla
tors sanity or insanity. Like most other
people we duly discussed the matter. i sup
pose, from some of my remarks, my cOmpan-
ion understood that was a doctor He ask
ed me a good many technical questions and
described several curious cases of mania
which had come under my notice. He seem
ed greatly interested in the subject.
you must sometimes find it hard to say
where sanity ends and insanity begins, he
said thOughtfuliy.
Eyes. The boundary line is i'm some in
stances hard to define. To give in such a
dubious case an opinion which would satisfy
myself I should want to have known the pa
tent at the time he was considered quite
sane"
''To mark the diference@'
Exactly. And to know the bent of the
character. For instance, there is a friend of
mine He was perfectly sane when last L
saw him, but for all 1 know he may have
made great progress the other way in the i'll
terVal'
Then without mentioning names dates. or
places, / described CaTristOn's peculiar dis
position to my intelligent listener. He heard
me with rapt interest
"YOu predict he viii 90 mad?' he said
Certainly not. Unless anything mfOre-
seen arises he will probably live and die as
sane as you or l.
''Why do you fear for him. then?''
''FOr this reason. L think that any sudden
emOtiOn-viOlent grief, for instance-any un-
expected and crushing blOw-might at once
disturb the balance of his mind. Let his life
run on in an even groove, and all viii be we'll
with him."
My companion was silent for a few mo-
ments.
did you mention your friends name?'' he
asked.
laughed. doctors never give names
when they quote cases"
AT the next station my companion left the
train. He babe me polite adieu, and thank
ed me for the pleasure my conversation had
given him. After wondering what station in
life he occupied I dismissed him from my
mind, as one who had crossed my path for a
short time and would probably never cross it /
again.
Although 1 did not see Charles Carriston I
received several letters from him during the
course Of the year. He had not forgotten
our undertaking to pass my next holiday to-
gether. Early in the autumn, just as I was
beginning to long with a passionate longing
for open air and blue skies, a letter came
from CarristOn. He was now, he said, rough
ing it in the Western Highlands. Heremind- /
ed me of last years promise. Could 1 get
away from work now? Would L Join him?
If L did not care to visit Scotland, would [
suggest some other place where he could Join |
me2 Still, the scenery by which he was now
surrounded was superb and the accOmmoda- /
ton he had secured, if not luxurious, fairly /
comfortable. lie thought we could not do |
better. A postscript to his letter asked me To
address him as Cecil Carr, not Charles CARTS !
ton. He had a reason for changing his name
"a foolish reason should no doubt call it. !
When we met he would let me know it.
This letter at once decided me to accept his
invitation. In a weeks time my arrange
ments for leave of absence were complete, |
and was speeding nOrthWard in the highest /
spirits, and well equipped with everything !
necessary for my faYOrite holiday pursuit /
looked forward with the greatest pleasure to |
again meeting Carriston. 1 found him at
Calendar waiting for me. The coach did
not follow the route we were obliged to take
in order to reach the somewhat unfrequented
part Of the country in which our tent was
pitched, so my friend had secured the services |
OF primitive vehicle and a strong shaggy |
pony to bear us the remainder of the journey. /
So soon as our first hearty greetings were |
over proceeded to ascertain how the last
year had treated CarristOn- / was both de
lighted and astOnished at the great change
for the better which had taken place in his
manner no less than his appearance. He |
looked far more robust; he seemed happier, |
brighter-altOgether more like ordinary hui
mainly. Not only had he greeted me with |
almost bOisterOus glee, but during our drive /
through the wonderful scenery he was in the /
gayest of spirits and full of fun and anecdOte. /
I congratulated him heartily upon the mark
ed improvement in his health, both mentally /
ana pLy Slcdugs
Eyes, i am much better, he said. 81 fol
lowed part Of your advice-gave up mop
ing, tried constant change Of scene, interest /
ed myself in many more things I am quite
a different man."
mo supernatural visitations97 1 asked, /
anxious % learn that his cure in that direc-
ton was complete.
His face fell. he hesitated a second be /
fore answering.
'No-not now p he said. II fought against !
the strange feeling, and believe have got /
rid Of it-at least hope so"
I said no more on the subject. CaristOn
plunged into a series Of vivid and mimetic |
descriptions OF the varieties Of Scotch char