Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-12-31

I
employed the man In Difference to my
wishes He moved about the house in
a ds3onsolate fashion. I had not told
him Of my Interview with his cousin,
but had cautioned him on the rare oc-
casions upon which he went out-of-
doors 10 avoid speaking TO strangers,
and my servants hal strict Instructions
20 prevent any one coming in and TAX
ing my guest by surprise.
For l had. during those day, opened
confidential inquiry on my own ac-
count l wanted to learn something
about this Mr. Ralph Carriston. So
asked a man who knew everybody to
find out all about him.
Ho reported that Ralph Carriston
was man well known about London.
He was married and had a hotise in
Dorsctshirc; but the greater part of his
time was spent in town. Once be was
supposed TO be well OF; hut now IL was
the general opinion that every acre he
owned was mOrtgagcd. and that he was
much pressed for moncy. But" my
informant said, there Is hut one life
between him aud the revcrsion to largo
estates, and that life Is poor one.
believe even now there is talk about
the man who stands In his way being
mad. II so. Ralph Carriston will get
the management of everything"
After this ncws | felt IL more than
over needful to keep a watchful eve on
my friend. So far rs knew there had
been no recurrence Of the trance, and
began 10 hope thst proper treatment
would effect a complete cure, when. to
my great alarm and annoyancc, 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 tie room. After watch
ing him for a minute or two, and Just
as was making up my mind to arouse
him and scold him thoroughly for his
folly. hc sprang tn his feet. and, nhout-
ing: "Lct her goi Loose her, | saym
rushed violently across the room-so
violently that / had barely time to in-
tcrpose and prevent him from coming
into contact with the opposite wall.
Upon returning to his senses he told
me. with great excitement. that he had
again seen Madeline; moreover, this
me he had seen man with hers
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
ible to him.
He told me he had watched them for
some moments. until the man, tighten
ing his grip on the girls arm. endeav-
orcd. he thought, 10 lead her or induce
her 10 follow him somewhere AT this
juncturc. unaware that he was gazing
at vision. he had rushed TO her as
sistance IN the frantic way have de-
scribed then he awokc.
He also told me he had studied the
mans features and general appearance
most carefully with a view TO future
recognition. All these ridiculous state.
ments were made as he made the former
ones. with the air Of one relating sim
pie. undeniable facts-one speaking the
plain. unvarnished truth. aud expect.
ing full credence to be given to his
words.
IL was too absurd too sad Il wa.
evident to me that the barrier between
his hallucnations. dreams. visions, OF
whatever he chose to cali them. aud
pure insanity was now n very slight
aud fragile one. But before | gave his
case up rs hopeless | determined 10
make another strong appeal TO his
cOmmoa-sense. told him OF his cOus-
in's visit TO me-of his intentions and
proposition. | begged him 10 consider
what consequences his extraordinary
beliefs and extrayagant actions must
eventually entail. lilo listened atten-
lively and calmly.
"You sec now" he said. chow right
i was in attribunng all this TO Ralph
Carrision right was 10 come %
you, a doctor Of standing. who can
vouch for my saniiy."
"Youeh for yenr sanity How can /,
when you sit here and talk such arrant
nonsense and expect me to believe il?
When you jump from your chair and
rush madly at some visionary foe?
Sane as you may be in all else, any evil
dencc ! could give in your favor must
break down IN cross-cXam nation IL an
inkling Of these things got about
Come, Carriston, bJ reasonable, aud
prove your sanity by setting about this
search for Miss Rowan in a 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 nc
seated himself; and. as II to avoid re-
turn ng to the argument, drew a book
at hazard from my shelves and began
10 read. He opened the volume at ran
dom. but after reading a few lines
seemed struck by something that met
his eyes, and in a few minutes was
deeply immersed In the contents Of the
! 4 .. "a 4 n
so awakened his interest BY a curious
fatality he had chosen a book tho very
worst for him in his present frame of
mind-Gilchrist's recently publishcd d life
Of William Blake, that mastery memoir
Of man who was on certain points as
mad a CaTriston himself was about
TO demonstrate, when he laid down the
volume and turned 10 me
"Yarlcy, the painter he said, was
a firm believer in Blake,s visions"
"Yarley was bigger fool than
Blake" rct0rtcd. Fancy his sitting
down and watching his clever but mai
friend draw spectral heads. aud beliey-
ing them to be genuine portraits Of
dead kings whose forms cOndesccnded
10 appear 10 Blake!"
A sudden thought seemed 10 strike
Carriston. "Will you give me some
paper and chalk2 be asked. Upon
being furRkhed-Wnn these materials he
seated himself at the table and began
TO draw Al least a dozen times he
sketched With his usual rapldity, some
object or another. and a dozen times,
after a moments consideration. threw
each sketch aside with an air OF disap-
pointmont and began fresh one. At
last one OF his attempts seemed to come
up 10 his requirements. II have it
now. exactly" he 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.