The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-03-18
A MADMAN'S STORY.
His Mysterious Rival and His
Awful Secret.

One afternoon last summer I had oc-
casion to visit the insane asylum at
-. Among the large number of
patients confined in that institution l
was particularly interested in one who
bore about him evidences of having
been once splendid specimen of man.
hood. Despite the stoop of his shoul-
ders and his air of debility it was easy
to trace the outlines of a former mag
niicent frame. His forehead was lofty,
his chin prominent and bold. his every
feature in a sane man would have indi-
Gated strength and an irresistible will.
Yet if left in solitude for even mo-
ment his expression became haunted
and his manner so tlmid that it COM
pletely contradicted the outlines of his
face.
When ] questioned the warden about
this man he could give me no informa-
ton whatever. The young lady in
mourning who had caused him to be
left at the asylum had been uncommu-
nicative, and as for the man himself,
he had either forgotten the past or did
not wish to speak of it. I might ques-
ton him, though, if I liked. 1t could
do no harm.
The subject of my curiosity was
walking stolidly about the gardens at
tached to thesinstitution, and lost no
time in approaching him. His manner
was affable, but when / asked him to
tell me the story of his life he east on
me such look of horror that / beat a
precipitate retreat. About half an hour
later, as | was about to pass out of the
gate, Ifelta slight touch on my shoulder.
turned and saw the mailman. @
Il will write you my history" said
ne, although can not. bring myself
about to tell it. It will be painful to
me, but may be of use to others"
accepted with thanks and made ar
rangements with the warden to have
his writings sent on to me by mail.
About a month later l received a
package from him containing about
forty sheets of folio-cap, covered COM
pietely with close writing, of which the
greater part was mere scrawl. Yet,
after much study, made out enough
TO construct the following narrative,
which give, not in his words, for they
would be unintelligible, but in my own.
It is a narrative which I deem it my
duty to. publish: -
l,John Whitman, am descended from
the peasantry of England, to whom ]
owe my former keen, though practical
ana matter-of-fact, cast of mind.
During my college course, until my
senior year, was without an equal in
either athletics, society or class stand
ing. Yet, though / had no equal, had
rival.
Whenever was first this one was
second, except in popularity, for his
manner was SO egotistical as to inspire
uisgust, while he was abnormally bright
ana his brightness often took so devl.
lsia turn that he was even feared. He
was . small yet wiry youth, of sallow
complexion, jet black hair and an eye
20 deep set and SO peculiar that no one
could ever remember its color.
seemed his evil fate in every con.
.est | took the prize in the athletic
neld oy jumping only one inch higher
.nan he; by running the half mile two
seconds faster. While it was clear tina,
was to be valedictorian, it was no less
evident that he would deliver the sa.
lulaeory address. To cap the climax
we were rivals for the hand of a Ger.
aln young heiress in town, the despair
" ail the undergraduates, and had il
aot been for me he would undoubtedly
sacceeded in his suit, for he was the
most brilliant conversationalist / ever
.et. When he exerted himself to talk
ron affably it was as If you looked
saeo the eye of a rattlesnake and were
'asneinated BY the colors you saw there,
d.. nuI Moliie one day gave him to un-
yeIsIand that he was again second in
s lace, and the disappointment drove
hlm almost insane. It seemed as il
NJ n could bear the companionship of nc
s,ng thing after that repulse, and il
~ ss perhaps, to be away as far as pos.
AUG nom human beings that he bought
.u1 oid stone house about a quarter OF
IIAe nom college and lived there
.s ssIsa Ihe spirit of gloom must have
Tcseo that place for his habitation.
eo. - say nothing of its lonely position
has h.slue the city, of the hug ge sycamores
snas as surrounded it and kept out every
aam, the home itself was low and
ero. sP ana seemed built more under
nssung nasu than above The owner had
anr Defore been able to rent it fol
pIce, and it had so bad name
rSsss city urchins that no promise
indsa in tne Chestnut trees held out could
Hs.s0 tnem to come into the vicinity.
: = ! said, my rival lived alone,