Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-08-19

pretended to be, overjoyed at this an.
nouneement, and had declared her in.
tention Of holding the photogr aphel
to his word. and had given other sign.
OF uncomformableness that had re,
suited in a very lev and distant end.
ing of the interview. from which he
had hoped so much. But TO return tc
the sceae in the drawing.room
ITO show you how little belief |
have in the theory of heredity," Mr.
Graham was proceeding. Il can assure
you that | feel no personal apprehension
from the fact that my grandfather on
the paternal side became insane and
died so. Ny mother died of cousump.
ton. as did also her only brother. NJ.
fathers eldest brother, as some Of V YOU u
may have heard, became quite mad
and committed suicide. He had a
strange aud melancholy history. [
feel myself so thoroughly strong and
healthy both in mind and body that
/ speak Of these circumstances with
out any personal application, and. if
you like, will tell you something Of
the history Of this uncle Of mine. who,
in his youth, gave promise of conspic-
uous distinction in two departments
that Of science and that of paint.
ing. These indications, however, were
not realized, owing to the fact that he
early became prey to the most er-
ratio moods and !ancies, and soon de-
veloped into a wanderer on the face
of the earth. He was rich and owned
large landed estates. The house you
are now honoring with your presence
/ inherited from him, and he left much
valuable property besides. This house
was his usual residence when in his
own country, and as he hated the an
noyaucs Of preparation and hustle, he
always kept a housekeeper and two
servants here, with explicit instruc.
tions that the house should be always
kept in a habitable state, SO that he
might come and go without any sort
of notice. He carried pass keys, and
would often return in the night and
90 to his room without any ones be.
ing aware OF his presence until he rang
for attendance next morning. He had
kept up this habit for years, and was
a man OF forty wheuone morning. af-
ter an unusually long absence, the ser.
wants in the kitchen were startled by
the ringing Of his bedroom bell 1t
was after midday, and quite contrary
to the masters habits to sleep until
this late hour. When Thomas (the
old servant from whom | had the par
ticulars after my uncle DEATH knock
ed at his door he was forbidden to en-
ter, but was told to bring water, etc,
and leave them outside the door and
then 20 and have breakfast prepared.
When my uncle finally descended
to the dining room, Thomas was
sent upstairs to put the sleep.
ing room in order. He found the
apartment in great confusion, and
filled with strong, peculiar odors,
which made thorough ventilation ne
cessary. These indications disturbed
him very little, however. as he knew
his master was given to making chem
ical experiments, and he ascribed them
to this cause, as he did also the thick,
charred substance in the bottom of a
tin water bucket, which had been set
in the fire place in orde: that the
smoke OF its burning contents might
60 up the chimney. Thomas inform.
ed me also that my uncle had greatly
altered in appearance during his last
absence, and looked pale and haggard.
He was also more than ever gloomy
and taOiturn, and kept more exclu-
siyely to himself, absolutely refusing
to see any one whatever. except the
servants Of his household, aud remain
ing almost altogether in his own apart
ments. The day after his return,
Thomas was dispatched to the station
to bring over his masters trunks, and
there rather strange thing occurred.
The station master inquired casually
il there had not been lady with my
uncle, and when Thomas answered in
the negative, he said that lady had
certainly got off the train with him.
but that he had seen her only vague
ly by the light ofhis lantern, and knew
nothing more than that she had gone
of down the platform on my uncle 5
arm. This mystery was never ex-
planned. Certainly the lady was new
er heard Of at Graham Hall.
The day after his return my uncle
unpacked from his trunks complete
artists regalia, and set to work upon
a painting of somewhat novel kind.