The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-15
CHE Intelligence.
oae., Nos, as and ~ Eourteopth street.
ALEC HARDIN.

uLat AAsW AleC aA4u4n ~ ~ Sg4
lege. We were medical students ANT
boarded at the same house. He was
brilliant talker, and possessed moreovsI
q handsome face and q ine figure,
II am deeply interested in hsreditar!
diseases" he said, one evening. "Th'
subject isscinatss me, and as l can prose
cute my studies here better than at home
came here" Then, with a quick chang
Of voics and manner, he asked;
"Do you not think it criminal for a mar
or woman who Is afflicted with a diseasf
that can be transmitted to their children
to marry2 To give them, with life, &
curse that shall neutralize all its blessings
Why should the innocent suffer because
Of the guilt Of othersP Oh! the hosts Of
living martyrs groaning beneath some
ancient wrongl My mind grows dizzy
with the horror Of it! Looking back into
the past | often see some man or woman
standing, as on q height, and the shadow
Of such q one, stretching black as q thpn'
der cloud over the generations born ol
them2"
II see you are determined to look at the
darkest side Of the subject" / said.
Would to God | could see a bright
side! But, listen! l will tell you Of an
instance that has come under my own OBJ.
servation. In neighborhood there
lives a gentleman-his name is immaterial
lin hose race thereis a faint Of insanity.
This man Ia q noble being, generous TO a
fault, loyal to his friends, Chivalrous to-
wards women, and possessed moreover oil
an intellect superior to that Of most men.
He might have won distinction in any oil
the walks Of life but for the curse thar
overshadows him."
Hardin paused, breathing heavily. In
the gathering gloom | could not see his
face, but | felt that be was deeply agitated.
ain the same neighberhood lived a girl.
She must have possessed wondrous beau.
ty in her youth, for even now, though her
hair is streaked with gray and her face
has lost its youthful bloom, she ts, | think,
one OF the loveliest women l ever saw.
These two loved. They married. A few
months after his marriage the man be-
came insane, The attack lasted only
about six weeks, after which he seemed
mentally as hale as any one; but this was
only seeming. He had several attacks
since then. Sometimes they last only q
week or two, sometimes several months.
He had one son; | know him well, and
since he was old enough to understand
the horror Of his situation, he has not
spent one happy hour. His life stretches
before him, dreary, hopeless, utterly bar.
ren-a desert without o single oasis
Think what lie must have suffered,
when in his early manhood he looked
forward, praying, hoping, longing for an
early death! Who can blame him, II,
bending beneath the weight Of this anCes-
trail curse, he should cry: My cross Is
heavier than l can bearl'
"Let US trust" | reply, deeply moved,
"that such cases are rare. lido not IN.
deIstand, but | dimly feel, that all suffer
ing must be remsdied. Nature holds q
check.rein, as 1t were, upon man."
A heavy sigh, from out the darkness,
was my only anAWer, and after q moment
Hardin rose and quietly left the room. .
Having finished my course at M, l
went to Paris to complete my studies.
During my two years absence l CORE
sponded regularly with Hardin. His let
tiers were like his conversation, bright,
Witty-an intellectual tTeat-but they
were never personal. can not express
how deeply / loved Alec Hardin. l
looked forward to meeting him on my re-
turn to America with intense pleasure.
When, then, l landed in New York, l did
but follow the impulse Of my heart in tax
ing the southern.bound train.
Reaching Norton, l secured q convey.
ance to the home Of Hardin. On the gal
lery sat my friend; but % changed, so
wan, so thin! l wrung his hand. l felt
like acting as l had seen SO many for.
eigners do-throwing my arms around
him and kissing him.
81 could not help coming 10 see you,
Hardin" l said, when the first incoher-
nee Of our greeting was passed. "But
how wretchedly you look Have you
been ill?"
A faint wave Of color swept over his
face, but before he could speak two ladies
Joined us.
Mother, this is my friend, DR.. King.
You have often heard rue speak Of him.
Help me 10 welcome him. | need your
aid also, Kate. Miss Kate Williams, DR..
King"
Both ladies did all in their power to
make me feel at home. Blt l could not
keep my eyes off my friends face. Later
in the day, while apparently listening to
Mrs. Hardin's pleasant chat, l heard this
bit OF conversation between Hardin and
Kate:
"Does he know, AlecP"
no" with a deep sigh. "Do you think
It beat2 Then I will tell him tonight"
That night q negro man came to my
oom.
"Mr. Alec says sir, II you amt tootired,
will you please come 10 his room." l
found Harden lying by the open window
on q lounge. l drew q chair 10 his side.
"Take the light with you, Robert. Don't
speak 10 me, please, my friend, there Ia
something must tell, but l am very weak.
Do you remember a conversation we had
once, in which l told you OF q wretched
man-born 10 insanity l am that man
that miserable beingi Obi my friendl
my whole life has been Q martyrdom. !
60 to sleep with q groan upon my lips, and
l wake in the morning, alter q briel slum.
Der, only to feel my burden heavy upon
mel"
was on my knees now, with my arms
around him.
"You should not brood ever this sub.
jeCt, Hardin. A mind as strong as yours
should not be overpowered by dread Of q
mere possibility. This faint may be in
your blood, but II may never show itself
1T has shown itself" he replied, with
q groan.
TYou do not mean to say, Hardin"
await O moment and l will tell you.
You have often said that you envied me
my mind; you have praised my powerful
and subtle intellect. II was weak in me,
but l loved 10 have you speak thus.
Many's the time l was tempted 10 tell
you oithe horror that pursued me, but |
learedt TO fall in your estimAtionl Idread.
ed your pityi" He paused a moment "a
though 70 gather strength.
~ vowed no child should be born Of me,
as | in my heart cursed my father for Civ.
ing me life. ! avoided the society Of Wo.
men. II mother or Kate had company, l