Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-18

effects as the results to which they may
lead. This boy Che seemed to me nothing
more) was subject to such attacks, as his
anxious and distressed parents told me.
They were Very wealthy, and Edgar was
their spoiled darling. AS ply stefan I
sympnthized with his bodily weakness, and
would try TO help it: as q man endowed
nothing but contempt for the whole class
OF beings to which this young fellow be-
Ionged. His tlaxen hair was dressed like q
girls; his pale blue eyes were as inane as n
dolls, and his face was the face of pretty
wax model. To dress, to lounge, to
dawdle. expressed his highest ideas of
human occupation.
gave him simple remedy, but informed
his parents that in such cases as this pre-
vention must be looked to. Here was a
most keenly susceptible nervous organiza-
ton, upon which a sudden shock Uf excite
ment, disappointment, or fear might be ex-
pecteu to produce even worse results than
that which they were witnessing now. And,
by the way, what was there, of this nature,
that had lately happened to him? AS his
physician l ought to know. They both
Seemed somewhat confused by the question,
and did not press it. l told them that
the soothing draught had prescribed would
give present relief and that in a few hours
this attack would be over MIR. Lennox
followed me to the door as withdrew. He
wanted to explain what had occasioned Ed
gar illness. The fact was, he had become
infatuated with young lady. She reeip-
located his attachment, but she was not
willing that her parents should be informed
of it Just yet. She wished neither to be
engaged nor married at present. Edgar had
been pressing for AN immediate engagement
and marriage i'll year. Mr.. Lennox sup
posed that his boy had quite scene last
night on the subject with Lillian, and
[ started as if smitten in the face.
with whom?" interrupted.
why, Miss Graham-Lilian Graham.
She says"
l DO not know Just how l broke away
from the mans garrulous chatterj nor have
| any recollection of how | reached my ho-
tel. l locked myself i'll my rooms, and
never left them till the evening of the fol-
lowing day. All visitors were denied, all
calls refused; simply returned the answer
from the inside that was indisposed and
must have rest. Not mouthtul of food
passed my lips in this time, nor did | sleep.
| walked the floor like Il Gagged beast; | al
most foamed with rage at this discovery, so
sudden, so unexpected. And i'll words that
had before passed unuttered through my
mind, | swore a frightful oath that whoever
came between me and Lillian Graham
should be trampled down and crushed to
powder.
Darkness was approaching. when, the
next evening, l sailed ont aud walked rap
idly and aimlessly through the streets.
Chance took me past the stately residence
of Mr.. Lennon. As / was passing, the
door opened, and Edgar and his mother
came out upon the steps. With sudden
impulse, | secreted myself behind tree,
and listened.
Don't stay long. my dear"
mo, won't; but | must see her again
tonight. And you'll speak to Mrs. Ora
ham Tomorrow, mother?"
Eyes, my boy"
The door closed, and he tripped jauntily
down the steps. 1 have more than once
spoken of impulses; l say now that the in
fluence that led me at that in tant to act as
| did was simply empowering. | sprang
from my place of concealment | took him
roughly by both shoulders, and warned and
terrified him by my savage speech.
You fool" | said, Lillian Graham is
not for you. Cease yonr visits there, or l
will not answer for what may bappep to you.
She is mine do you hear? Niue onl.."
His Mortified face pated as he recognized
me and heard my words Without II word
he turned back, reascended the steps, and
disappeared in the house.
No eye lad seen, no ear had heard what
mas Just been described. Rapidly I re-
turned to my rooms. Not five minutes had
passed when an urgent message demanded
my immediate presence at the Lennox man
sion. Anticipating the meaning Of the
summons, complied. The house was in
confusion, the parents wild with app.e-
hension. l was told that Edgars mother
had parted with him at the door, ard that
q few minutes later one of the servants
found him lying senseless and speechless
i'll the hall. was conducted TO where he
lay upon his bed. His eyes We're set and
staring; his limbs were ri id and cold. l
placed my hand beneath his vest; there
was no response.
as he dying" whispered the stricken
father.
He is dead, replied,
Let the procession of events that fol-
lowed pass again rapidly before me. The
best society of the city shocked and startled;
its farest mansion changed to somber
house of mourning; thrcnged funeral, tie
air heavy with the perfume of rare flowers;
a white face beneath the glass, above which
were signs and tears; mournful hymns;
words of PRAYER, and the clods on the
coffin-lid. A year passed; decorously, and
not with ardcr. my suit for Lillian Graham
was commenced. She yielded slowly, and
consented at last with indifference, almost
with apathy, and only because / urged and
her parents wished it. She had loved him
who was dead, she told me (of such stuff
are women made, and her heart was lin
the grave with him. She honored and re-
spected me, and ought to be proud of my
love. SO we were married.
More years passed; cur child came. The
tenderness Of mother-love drew her closer
to me. l kew that at last l was loved.
The white face in the coffin was forgotten,
or only remembered as a strain of plaintive
music stealing on the air at night. Ave,
she told me that she loved me, and that
she thanked God for bringing me to her.
| was rich. I.was famed. / was honored.
What stood between me and perfect hap
piness?
By night and day, at home and on the
street, even with Lilian's arms about my
neck. always, everywhere, that white face
in the coffin comes to me, and will not be
forgotten.
Go back with me to the evening when
stood over Edgar Lennox, lying in his
fathers house, and informed those agoniZed
parents that he was dead.
| lied. He was not dead. A common
physician might we'll have been deceived
by tine ordinary indications of death that
were there; l could not be. My skill and
learning told me at once that this was the
counterfeit, not the reality of death.
For here was youth in the flow of life's
tide, with high wrought nervous organi-
IL, off ta1 10 farsn o,,l hut