The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-23

$50 here was the end of my romance
and the solution of tho mysterious in
huence he had over me. 1 always had
felt there was something uncanny about
him, and this explained it. I had heard
of insane persons having such power
over others, and 1 must say I breathcd
easier to know he was out of the way
before I had been borne entirely under
tho spell of those wondrous eyes.
Imagine my feelings when, a few days
after, the servant brought me this card
and told me he had asked to sec me
alone. Cousin Julia was out, else l
would have insisted on her going to the
parlor with me. I thought Of all the
tricks of insane people that l had read.
The more l thought the more nervous
l grew; but at length, summoning all my
self-possession, l went down stairs. lie
was moving rcstlessly about the room
when I entered, came at oncc to meet
me, and taking my hand exclaimed ::
".At last! 1t seems an age since !
saw YOU
"Tcrriicd as I was my innate love of
truth compelled me to say:
"It is just n week.
":Ah, yesr he murmurcd, 'but time is
measured by what we enjoy or suffer,
and so 1t seems to me a long weary
time since I saw you. Perhaps you
have heard I was obliged to go out
of town after I saw you last, and I have
but just now returned from Harrisburgh;
indeed, I have not been home yet. l
felt + must see you first
"Hc was sitting close by me and
leaned carcssingly towards me as he said :
az was wearying for the sight of
your dear face, for you must surely know
that you are very dear to me-
81 felt as if I was slowly turning to
stone. II re I was, a mere mite, in the
complete power of this giant of an cs-
capped lunatic. I shall never forget tho
horror of it. Just hero fate in the per
son of Cousin Julia i]ntcrposed before 1
had in any way committed myself.
"Ah, Mr.. Chase she said, lam glad
to see you; when did you lcturn2 1 was
sorry for the occasion Of your absence;
how did you leave your brothcr2
":Hc was more quiet whcn l left
him, but I fear he never will be entirely
cured
II sat us one in a maze. What did it
mcan7 He O took his leave, and 1
Immediately asked my cousin why 1 had
never heard of Mr.. Chase's brother
before.
"'Well, I don't know, 1 am sure. l
never thought of it, and he would not
be apt to speak of it. People, as a rule,
do not parade their family skeletons.
Poor AL has been greatly tried with
his brother, and has been devoted to
him, trying every way to help him, but
] sec he is discouraged now. By the
way, what did I interrupt 1 did not
think he seemed delighted to see me; moth
ing serious hope, for I esteem him too
highly to tbwart him in any way
"ASStJ NCP1 ny o"u COUNSEL, anu
to this day Cousin Julia does not know
of my absurd mistake, and wonders why
I came home so suddenly. And I never
think of the insane without a shudder as /
recall the creeping horror of that day."
"Why, Mr.. Browning is coming
through the gate, and he looks just like
the lunatic you have been describing"
"Well, so he is. He followed me
home; he assured me that lunacy was
not a hereditary trait; that his brothers
had been brought on by business troubles;
that he had returned from the asylum
cured; and what could I do7 I loved
the man, and so I married him after all.
His name wasn't Chase. Still, I have a
horror of supposed lunatics."- ~ B.
LaUely in Current.