The Osceola times., 1886-09-25
A CLASSIC MANIAC.
A Young LAZY Who Refused to
be Sacrificed.

Soon after the surrender ] became
Teacher in the female seminary of j
in South Louisiana. Like many anotbe
OF my cogntrywomcn, ! was compelle,
10 disregard the normal antipathy o
The Southern mind TO woman over
stepping the strait limits that bind be
within the sacred privacy Of home an,
battling in the worlds arena for dali,
bread 80 l took my place in th,
ranks OF the combatants, and trainct
young ideas in the seminary Of j
lfound it pleasant little place. preit,
and picturesque, and especially favorec
with good society and an abundance o.
schools and churches. 1t had one
great drawback, however; what that
was my story viii disclose.
One summer evening ! set out for q
ramble through The pine woods extend
ing Tor some distance above the town.
1t had been an intensely hot day, and |
had found the tedium Of the schoolroom
increased to an intolerablc degree by
The burning heat Of the atmosphere; so
/ went to look for a cooler spot than the
brick walls OF the college could afford.
found it on the top OF pne-crowned
hlll, and, seating myself on the soft
carpet of dead pine straw that covered
the ground. became immersed in
thoughts OF former halcyon DAYS. be
fore the grim spectres OF war and ruin
stalked through our sunny land, tb..r I
forgot all about the lapse of ti.oo and
my distance from home.
was recalled to a sc-,so ~ ,,,. .,,.
roundings by low roll of thunder. m
and starting up r.,as surprised to seq
no" uaIA u ma" grown. The sky was
covered with thick clouds. through
:, ""'yn -, Yi" ne an occasional ominous
Ii''sn' 4he wind, too. had risen. and
NV W Jicmn roar of the pine trees surely
re most mourniul cerie sound mortal
earS ever heard, filed the air | hastily
descended the hill, walking as rapidly
MS possible, heping 10 reach home he.
lore the sform broke. Before | had
gone hatf a mile was startled by
loud Voice Just behind me, saving:
"a pleasant evening, madam.
, / turned round and stared in astOnsh-
ment first, as not being as | supposed
entirely alone, secondly at the unccre-
monious salutation Of "A stranger; and
thirdly, at the very Inappropriate re-
mark. Immediately behind me. as if
he had just sprung out of the ground,
stood young man, evidently gentle
man, in faultless evening costume eX-
ccpt that, strange 10 say, he wore no
hat. Where he had come from, or
what he could be doing out there in the
woods in that dress and barehcadcd,
could not conjecture; nor how he pre-
sumcd TO address me so famil .arly
replied by rs slight and cold a bow as
possible, and turning from him walked
rapidly onward. Not at all di-concert-
ed by my chilling behavior, he stepped
up to my side and walked with me, con-
timing the conversation, or rather
Jaonologuc. in the same loud tone.
IAN uncommonly pleasant evening,
certainly. | have never felt the halmy
air of the sweet South SO refreshing as
after a day when the scorching rays of
phntus, as the ancicat Greeks named
the bright luminary of the sky, have been
SO oyer-powering. | trust we shall have
lovely night when the pale Diana, god
dess OF the silver bow, will reign su-
prcmc. and with her mild beams cool
our burning brains?"
"IS he crazy?' thought |, getting
rather pale and nervous, and then crit
ically examining my unwclcome escort.
No he looked sane enough somewhat
flighty, certainly, and decidedly high
flown in his language; but com
posed and gentlemanly in manner. just
then | remembered that an amateur
Thespian society had been recently
formed in i which entirely pos
scSScd the hearts and souls of the juye-
nile population, and at once set down
my new acquaintance rs an enthusiastic
votary of the histrionic art, who carried
lofty phraseology of the boards INTO
private conversation. | even thought
his face looked familiar, and decided
that must have met him at rehearsal.
So, as there seemed no possibility OF
getting rid of HIM, put a good face on
the matter and replied civilly that was
afraid he was mistaken in his opln-
ION of the weather, as there seemed ev-
cry prospect of a violent storm.
mo, no. replied my grsndiloquent
friend, waving his hand gracefully
round what sailors would call 1.-THE
oiling," "that is not probable. Leus,
father of gods and men, would not so
forget his divine prerogative of protect
ing the weak as to commence llinglng
his thunderbolts around while one so
fair, and alas! so frail. is exposed to
their dire Effects
Decidedly the man is mad, y thought
!, and mvoluntarily quickened my steps
to a run.
Don't hurry" cried he, and laid his
hand on my arm as IL to check my
light This completed my panic. but
had still sense enough left to reflect that
II the man were really insane the worst
thing | could do was to bctray my
terror to him, and strove hard to re-
tam sufficient presence of mind to get
rid Of him without offending him.
Excuse me, sir. but as ] see house
10 the let among the trees, | think l
VIII take shelter there, as | am sure we
are gong to have storm.
As If to corroborate my words there
came just then a binding flash, an ear
splitting clap of thunder. and few
large slow drops fell on my bonnet and
my troublesome companions bare head
There speaks the voice of a mighty
Jove. cried that strange indivldua!
with another graceful wsve Of the hand.
"b0t have no fears, madam, the gods Of