The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-01
THE MANIAC suI1oR.

[ < - t
''Oh, Alice, you ought to have been
with us; we had a lovely ime;" and
then she added, a. truer thought
lighted her eye. ''tbe inmates seemed
to enjoy our music SO much that think
! never tried harder to acquit myself
we'll, and fatter myself succeeded,
/ too.'
We'll Amy, 1 am glad you went, I"
replied her friend; ''but visiting insane
asylums, to entertain the inmates is not
exactly in my line; 1 always had an un-
comfortable aversion to every being
who is not in his right mind had a
little adventure once, too which can
never forget"
can adventure! dote on anything
of that kind; do tell me about it." and
Miss Amy folded her pretty hands and
prepared to listen.
lit isn't much of q story, Amy, but
it was serious matter to me, at the
time. You remember the visit made
to fathers relatives in the eastern part
OF the State. Soon after my arrival at
Cousin Julia's Imet at a little party, one
evening. the most peculiar and at the
same time the most fascinating man l
ever saw. He was very large, swarthy
as an Italian; he wore heavy beard.
black as night; his hair, which was of
the same color. had the most eccentric
habit of standing straight up from his
forehead, in an aggressive style"
BLESS me! You call that fascinat-
ing man''
Just wait TIL 1 tell you of his Won
derful eyes. His eyebrows were very
heavy and almost met; Of course his
eyes were black; but they had such a
peculiar expression; they seemed to
draw you. somehow, even against your
will. The most trivial remark he made
assumed an Importance that no one else
ever impaired to it
From the first was rather awed
by him. and he seemed to be quite at
tracted by little nie. forgot to tell
you his name was Mr.. Chase. He sent
me music and then gazed at me
while I sang it until felt impelled to
sing better than ever did before. He
sent me flowers, and wore his carna-
nations. though, you know. don't ad-
mire them at all, and never want to
see one again. OF course, was teased
a good deal about my conquest, and l
really began to dread his calls, and
contrived to have some one present
always, as feared he would ask me to
marry him, and did not know how to
answer him. One evening he found
me alone, and had just begun touch
ing remark, when to my reliet little
Ettie ran into the room and effectually
put stop to sentiment. He left very
soon with sort of longing in his weird
eyes which impressed me strangely.
"The next evening my host remarked
to his wife:
Poor Chase has been obliged to go
back to the asylum; they took him to
Harrisburg to-day"
$50 here was the end of my romance,
and the solution of the mysterious in
fluence he had over me. 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 must say
breathed easier to know he was out
of the way before had been born en-
| tirely under the spell of those wondrous
eyes, Imagine my feelings when few
days after, the servant brought me his
card and told me he had asked to see
me alone. Cousin Julia was out, else
would have insisted on her going to
the parlor with me. l thought of all
the tricks of insane people that had
read. The more l thought the more
nervous I grew; but at length, sum-
moning all my self-possession, went
down stairs. He was moving restlessly
about the room when I entered, came
at once to meet me, and taking my
hand exclaimed
(" AT last! 1t seems an age since
saw you
Terrified as was, my innate love
of truth compelled me to say:
" 1t is just week
"'A Ah, yes!' he murmured, but time
is measured by what we enjoy or suffer,
and so it seems to me long, weary
time since / saw you. Perhaps you
have heard was obliged to go out of
town after l saw you last, and have
just now returned from Harrisburg;
indeed, l have not been home yet.
felt must see you first
He was sitting close by me and
leaned caresslngly toward me as he
said:
"I was wearying for the sight of
your dear face, for you must surely
know that you are very dear to me-
II felt as if l was slowly turning to
stone. Here l was, a mere mite, in the
complete power of this giant of an es-
capped lunatic. ! shall never forget the
| horror of it. Just here fate in the per-
son of Cousin Julia interposed before l
had in any way committed myself.
".Ah, Mr.. Chase she said, Il am
glad to see you; when did you re-
turn? l was sorry for the occasion of
your absence; how did you leave your
brother9'
"'He was more quiet when
left him, but fear he will never be en-
tirely cured.
II sat as one in maze. What did
it mean? He soon took his leave, and
Immediately asked my cousin why