Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-08

Just then heard a slow, lanJuid step
/ III the hall, ana presently II man with the
most unearthly face | ever saw came out
and joined us. IT was more like shadowy
outline of flesh and blood than like flesh
and blood itself. Have you never held
your hand before n candle in n dark place,
and seen how transparent it seemed? 1t
was so with this mans face. The soul, the
spirit, or whatever it is that is the center
and source of intelligence, seemed to shine
| through it.
"My nephew, Max Cramer,' Mr.. Leith
said, and wheeled an easy chair forward
! for him. Max, as you see. is in feeble
health, and | have urged him to come out
and breathe the spring air."
"MaN tramer sat down and leaned his
head YEARLY back against the crimson
| cloth of the chair. His face against such
| n background looked fragile as frost-work.
! The blue veins showed startlingly on his
| thin hands and almost ileshless temples.
! lie might he of the earth, earthly, but
! could not make it seem that he was flesh
and blood, like myself.
And such a sorrowful face as it was! 1t
haunted me when looked away. and some
kind of strong fascination in it would draw
my eyes back to it. Was that shadow in
| the far-seeing eyes one of regret, remorse,
or repentance? 1t was one, or all, and he
made me think of some fallen angel who
| pines for his lost estates and is fading out
! Of life because the consciousness of the sin
by which he fell cannot be shaken off, and
he is haunted night and day by the specter
of dead hopes and dreams. 1t was face
that had once been fair to look upon. 1t
had been strangely powerful face in days
| gone by. mind that had been intense in
action had looked out through those dreary
eyes viii n now seemed to see nothing but
shadows Unseen to others | saw at n
| glance that before me was the wreck of
strong intellect.
He sat there for perhaps an hour, never
once looking ut or speaking to me. Indeed
| he did not seem to be conscious of my
presence.
BY and by he rose and walked unsto adily
toward the door. Mr.. Leith sprang up to
assist him, but he waved him back.
"Do not come with me-" he said, and
though Mr.. Leith insisted on being al
lowed to help him up the stairs, hereso-
lutely refused all assistance
poor Max" the old man said, coming
back and sitting down by me. His life is
in the shadow that has fallen so darkly
about myself and family. He was to have
married Alice. He was away from home
when she died. He came back on the day
after her body was stolen. He has never
been the same person since that he was
before He was always different from
other people. He was educated ut IIeidel-
berg, and think German metaphysics
took too strong hold of him for his own
good. lie came back to us a dreamer.
Alice loved him, and studied with him,
and took Il deep interest in his strange
fancies, but never cared to trouble my
self about them. He has a laboratory in
the tower you see ut the corner of the
house, and no one ever sets foot in it save
himself. Under it is his study, and there
he remains from morning till night, busy
over his wild theories. | 90 there but sell
dom. The atmosphere seems too heavily
charged with uncanny elements to be
agreeable to me. What wonderful eX
perments he has tried in that workshop
of his none Of us know If Alice had lived
she might have won him from his I'M
healthy books and work, and made him
more like the Max he used to be. But he
is nearly done with it all now. Poor Maxi
| was very much interested in this
strange person. So much 50 that ! hung
about the house all next day, fearing that
he might come down when was away
and should fail to see him.
About sunset he came down the stairs,
slowly, weakly, often stopping to rest |
went to him, and asked if might NOT be
allowed to help him.
"If you please" he said. Il would like to
walk about the garden little, if you will
let me have your arm"
His weight upon me was like that of n
child. Our walk about the path was 80
slow that it tired me.
II think this is for the last time" he said
by and by, pausing beneath the windows
of his tower, and looking up to them as
, they CLEANED like crimson fire in the light
e. of the setting sun. "For the last time,
Some would he glad of that because they
had no fear of what was to come after, but
= lam glad? Am afraid Can what is
to come be worse than what ! suffer here?
Somewhere in that book they call the
| Bible it says something about dying daily.
J die daily He repeated the words slowly,
| seeming, all the time to be talking to him
1 self, rs if unmindful of my presence.
"Have not suffered the pangs OF DEATH
, Have ! not prayed to die and been refused
J my plea But the end men call death is
| near-and after death, what"
= suddenly he seemed to recOllect my
presence
) Il have something here l want you tc
2 read Tiff anything happens to me" he
= said, drawing n roll of manuscript from
, his pocket. you are not going away fol-
. a day or two2'
D Il shall stay till the end Of the week."
+ answered
e ~ feel that something will happen very
9 soon, perhaps tonight" he said, AFT die
, read this after the discovery of my death
i but not before. Promise me this"
u promised.
+ "If | am alive which you go away, you
can give it back to me. You will not be
s leve it when you read it. Eou will think
, it the rawlings of a mailman, but it is true
{ all true
z Presently he signied his desire to re
o turn to the house. He allowed me to as
sist him as far as the stairs. Further
4 than that, he would not let me GO
1 "When you know ALL pity me, pity me >
he said. Il have sinned, and for that sill
have paid fearful penalty. Oh God
! m IA u an tnrs 8.