West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-07-19
AN EVIL SPIRIT
BY GEORGE D. SPARKS.

received one morning, year or SO
ago, an invitation from an old school
mate whom had not seen since leaving
college, to come and dine with him at
his residence on Staten Island.
Alfred Macray aud had been good
though not intimate friends at college.
hacray was hardly the sort of man
you could make chum Of yet for all
that we enjoyed each others society.
After the gates of our beloved Alma
Mater had closed behird us, our paths
had diverged. At first / wanted to try
literature, but the desire did not last
long; ! gave il up and drifted into com
mercial life. In fact was at present
holding seat in one of the Exchanges.
AS for Alfred Macray his course had
been very different. After graduation
he had been elected TO fill a fellowship
In letters in his Alma Mater after hold
ing the fellowship year he had gone
abroad to study and had remained ever
since. He had only published one vol
ume as yet. 1t was on some literary
topic, Studies in the Renaissance" I
think 1t was. had bought the book,
3or the authors name on the cover.
whether my years spent in commercial
Pursuits had dulled my sense of literary
perception do not know, but remem-
Der yawning over the book, although |
made it point to tell all nv friends
that IT was beautifully written. While
Macray was abroad had been told that
ne had come into fortune, but that was
all had heard OF him for more than five
years. took up the letter of invitation
and re-read it.:
We have moved to Staten Island. / do
not know whether you have heard OF my
marriage or not. have been married now
over year. met her FIRST in Heidelberg
two years ago. She Is Bostonian She was
Miss Creighton. have chosen Staten Isl
and because IT IS quiet and it is near New
YORK. have brought with me from abroad
large amount OF material which, when /
nave time, am going to work into a book ~
etc, etc.
made up my mind to go, and sitting
down at once wrote a letter accepting
the invitation for the following evening.
As stepped out on the platform Of
the Staten Island Raj road the next
evening, | saw tall figure, which / rec
ognized at once as Macray. We were
soon shaking hands warmly; then he led
me to his carriage and we drove rapidly
to his house.
i found my friend more fascinating
than ever. / had always admired him,
but now fresh from years spent abroad,
after having mingled with all sorts and
conditions of men, he was to me quite
irresistible.
We were good half hour in the car
rage before we entered the drive to
Burnver House
We were warmly welcomed by Mrs.
Macray. ] confess ] had been anxious
70 meet her, for / knew Macray was very
fastidious.
She was slightly above the medium
height with a very pretty figure, dark
hair aud brown eyes. Her manners were
charming, but then no one could reside
long with Macray without insensibly ac-
quiring that characteristic.
After dinner, Macray and I fingered
over our cigars, taking over our old
college days. Finally at Macray's sug-
gestion we ad djourned TO the library. IL
had originally been, was told an artists
studio, the principal light coming from
above; but there were also windows on
two sides. There was an enormous fire
place, with logs ready to be lighted, and
easy chairs were scattered about; several
beautiful paintings hung on the walls,
with here and there q delicate etching /;
and az for books, they we're everywhere
A true book lovers paradise Macray
and ] we're 50 busy looking at his
''beauties," +" az he called his books, that
We did not hear a slight step.
MAY come ini
"hh. Madge, IS it yogi Il is too bad
70 have neglected you; but you know
when I get among my books / generally
forget everything else"
yes, / am getting decidedly jealous
Of them, said bis wife
well, Madge, we'll join you ia Just
two minutes. ] must show Jack that
Cruikshank picked up ia London"
"Only that one, remember" and she
lofs os.
Macray bad taken down q small port
folio and was showing me a sketch by
that inimitablc caricaturist in his best
manner 1t was that Of a parish beadle
--ho must have been the original of Mr.
Bumble-lookiDg at some small boys
who had unfortunately dropped a marble
during service IN church / remember
laughing heartily at the wonderful cx-
preston in the eyes Of the boadle; the
artist had thrown into them n whole
world Of comicality. Not hearing Mac
ray speak for a few moments I looked at
him and was surprised and shocked 10
sec that bis face was blanchod and with
the hardest look Of despair on it that j
ever saw. lie had Withdrawn a foot or
70 from me and had the appearance Of
listening. I was on the point Of asking
him II he was ill, when heard steps in
the outer hall and an odd Wheeling
sound as If somebody had the asthma.