Connecticut western news., 1888-02-22


 humor him all can. Poor old Ramsay; I owe him a good deal, you know, Hartly. You remember all about it7'
 "Yes remember the story, though l had almost forgotten it."
 Ramsay, Habcrshoa and myself were all students together in Philadelphia. We were in the same classes in college and jointly occupied the same suite of rooms. Furthermore we were all mak- ing speciality of studying the human brain, and the only point wherein we materially differed from each other was that Ramsay knew moro than we two fellows together.
 True, Ramsay was, in regard to his theories and speculations, what many people would call ''crank"-but then successful cranks are esteemed to be geniuses, and certainly Ramsay was, in my judgment, quite as near the one as the other.
 We three fellows all fitted in the same social set and although both Ram say and Habershon knew good and beautiful girls by the score, the fates decreed that they should fall in love with the same young lady. And yet, strange enough, they never displayed bad feeling toward each other, nor ever sought to make the lady's position an unpleasant one on account of the rivalry. It seemed to me, an onlooker, as though there was tacit understanding between them. that no undue influence should be brought into play, but that, knowing how both loved and admired her, the object of their admiration and estee m should be left quietly to choose between them.
 Grace Thorney croft was most beau tiful and estimable girl and, though I have been an old bachelor all my days, I do not wonder that any man should have sought her for his wife.
 One day Grace, with her father, mother aud a brother, were down. to Atlantic City, where they took a sail boat and went out A sudden squall overtaking them the frail pleasure boat was upset and Grace was the only mem. Der of tho party who escaped with her life. She was picked up in ainting condition and tenderly cared for, but when restored, physically, it was found that her mind was shattered-she was insane. All that wealth, combined with skill, could do was done for Grace, but it availed nothing and tho physicians and friends at last gave up the case as hopeless. Habershon was himself al- most crazy with grief and could not bear to go near the poor girl. As for Ramsay, he shut himself up in his den "a small, barely furnished room where he was in the habit of pursuing his studies and experiments. There was a determined expression on the fellows face and when I looked in on him (which was seldom) he was always busy with his papers and books-sometime engaged in dissecting the brains of dogs and other animals, and once examining human brain.
 He seldom spoke or even so much as remarked my presence, though once he said in an excited tone: "I shall cure her, Hartly-it shall be done at any cost"
 So for days and weeks he sat over that bare pine table gazing at the skull in front of him-ever and anon rapidly penciling diagram, of tn, human brain ? and of tho nervous system.
 Late one evening I was sitting with Habershon when there came rap at tho door and Ramsay entered. He was very quiet, but knowing him as we'll as I did I could tell he had something beyond the ordinary on his mind.
 Boys" he said, "I think I have found what have been searching for I think can cure Grace. say think, because, after all, it is only theory of mine and may utterly fail, but think not. Perhaps you say I should not theorizs and experiment on woman whom, as you know, I love. Well, it won't do any harm to her and it may do her all possible good. Tomorrow morning shall try to do tn, work"
 Then turning mora particularly to Habershon, he continued: 'Ed., you and I both love Grace Thorney croft Now, in the presence of Hartly, here, I want you to promise me that, whatever the consequences of my operation, you will care for Grace as long as sho lives, and, if necessary, carc for me, too"
 think neither Habershon or myself understood the purport of thcso words, when they were spoken, though their meaning was clear enough later on. However, Habershon gave tho request cd promise and we parted for the night.
 i The next day, in the forenoon, Ram | say, in the presence of the two physi- clans who had been in charge of Grace, began his operations. I was an inter. estcd observer from distant part oi the room, but Habershon could not be induced to be present. Ramsay told the older doctors that if his theory proved perfectly successful in practice he would be able to give his method oi cure in writing for tho benefit of the medical world-at present, ho said that it was utterly impossible for him to in. telligently explain his ideas. However,