The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-08-08
AN EVIL SPIRIT.
BY GEORGE d. SPARKS.

BY GEORGE ID. SPARKS.
received one morning, a 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.
Macray 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 behil us, our paths
had diycrged. At first l wanted to try
literature, but the desire did not last
long, gave it up and driftcd 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
umc rs yet. 1t was on some literary
/ topic, "Studies in the Renaissance" |
think it was. ! had bought the book,
: for the authors name on the cover.
] w ncNllSl my ltdls spent III GuulhttCldl
| 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 my friends
| that il was beautifully written. While
Macray was abroad l had been told that
| he had come into fortune, but that was
all had heard of him for more than five
| years. took up the letter of invitation
and rc-read it:
I'VE have moved to Staten Island. | do
not know whether you have heard of my
marriage or not. have been married now
/ over n year. | met her first in Heidelberg
! two years ago. She is a Bostonan She was
Miss Creighton. l have chosen Staten ISL
and bee ue Il is quiet AMI 1t is near New
! York. i have brought with me from abroad
large amount of material which, when
have time, am going to work into book"
etc, etc.
| made up my mind to go, and sitting
down at once wrote 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 l rec
ognlZed at once as Macray. We were
soon shaking hands warmly; then he led
me to his carriage and we drove rapidly
to his house.
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
riage before we entered the Drive to
Burnver House.
We were warmly welcomed by Mrs.
AIacray. l confess ! had been anxious
to meet her, for l knew Macray was very
| fastidious.
She was slightly above the medium
height with a very pretty figure, dark
hair and brown eyes. Her manners were
charming, but then no one could reside
urutsPg with Macray without insensibly ac-
Tz5niring that characteristic.
After dinner, Nacray and l fingered
over our cigars, Ia king over our old
college days. Finally at Macray's Sug-
gestion we ad journed to the library. 1t
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 a delicate etching
and as for books, they were everywhere.
A true book lovers paradise Macray
and | were so busy looking at his
"beauties," as he called his books, that
we did not hear a slight step.
'tMay come inP'
"Ah. Madge, is it your 1t is too bad
to have neglected you; but you know
] x.-har I frot t,,tr hpAlyc I In
forget everything else"
"Nes, l am getting decidedly Jealous
of them" said his wife.
"Well, Madge, We'll join you in Just
two minutes. l must show Jack that
Cruikshank l picked up in London"
"Only that one, remember" and she
left us.
Macray had taken down a small port
folio and was showing me a sketch by
that inimitable oaricaturst in his best
manner. 1t was that of parish beadle
he must have been the original of Mr..
Bumble-looking at some small boys
who had unfortunately dropped a marble
during service in church. l remember
laughing heartily at the wonderful eX
preston in the eyes of the beadle; the
artist had thrown into them a whole
world of comicality. Not hearing Mac
ray speak for few moments / looked AT
him and was surprised and shocked tC
see that his face was blanched aud Will
the hardest look of despair on it that
ever saw. He had Withdrawn foot oI
so from me and had the appearance oi
listening. was on the point Of asking
him if he was i'll, when l heard steps il
the outer hall and an odd wheeling
sound as if somebody had the asthma.