Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-11-29

In single blessedness will die.
-Detro,f Free Press.
A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
The True Story Of a Forced Inter-
view with q Mailman.
II was about six years ago. 1 recall
the scene and the circumstances wildly
to mind I can see now the large
square room in an old-fashioned ram
bling hotel in the quaint little town of
L, in Germany, where I sat that
night. 1t was winter. Without it
was dark and desolate. The naked
branches of the trees swayed and
tossed as if tortured by the cruel
blasts from the north. The tiny river
that erstwhile danced so gayly over
the stones in its bed at the foot of the
garden 'yas stilled and stiffened in an
icy embrace. and the wind moaned and
ratified at the easements like belated
wanderer begging for shelter.
Within there was warmth and light
andluxury. The monumental porcelain
stove placed close up in a corner as If.
like a super6uous piece of furniture. to
get it out Of the way. had unobtrusive-
~ diffused q delicious. languorous
summer warmth throughout the room.
A softly-shaded lamp burned upon the
table. and l. wrapped in a coy tea
gown, was half reclining on quaint
old chaise-longue I had been read
ing the Lotus Eaters" The lines
"HoW sweet IL were ---
With half-shut eyes ever 70 seem
Falling asleep In q half dream:
were still running through my head.
! was full Of the spirit Of the poem.
My old nurse and constant companion
sat in the next room where could see
her through tho open door nodding,
nodding SO sleepily. The cathedral
tones of the old c lock on the shelf fell
upon my ears. Icounted the strokes
one, two, three, four. five, six, seven.
eight, nine, ten. eleven.
II was time to send nurse to bed; but,
1azily watched her head drop again
and again. too idly content to find will
enough to speak to her. The house
was profoundly still. could hear the
regular breathing of the nurse, and
even my own heart-throbs.
Suddenly I was aroused by the light
steps of slippered feet on the stone
floor Of the hall. They halted. there
was a hurried tap ut my door. and. be-
fore / had time to assume q sitting
posture, the door was flung open and
there stood q gentleman. I rose to
my feet and begged to know to what
chance was indebted for SO untimely
a visit He closed the door gently.
then with his usual superb manner
saluted me: II beg your pardon.
madam. If have intruded. l was go
ing to my room. and seeing light
under your door. thought l might
venture to stop for few moments
chat with YOU"
had been in u a year, and had
met the intruder. Mr.. B, frequent
ly at his sisters house; he had also
called upon me, so We were not
strangers. He was q man of rather
attractive personal appearance. about
medium height, slender and graceful,
with the manners Of an old courtier.
He was q fine musician and linguist,
and we'll versed in the history and
literature of the several countries
whose language he spoke, and was
also brilliant conversationalist.
Still. Notwithstanding all these accom-
plishments and his charming manners,
there was something repellent about
the man. something undefinable. that
made every one half afraid of him.
Well. in reply to the implied ques-
ton as to whether he might remain or
not. said that had been in the land
of the lotus-eaters. pointing at the
same time to he book had laid upon
the table; that the spell of the lotus
leaves had almost closed my eyelids.
that my old nurse was nodding. and
feared must ask that the visit might
be brief.
'.As brief as you desire. madam, :"
said he; ''Only there is something l
should like to tell you before l CO."
He eyed me curiously as l sat down,
and felt shiver of repuguance go
over me. He advanced to the table,
took up . volume of Mrs Browning,
and. after turning over the leaves sew
eral times. read:
As one alone; once not alone.
Sit and knock at Natures door.
II >ari-bare heart-hungry, We , poor,
Whose desolated days 60 on"
Closing the book with q sigh. he
said. rs he began to pace up and down