Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-05
AN EVIL SPIRIT.

fSCSiNSo oilo b SSeiI O4 SO dSos an invitation from an old schoolmate whom had not seen since leaving college, to come and dine with him at his residence on Staten Island.
 Alfred Macray and 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 otber's society.
 After the gates of our beloved Alma Mater had closed behind us our paths had diverged. At first l wanted to try literature, but the desire did not last long; I gave it up and drifted into commercial life In fact, was at present holding a seat in one of the ex- changes. As for Alfred Macray, his course had been very different. After graduation hs had been elected to fill fellowship in let ters in his Alma Mater; after holding the fellowship a year he had gone abroad to study and had remained ever since. He had only published one volume as yet. It was on some literary topic, "Studies in the Renais- sance," l think it was. 1 had bought the book, for the authors name on the cover Whether my years spent in commercial pur- suits had dulled my sense of literary percep- tion, do not know, but 1 remember yawn- ing over the book, although made it point to tell all my friends it was beautifully writ ten. While Macray was abroad l had been  that was all I had heard of him for more than five years. 1 took up the letter of invi- tation and reread it:
 i've have moved to Staten Island do not know whether you have heard of my marriage or not. 1 have been married now over a year. I met her first in Heidelberg two years ago. She is Bostonian. She was Miss Creighton. I have chosen Staten Island because it is quiet and it is near New York. have brought with me from abroad | large amount of material which, when l have time am going to work into book" etc, etc
 made up my mind to go, and sitting down l at once wrote a letter accepting the invita- 1 tion for the following evening. 1 As stepped out on the platform of the | Staten Island railroad the next evening, sa a tall figure, which recognized at once as Macray We were soon shaking hands | warmly; then he led me to his carriage and we drove rapidly to his house. l found my friend moro fascinating than ever. I had always admired him. but now | fresh from his years spent abroad, after hay 1 ing mingled with all sorts and conditions of l men, he was to me quite irresistible. 1 We were good half hour in the carriage l before we entered the drive to Burnver house. | We were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Ma ! ! her, for knew Macray was very fastidious.
 She was slightly above the medium height l with a very pretty figure, dark hair and 1 brown eyes Her manners were charming, but then no one could reside long with Macray l without insensibly acquiring that character l istic.
 After dinner, Macray and fingered over | our cigars talking over old college days. l Finally, at Macrays suggestion, we ad journed to the library. It had originally been, 1 was told, artists studio, the prin cipal light coming from above; but there were also windows on two sides. There was an enormous fireplace, with logs ready to bt lighted, and easy chairs were scattered about several beautiful paintings hung on th' walls, with here and there delicate etching and as for books, they were everywhere 4 true book lovers paradise! Macray and
 were so busy looking at his "beauties," as h called his books, that we did not hear slgh step.
 May come imp
 "Ah, Madge, is it you9 It is too bad t
 have neglected you; but you know when
 get among my books I generally forge
 everything else"
 "Yes, I am getting decidedly jealous c l them" said his wife.
 Well, Madge, we will join you in just tw | | picked up in London"
 "Only that one remember" and she left II: Macray had taken down small portfoli l l and was showing me sketch by that 1T
 imitable caricaturist in his best manner.
 was that of a parish beadle-he must hay
 been the original of Mr. Bumble-looking 6 some small boys who had unfortunatel
 dropped marble during service in churcl
 remember laughing heartily at the wonder
 full expression in the eyes of the beadle; tt I artist had thrown into them a whole worl s of comicality. Not hearing Macray spea
 for few moments. 1 looked at him an
 was surprised and shocked to see that his fac 1 was blanched and with the hardest look despair on it that ever saw. He had witt z drawn foot or so from me and had the al pearance of listening. I was on the poi,
 of asking him if he was ill, when hear
 steps in the outer hall and an odd wheezir e sound as if somebody had the asthma. TT
 door was presently pushed open and an o l. setter crawled into the room. The noise WI '. now explained-it was the old dog. aga l. looked at Macray; the look of despair hs c faded out of his countenance and he W
 once more himself.
 "That is q capital illustration of Crui
 shanks genius, is it notl' be said, comi1 d hastily to me.
 A
 l. Just then we heard music, and such musi $ "It is Madge playing. Come, :" and his ia
 was agow with emotion. 'We will jo
 her." We did so.
 If there is one thing, Mrs. Macray, I sh;
 insist upon it is that my wife shall be able
 play on the piano." I said, when she had fl Is ished a piece by Rubinstein. at "You are right, old boy" said Macray. do not think I could exist without mus one needs it almost as much as meat a
 drink"
 We talked late into the night; but all gat
 erings must break up some time, and
 half past 13 I followed Macray to my roo
 It was on the second story, only a short
 tance from the one occupied by himself
 Feeling very tired, I hastily undressed a
 went to bed. It did not take long for me
 pass into the land of dreams.
 was awakened by heavy weight pre-
 ing on my chest. Half awake, I tried IN push the something away, when my ha M was seized and bitten. Reused into full c sciousness by the pain, put forth all l
 strength and threw the something off A. t,od and scrambled tn ho Aoor Pu fha