Wichita eagle., 1888-07-18
AN EVIL SPIRIT.

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 ooliega Macray was
hardly the sort Of man you could make
ohum OF; yet FOR al that we enjoyed each
0sbas society.
After the xases OF our beloved Alma Mater
bad closed behind us our paths had diverged.
At frss I wanted 70 Try literature, but the
destse did not last long; l gave IL up and
irifted into commercial life. IN fact, was
1t preseot holding q seat IN one Of the ex-
changes IA for Alfred Macray his course
had been very different After graduation
be had been elected to Al fellowship in let
ters IN bis Alma Mater; after holding the
fellowship year he had gone abroad 70
study and bad remained ever sinca He had
osly published one volume az yet It was on
Some literary topic, Studies in the Renais-
sance," l think 1t wes | had bought the
book, for the authors name on the cover.
Whether my years spent in commercial pur-
suits bad duNed my sense OF literary percep-
ton, do not know, but l remember yawn-
ing o~er the book, although made Il point
TO tell all my friends it was beautifully writ
ten While Lacray was abroad had been
told that he had come into fortune, but
that was ell / had heard Of him for more
than Eve years l took up the letter Of invi-
tation and reread 10;
I'VE have moved TO Staten Island do
not know whether you have heard OF my
marriage OF not have been married now
over q year / met her first Ia Heidelberg
two years ago She IL . Boseonian She
was Miss Creighton have chosen Staten
Island because it Is quiet and it IS near New
York l have brought with me from abroad
= large amount OF material which, when I
have time, Am going to work into book.
stc. etc
made up my mind to go, and sitting down
at once wrote letter accepting the invita-
ton for the following evening.
As stepped out on the platform Of the
Staten Island railroad the next evening, I
saw tai agure, which recognized at once
IS Maray We were soon shaking hands
warmly; then he led me TO bis carriage and
we drove rapidly 70 bis house
found my friend more faScinaeinS than
ever. / had always admired hin. but now
fresh from bis years spent abroad, after hav-
ing mingled with al sorts and conditions OF
men. be Was TO me quito Irresistible
before we entered the drive to BURNER house.
We were warmly welcomed By Mrs Ma
cray l confess had been anxious to meet
her. for knsw Macray was very fastidious.
She was slightly above the usdinm height
with a very pretty figure, dark hair and
brown eyes Her manners were charming,
but then no one could reside long with Mncray
without inssnGbly acquiring that character
istic.
After dinner, Macray and fingered over
our cigars talking over old college days
Finally, as Macray's suggestion, we ad-
journed to the library Is had originally
been. was told. an artists studio, the prin-
cipxl light coming FROM above; but there
were also windows on two sides. There was
an enormous fireplace, With logs ready 20 be
lighted. and easy chairs were scattered about;
several beautiful paintings hung on the
walls with here and there a delicate etching;
and - for books, they were everywhere 4
true book lovers paradisel Macray and l
wero % busy looking ct bis beauties" as he
called bis books, THAI we did net hsar 81 slight
step.
May come inr'
"Ah, Madge, is il youi It Is too bad to
have neglected you; but you know when
get among my books l generally forget
everything else.
"Ye. 1 am getting decidedly Jealous OF
them said his VITA
We'll, Eadge We win join you IN tust two
minutea must show Jack that Cruikshank
picked up IN London
'AOuly that one, remesnber," and she left uA
Macray had taken down Q small portfolio
and WIS showing me- a sketch by that in
imitabis caricaeIrist In his best uao1sr Il
Was that OF q parish beadle-he must have
been the original OF Mr.. Bumole-looking at
soma small boys who had unfortunately
dropped a marble during service In church.
/ remember Laughing heartily at the wonder
ful expression IN the eyes OF the beadle. the
artsH bad thrown into them a whole world
of oomicAlity. Not bearing Msray speak
for a few moments, | looked st him and
was surprised and shocked 70 see thai his face
was b.anchsd and with the hardest look OF
despair on it that l ever saw. He had with
drawn foot or so from me and had the ap-
pearsnce OF listening. l was On the point
of asking him II be wss I'll, when heard
steps IN the outer ball and an odd wheeling
pos,nd a. II somebody had the asthma The
door was presently pushed open and an old
setter c-awied into the room The noise was
now e1plained-ts was the old dog. Iagsin
looked as Macrsy; the look Of despair had
faded Out OF bis couatenaCce and be was
once more himself
That is capital Elus~atio, Of Cruik-
shank's geriuA Is it notis rs said, coming
haxsly ~ u,a
IT Is So" replied
just then We beard music and such muxici
IL Is Msdss playing. Come, and bis face
Was agiov With emotion ~Hs VIII foto
her. We did So
IL there 10 one thing. Mrs Macray, shall
insist upon 1t is that my wife shall be able to
play OF the piano" | said, when she had io-
iahed pieoe by Rubinsta;n
you are ri GIT, old boy" mid Ascray. ~
do not think | could exist without music;
one needs l. almost a. much as meat and
drink"
We talked late into the night: but al gath
erings must break up some tire, and "a
half past y followed Maeray to nv room.
1t was on the second story, only a short dis
lance from the one occupied bv himself.
Feeling very tired, hastily undressed and
went to bed It did nos take long for ne to
pass into the land Of dreams
Iwss awakened by heavy weight ursss-
tnc on nv chest Halt awake, | tried 70
push the sornethlng asay, when my hand
was seized and bitten. Reused INFO fun con-
sciousness by the pain, put forth al nv
strength and threw the something OF the
bed and scrambled to tie door. By Il. aid
Of tie rooniish: saw that ny unknors
assailant was aos sorns gigantic monkey Sc
had suspected, but small. understzed man
WHO are your said. 'and what devils
game are you playing With neF
There was no answer. but q Kissing as Of 9
Katie billing OVER came from hecWeep bis