The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-22

me-Over his fOrl0rn Sarhn"'', u.s."
raising his eyes TO mine, ana Win s."m
of humor lurking beneath his ShaSs'
brows, said:
"And pray. sir, how came gentleman
Of YOUR education and intelligence oo"n
in this God forsaken country
smiled. and attributed my advent 10
the adventurous spirit OF the N'he'een IN
century, for want Of better reason nc
took my answer in the spirit in when IL
was given, and appeared in sense 70 os
relieved by it, cs il IL established q BOND
OF union between us, It struck me. But
he resisted all inquiries OF mine ih'o us
antecedents or past history, meeting my
hints and. questions with adroit evasion
and skillfnl changes OF the subject:
And so, in the quiet night-ior the ram
had now ceased, and tho moon, riding
high, silvered the wan landscape, ana
fringed the dripping foliage with fiashing
gems-we drifted back to tho topic with
which we began and talked OF literary
themes. It has been my privilege to con-
verse with not few cultured and learned
men. and TO enjoy the society OF some OF
the most brilliant OF modern conversa-
ti0nists: but, as sat and listened ina,
evening to the words that fell from the
lips of this frontier bohemian, it seemed
TO me that my acquaintance with the ma
ture Of true eloquence had just begun. IL
was like reading Homer by flashes OF
lightning" What n wealth OF bold
imagery, Of keen appreciation, OF sug-
gestive analogy, of marvellous insight was
therel And what treasure house OF
memory, And when he finally lapsed
into monologue, and indulging in rhap-
sody upon the wonders of Milton, quoted
from paradise Lost" by paragraph and
page, thought Of Macaulay's boast that
if the great poets immortal epic should
By any chance be lost to men, he might
hope to reproduce it; and my admiration
for the attachments of the man swept over
me in one vast wave Of wonder. And
then, as lay there, listening 10 his deep
voice, which had grown singulGrly rich
and sOnorous, rs If in sympathy with the
dignity Of those grand periods, bordering
what strange chance or force OF crcum-
stance had compelled this incongruous
being TO such surroundings, his form SUE
denly dilated, his lips parted as II IN
terror, his eyes became fixed on vacancy
and staring and with n sudden spring TO
his feet, he stood erect and mcnaciDg.
"Avauntr' he cried, gazing with
wild and frcnzicd stare into the empty air.
"Avaunt and quit my sight! Begone, |
sayl Thinl.'st thou to dog my footsteps
always? To hound me 60 the day OF my
death? Backl Back G-r-r-rhrl Take
Your grip from of my neck! Ayaunt'
He dashed his hands TO his throat,
clutching IL wildly, and strding to the
door, flung St wide open, clarine long and
flerccly out into the quiet night with n
frenzicd and hunted expression Then he
came slowly back 10 the table, tOttcring
feebiy and muttering incoherently, threw
himself into his chair, and, covering his
haggard face with both his trembling
hands, shuddered Vld gaspcd alternately.
Great beads Of agony stood upon his
brow.
| was so startled by this sudden out
burst that / could only stare and slt
speechlcss. When he first rose J was
lnder the impression that IL was 20 give
greater force 10 some terrific denuncia-
ton. Not until he tore open the door
did | realize that IL was the hallucina-
ton Of illness, ard even then my con-
stcrnation was SO great as 10 deprive
me q all power TO act or speak.
The raroXysm soon passed. Meanwhile,
had poured some brandy into the cup Of
my rocket flask and offered IL 10 him. lie
drank it with feyerish easerness. By
degrees tie stimulant seemed 10 overcome
his nervous apprehension. He sat for
long time with Iistless, leadcn eyes. Then
in, hrrrrrffp
deprecating fashion, if there were any
place where he might sleep that night
There was something so piteous, 50 I'M
utteraby wrctched in this appeal, coming
from one whose wonderful discourse had
so delighted me, that was indescgbably
touched. Surely" said ] to myself,
such abilities as l have recognized this
night shall not be without shelter" I
instantly placed my bed at his disposal
After much rcmoustrancc aud reluctance.
|, at last. got him TO bed. and lie laid
himself down with long, low, agoniziag
sigh--thc sigh OF one TO whom life 10
WEAKNESS and existence burden.
AS stepped to the table near which he
had been sitting, observed small tin
box, something like a tobacco box, lying
Ill DIS empty CutiIT' plChcu ~ up NV
chanically. Such q singular odor rose
from this box that was tempted 10 open
it almost unconsciously. 1t was half full
Of a grayish brown drug examined II
curiously. Opium!
| glanced toward the bed He was
lying apparently in q heavy sleep. |
closed the lid Of the box and placed II
quietly beside him. Full OF conjecture
for the past OF the unfortunate beng WHO
occupied my bed, ! wrapped myself in my
blanket and lay down beneath tie win
dow. There was no SQUAD in the quiet
night save the occasional long howl OF tie
COYOTE from the hill. For long tiEc
lag awake, pOndcriuc over the singular
conversation Of the evening ard its st2rt-
ling denOucncnt. / wondered il lis
hallucinatioa c0uid be directly traced to
opium, ard what strange misfortune could
have placed him under tire thran of the
deadly druC. And then ny thoughts rc-
CURED 10 his quotation from Macaulay,
"But we know chat there are remedies
that Will assuace pain" What was tic
pain or what the s0rr0W?
Unc0nsciously IN my long rcyeric l had
trrDoI t.,r.rI him lie Kvus SlcQDfHv