Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-07-17
THE CHEVALIER'S TALE.
An It's Artistically Lurid Effects
Were Wasted.

OuIoI-Jne-Way Junction, and was compelled
with perhaps twenty-five other passengers
TO spend seven hours in the dingy waiting
room Of typical frontier railway station
Ny companions in misfortune were garru.
lous land-seekers and cowboys, and, despite
earnest effort, 1 did not succeed in changing
the topic Of their rude conversation.
Toward eight o'clock the rain, which had
been pouring down In sheets ceased and
sought refuge on the narrow platform. The
train which was to carry me to my destina-
ton was due at 9:l0 p. m. Ihad had moth.
Ing TO eat since six o'clock in the morning,
and my promenade in the cool evening air
did not lessen the pang Of hunger by any
means. felt at outs with every thing and
every body. A quarrel, no matter what
might have been its consequences, would
have proved a welcome diversion.
l thought Of all the disagreeable things
that had ever cast shadow over my happi-
ness, and planned all sorts Of revengeful
schemes, when was approached by dark
skinned stranger, dressed in a conventional
suit Of black, whose presence among the
boisterous crowd in the waiting-room !
had not noticed.
Curiosity, which in me is developed to q
surprising extent, now superseded my less
agreeable train Of thought, and when the
gentleman In black saluted me by raising
bis hat and bowling politely began TO won
der what he might be doing In the wilds Of
Nebraska.
Monsieur" asked the stranger, '.you
read Frenchf'
~ do" replied, after returning his salu-
tations.
"Then you viii oblige me by reading this
manuscript"-here he handed me an envel-
ope containing thirty-hve or forty sheets Of
paper-"and disposing Of its contents a. you
see 1T"
After uttering these words the mysteri-
Gus stranger who, despite his perfect En-
gllsh, seemed 70 me a foreigner, again
bowed and disappeared.
At the same moment the train for which
had been waiting so long arrived at the
station. found q comfortable seat near
one Of the car lamps, and, actuated by curl
OSity and a personal interest in the mag
netic writer, began reading the manu-.
script intrusted to me.
The document was q CONFESSIONS con-
Ression of crimes so incredible, so start.
ing, that even after arriving at my desti-
nation could find no rest; and for many
nights hideous nightmares disturbed my
sleep.
made desperate efforts to find the
stranger, but without success; and, finally,
feeling convinced that he had terminated
his existence violently, concluded to pub
hsh such portions Of the manuscript as
might be Of interest to the public, and par
ticularly to peace officers, who are fire.
quently unable to fathom the mysteries
surrounding so many modern crimes.
THE CONFESSION.
''My name is Prosper de Belamy. I was
born in the year 1852 on the estate Of my
father, the Chevalier Alphonse de Belamy,
In Q chateau situated about twenty-five
miles from Paris. The family from which
Bprang Is an old one. Ny father, proud Of
his ancestry, and opposed to all moderniz-
Ing influence, was horror-struck when in
formed him of my desire to study medicine.
His anger aroused my opposition. His
threats led me TO carry out my resolution.
studied medicine. My father never forgave
my disobedience. and when he died, in the
year 1874, found myself cut on with the
proverbial English shilling
~ was ambitious. / desired to achieve
success and win fame. Many obstacles
which might have discouraged weaker men
we're to me Goals added to the fire Of ambi-
ton. passed the final examine
tons with the highest honors, and, by sell
Ing signet ring, raised enough money to
pay for my degree.
"At last l was in position to begin the
battle with the world. My imagination,
ever ready TO paint life with a roseate hue,
barly career. But at last came the day that
found me alone with want, with hunger.
The patients had hoped to attract by strict
attention to professional duties did not
pome The woman who had fed and lodged
me from motives Of pure charity withdrew
her assistance, and on the morning OF my
twenty fifth birthday was one of that null
htude OF unfortunatese who walk the
streets OF Paris in the daytime and sleep on
suburban gardens at night
"Do not for moment think, however,
that / was discouraged. Far from 1t. I
felt that / had that in me which leads men on
ward 70 fortune, fame and happiness. OPP
portunities to assert myself must present
themselves. Instead Of crumbling TO dust
my castles in the air grew loftier every day.
Hunger seemed to add to the brilliancy Of
my dreams, and whenever ate q crust Of
dry bread offered by q weather. beggar
reveled in anticipation of the good things
which 1 would offer him in return ct some
future time.
''For four months, perhaps the happiest
period OF my life, led q vagabond's exist
ence. lived like the sparows, picking up
food here and there, returning at night to
my nest on the banks Of the river; waiting,
ike Charles Dickens funny character, for
something TO turn up
sand the something did turn up. One
evening while walking along the Faubourg
St Honore was acoosted by an elderly
man Of scholarly appearance. Ono Of the
Iostp he said interrogatively, fixing pair
OF penetrating eyes on me. admitted the
correctness of the surmise and related my
life history. Why did this can not tell.
Perhaps II was only an act Of impulse; but
what learned afterward of my questioner
leads me TO think that It was . higher
power.
''The stranger listened attentively to my
narrative.
"'My FRIEND he said at last, your history
IL that Of thousands Of young men. Per-
haps you may succeed by relying on your
own resources; but rdoubt it. admire your
pluck, however, and will help you, provided
you promise to be guided by me in every
ching
1.-THE old gentleman kept his promise.
Two days after meeting him was CON-
fortably established on a prominent street.
Patients, it is true, had none but had
an opportunity to assist and amuse my
benefactOr. He seemed to develop strong
hiking for me, and in the course Of time
made me acquainted with the principles Of
his favorite study-hypnotic suggestion.
About this time noticed that was becom-
ing the victim of sudden fits of catalepsy.
whenever l came in contact with n.
Simon-this was the name of my protector
II lost my self-possession and seemed to
subjugate my will to his. In my
lucid moments battled against the
ascendency, but in vain. My peace Of
mind was rapidly being undermined by
disagreeable speculations and unaccount-
able fears; but had neither the strength
nor the resolution TO emancipate myself
from an influence which felt to be de-
atructiva y
Ten years Of my life I had spent with n.
Simon. The harassing thoughts which once
had made existence burden no longer dis
turbed me. An extensive practice kept me
busy. Circumstances favored my political
aspirations, and had been elected deputy