The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-27

man, perhaps both. hen L nave eX-
planned you won't think me worse than ;
fool"
He tossed off another glass of wine, an(
turning his face away from the wandering
daylight, began his story, which, to b'
frank, | was very curious to hear, notwith
standing my generous proposal to change
the subject.
81 am going to tell you of an incident
of my childhoOds days, which, however
strange and unaccountable it may appear
to you, is true in every particular Oi
that | solemnly assure you. The lapse OF
years has not served to confuse or alter the
slightest detail in my memory. The cpl
sode in all its horridness is as elearl y and
vividly stamped on my mind now as though
it had occurred last week, instead of nearly
twenty years ago. | wish to God it were
not
II was II at the time-a wild, impul-
siye, yet nervous and highly impressionable
boy; an only child. as you know. My
people always took me to some seaside place
during the summer holidays; but in the
summer of my 18th year the governor was
unable to leave town and my mother pre-
ferred not TO leave him. 1t looked as if |
should have no sea breezes and bathing that
year. when an invitation for me arrived
from a maiden aunt, who had taken a cot
tage for the season at an east coast watering
place Twas not particularly drawn toward
Aunt Maria, but | was desperately drawn
toward niggers. yellow sands, wooden
spades and sea water begged my mother
to let me go. Aunt Maria received me
next day"
/ Tom paused to fll his glass. | was
/ wondering what all this had to do with
my beautiful Duchess.
I Aunt Maria, he went on was 80 and
fussy She profeSsed to be fond Of child
ren, and to understand them. The pro
fesSion was utterly hollow, as was proved
by the fact that children didn't like her.
With children aud animals love begets love.
Aunt Maria was discipliuarian. children
must not talk az table, and all that sort Of
thing Her arbitrary, old fashioned rules
were more especially irritating to me, be
cause everything was so different at home.
Perhaps, being an only child, was little
spoiled However, as | spent at least ten
hours Of the day in the open air, | managed
to be tolerably happy.
''Only Of my aunts absurd rules gave
me any serious trouble II was that child
ren should manage to ~ 10 bed without the
aid Of light Now 10 this. as to the rest
of Aunt Maria's rules, was quite uuae-
cas;omei bat beyond that was, a. have
said. a nervous youngs,er. and had a roc,cd
dislike-out of which have never really
grown-for being IN the dark. Not, mind
you, that | was coward | would risk
nv neck climbing a dangerous cliff, aud at
school stand up aud take hiding with the
roughcsi Of them. But 10 the dark my
youthful nerves werc unsirnng, OF, perhaps
Il would be more corrcet To say, they were
strung to their highest pitch. Yet ! was
DOT frightened Of bogicS or burglars |
was frightened of being frightened Queer.
isn't it bat you understand me p
~Yes, ! grunted Il wss psyehoiogi-
caily interesting bat ! dlda see the con
ncciion with my ca,
'4Ons night II priekesl up my ears aud
leaned forward, ve were evidently coming
TO the advengGFe-"onc night, continued
Tom in lowered tones, Il went of 10 my
bedroom A. usual without 4 candle Ii was
pretty little rncm on the ground GooT,
with a window opening into = garden. |
was trying To surgcs my nerves BY Whistling
an air had beard The niggsFs sing on the
sands. People who arc aervoas IN the
dark have various modes of conduct
Some are fartive and quiet, others are
neisy and defiant. adopted a medium
courSc affected tranquility in a wbissled
Inelody and said my prayers aloud.
1T was about . oeloek and not partic-
ularly dark could sce ,linsly mos, Of she
objects in the room, bat the bcd was in
deep gloom. suddenly heard something,
an unusual noise, in the room. had
ceased Wh.stling for = moment while |
stopped TO anlaee my boots. My heart
seemed 10 stop beating aud chill shot up
from my back 10 the roots Of my hair.
The sound came from the bed What
was always dreading bad happened. My
sensitive nerves had been startled-sheckcd
in the darkness
And what was il ?" | asked, much in
lercsted
4 white cat.
"Was that all p
wait, exclaimed Tom impatieutly.
Il recovered my courage ia moment,
walked straight to the bed, and discovered
that the intruder Was cat lifted her
gently in my arms and carried her to the
window, where found that she was pure
white, and very beautiful, exactly like your
Duchess would have earcsssed her, being
fond Of animals. but she struggled in my
arms, and. after scratching me slightly,
managed to escape through the window
into the garden.
The next day had forgotten all about
the cat went to bed in the dark at the
usual hour almost too tired To be nervous
/ | again received shock just as | was
abou. to get into bed something jumped to
the floor and rushed To and through the
window. crept into bed with my heart
beating violently, although knew it was
ouly the white cat, who had apparently
I taken a strange fancy to my bed
I ''The same thing was repeated on several
succeeding nights. went to bed expecting
( it, vet it never failed to affect my nerves
in the same way You may think this
strange, but it is true The very antici-
patton Of the incident aggravated its I'M
pleasantness began to dislike my bed
room; to dread the hour when | must re
tire TO it. grew TO hate the white eat.
Had she allowed me to touch her, to talk
TO her-in short, to make friends with her
lit would have been different, for ! was
really fond of animals. But she invariably
fed from me-ghostly, silent and swift.
| can only suppose that she had been ac-
customed to i'll usage She feared me and
| hated her. Childrens passions are
strong in proportion to the immaturity of
their reason.
"The time came when | felt that | could
bear the visits of the white cat no longer.
Something must be done for my relief.
Had my mother been with me | should
have confided my trouble to her at once,
but she was in London. As for Aunt
Maria l instinetively felt that she would
pooh-pooh the whole thing--in fine, that
she would not understand me-
Failing grown up people, | deter mined
to explain the situation TO a youngster OF
ahout NV own aona with whom I had Sfruck