Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-12-11


mothers family. Then, also, was he
told the real truth about his father, and
he found that that father was not dead,
but was incarcerated in a private hospi-
tai in America-violently, hopelessly
mad.
sssWell, you can understand how he
felt, or, rather, you can't comprehend It,
The girl that he loved was true to him,
but how could he marry her knowing
what he did? Even if the lunacy slum-
bered in his veins it would surely
awaken to curse their children. So he
left her, and almost crazed with sorrow
himself he sailed for America where he
still remains. A little while ago he
heard that his betrothed was dead
killed by the double shock of his disap-
pearance and his mothers fearful and
untimely end.
Can you WONDER continued Ram
say in a tone of subdued passion, that a
species of bitterness often mingles, half
unconsciously, with his sorrow for his
parents? And is it strange that he feels
almost as if they had committed crime
in bringing him into existence, knowing
as they did that he must perforce be
lowered with the fatal, inevitable fam
lily curse?
'sThis tale made q strong impression
in my mind, 4" the young doctor resumed.
cat first seriously questioned if Ram
say wasn't himself the hero Of it, and
though his apparent gayety led me to
dismiss that thought, still l couldn't
help feeling that the events he'd mar
rated had in some way produced last
ing effect in his life.
.'Well, matters wore quite TRANQUILITY
on for year or so, and Mr.. Ramsay
grew in the popular favor all the while.
He was liberal fellow, and his sermons
were frequently rather unorthodox, but
his flock worshiped him to such an ex-
tent that if he had dosed them with
atheism they wouldn't have grumbled a
bit. The girls were in love with him.
every single one of them, but never did
they find the way to his heart. He reso-
lutely declined to be drawn into firta-
ton, though he made himself agreeable
to all the damsels, taught them German,
played tennis and escorted them to pic
MICS with a gay impartiality very pro-
voking to the sensibilities of the poor,
anxious young creatures.
ssOne morning as / sat in the drug
store talking Ramsay happened in and
purchased a package of rat poison. He
mentioned casually that the mice were
bothering him, and stood moment gos-
siping with careless good humor and
then went out.
THAT night the deacon with whom he
was boarding came hurriedly to my Office
to summon me. Rev. Mr.. Ramsay was
taken very suddenly i'll. I put ON my
hat and coat and went to him at once,
and somehow before I'd reached his bed
side it flashed over me that he had swal-
lowed the poison I saw him buy in the
morning. The moment I entered the
room l knew that it was so.
ssHe fingered three days, suffering hor-
ribly, but not word would he say as to
the motive of his deed. Before he died
he showed me a photograph he wore
upon his bosom-the picture of u young
woman and child, each very beautiful
and very like the other. And he asked
that it be buried with him, and SO it
was The church gave him a most i'm
posing funeral and erected fine monu-
ment over his grave, and they have never
ceased, believe, to mourn their nlys-
terious but dearly beloved minister. For
long while they sought to find out the
secret Of his life, but the minutest in
quiries failed to reveal single fact.
With characteristic forethought he had
destroyed his papers, leaving nothing
that would throw light upon his former
history.
''I often recall him even now," added
the young doctor, land can't help Won
dering if he was not the hero Of the
strange tale he told me. And in that
case was he insane when he killed him
self, or did he do it because of grief for
his betrothed? Who then was the child
whose portrait he wore upon his breast?
Sometimes fancy that he had COM
mitted an offense which made him a
fugitive from justice and led him at last
to take his own life in remorse. The re-
membrance of his open face and kindly,
sympathetic manner makes this seem
impossible, and yet in this strange world,
where people are such curious, contra
dictory mixtures of good and evil, who
can tell?'-Buffalo Express.