St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-07-19

What recollccted services can then
Give consolation Tor tho might have beenY'
The Housekeepes.
A GHOUL'S QUEST.
Strange. UncontroIlable Passion O
q Monomaniac.
Ono windy morning in January, wher
passing frame building on Ellis street
where large force Of carpenters was a,
work swinging on giddy scaffolds many
feet from the ground, l observed . tall
and unusually thin man seated ON pile
OF lumber, watching with the utmost in
tentness the workmen. With the in.
stinct of the newspaper reporter. ever
seeking Information, I asked him to
whom the building belonged, and what
was it intended for, believing that he
was the architect, or possibly tho con-
tractor. ~ esT- -
do not know. sir. am . strangex
In the city" he replied, in voice Of
singular harshness
Il beg your pardon, thought you
seem to take an interest in the work"
'.Not in the work, but in the work
men," he rejoinod, with grin. which
made his SMALL, mean face, with its lit
tie red eyes, absolutely diabclical.
Then possibly you are yourself q
carpenter. I continued: ''a fino trade
tho carpenter and mason are, to my
mind, the noblest order OF mechanics;
they are the creators or rather the in
struments that carry out the inspiration
Of the architect" t -.
They do not interest mo in that
way" said tho stranger. shufling of the
lumber pile and moving Of. palpable
hint that he required NO more Of my
conversation.
This incident left no impression On
my memory, Tor, although I frequently
passed the new building on my way to
my Office. saw no more of the red-eyed
man. One 6ne Sunday, attracted by
the announcement Of balloon ascen-
sion at Bakers Beach, strolled out to
that picturesque curve in the harbor's
entrance. As the acronaut took hold of
the parachute and gave the word to let
60. saw the stranger. The expression
on his face was one Of intense, and,
might say, malignant concentration.
His eyes were fxed ON the bespsngled
figure Of the athlete with . forocity
which not alone astonished me, but
gave ne such decidedly uncomfortable
feeling that I involuntarily stepped
from beside him.
Il am all right and away we go.'
cried the aerpnaut, and the crowd
cheered IS the graceful sphere sailed
skyward Under and over the bar the
aeronaut tumbled. now holding ON BY
one arm, now clinging with his toes,
still leaving the dun earth farther and
farther behind him at every moment
by heavens! he'll get down safely.
Hes not nervous, unless-unless tho
parachute should collapse. Then wc'll
be all right, and there won't be whole
bone in his body"
This peculiar speech was uttered by
the mysterious stranger who. in the
forward movement of the crowd, was
again at my elbow. Determined to dis.
cover the source Of this extraordinary
display Of malignity, said:
'It seems, sir. you do not feel we'll |
disposed toward our friend, who is now |
tum bling in mid-air. Is he an enemy
Of yours or rival professionals
He 10 neither. come here, rs every |
one else, yourself included. young man,
hoping that he will fall l am candid |
enough to say "a, and presume you are
hypocritc enough to declare that you
hope he will descend in safety"
Il certainly do hope 80, with ell my
heart" I replied, warmly; ''why, no ono
but fiend incarnate would wish that
yondcr daring fellow might como to
grief"
The stranger smiled, but the smile
was sardonic enough to come under the
head of grimace. 81 have met you be-
fore. he said; zone morning on Ellis
street. l remember your face now.
Como, feel rather companionable this
evening. Dine with me. / am almost
, perfect stranger in this city, and you
will be doing lonesome man . favor il
you accept my invitation"
! consented, overcoming tho rcpug.
nance felt, for the sake Of knowing
moro about this person, who was
evidently man of mystery. He named
IN address on Pine street, the hour
seven, and lifting his hat with an ,
agreeable. almost an amiablc air, of |
which could not believe his hard,
,rira features capable, we parted until
hat hour.
While dressing for dinner. was full
'f conjecture about my strange acquaint-
lnce. His name he had not given me, Z
,or had he mentioned whether he was a
married man or bachelor. A he had {
lot appointed . restaurant Tor our
concluded that No II
Pine street must be . boardine-house.
However. at ten minutes to the hour Of I
lining. rung the bell Of . large. old !
ashioned house, dingy and neglected
ooking to degree. A japanese serv. ,
mt admitted me. and found my host 8
Gated in handsomely-furnished par
o.. He was In evening-dress. 50 I at 9
nee decided that we were not to be
Without ladies' society. E
"You must pardon mi" he said, cour- i
eorsly. ''for my neglect to give you my t
amc. l an such hermit, that have U
lmost forgotten lss coaoeH0acc& am ]
Albert 10 Mour. an American, born Of
fench pareatA traveller. citizen Of /