Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-03


her eye and he sank back into his seat.
Then she drew a chair near to his and
between him and the door.
"You resemble him strongly" said
she. 1.-The same noble features, the
same soulful eyes, tho same pallor, in
dicative of the same sad fate. Are you a
genius? Do you write poems of tho soul
as he dido"
Drane groaned.
II knew it," she went on. Listen.
We were destined for each other. There
was small matter of property depend
ing upon our union-but never mind.
He seemed to avoid me at first, but at
length fate threw us together. Return
ing to his room one morning very early
he endeavored to enter the old-fash-
ionod clock at tho head of the first flight
of stairs under the impression that it
was tho door of his apartment. 1t was
the Observation-Disclosures of genius. All,
we'll! he and the clock fell down the
stairs locked in each others arms, and
when they picked him up ono of his
limbs was broken. came to nurse him.
For seven long weeks l was his con-
slant, his only companion. read to
him, talked to him-and then-and
then"
"He died?"
mo; he became a hopeless lunatic.
/ have never loved since then; but now
your face brings it all back to me. Ex-
cuse the outburst of my feelings"
She laid her head on his shoulder,
and cried into his collar. Drane could
feel his hair begin to turn gray but he
shut his teeth together with resolution.
The other follow had stood it seven
weeks before he went out of his head,
and Drane believed that he could last
| till Jenkins came.
In fact he did; but 1t was close
shave. Jenkins was q tall and greedy
man, with hollow cheeks and q cheer
less smile. At his appearance the
! woman with romance in her life
vanished in charge Of her companion,
! who proved to be the matron of the
| house. Jenkins did not care to question
| the new conner. He was satisfied that
all charges would be promptly paid, and
| he at once escorted Drane to an apart
ment on the third floor. Here the I'M
fortunate young man secured some toast
and tea, which, however, did not who'll
ly sustain him against the horrors of
the night.
Jenkins made o casual inspection of
Drane's pockets before leaving tho
| room.
"You will excuse this formality," said
no, ''but the man who occupied this
room before you brought in q piece of
rope with which he hanged himself over
the hoadboard of the bed before morn
ing. We have had many cases of the
| kind. Good night"
This was a cheerful subject of reflec-
ton to take to bed with one, and it was
still more consoling to hear the key
turned on the outside of the door.
~ believe that I shall actually go
:razy before morning." said Drane as
he stretched himself upon the bed. 1t
was insufferably hot. The windows were
carefully barred and screened in way
which not only prevented the suicidal
egress of Jenkins boarders but denied
ingress to an adequate supply of the
free air of Heaven. After making this
discovery Drane returned to his bed,
where he was soon dreaming that the
dangling heels of his unhappy pre-
aecessor were still knocking against the
headboard.
From this nightmare he awoke
| with q shi yer of horror. He sat up and
listened. There was certainly strange
noise in the heavy air. Sometimes 1t
was like subdued voices; then 1t was
signing; and again it was q gurgling
groan. For some minutes Drane could
not summon up the resolution to in