The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-10


the Counts OF Montezuma in Spain were de-
scendants Of the children OF MonteZuma who
were aftorwRrd taken 10 Europe and adopted
the Christian saith."
Adolphe sighed. "A gloomy story, decid-
edly."
one by one the treasures were examined. A
drawing Of the calendar stone by which the
Azteos reckoned time an Aztec painting, some
picture writing, relics from the temples, ana
other memorials of the great Montezumas
time ali oppressed AdOlphe with weird sense
of the dead past
While NJ. Valentin had been talking the
young artist had boon toying with q small san
dalwOod box.
What is thisP" he asked suddenly, as if he
bad just noticed IL.
"Ah, my dear Adolpho," exclaimed the little
man, jumping to his feet and attempting TO
take the box from AdOlphe's hand; let me
have that! IL is dangerous-that hashish! i
would not"
'Ah. hashish!" interrupted Adolphe, evad-
ing his friends outsiretched hand. have
often thought I should like TO take hashish.
DO You ike it2" he asked, looking straight at
NJ Nalentin.
"Ah, wcll-that isv-stammered the good
Nalentin evidently embarrassed, :" 10 be truth
ful, ] have taken IT, But then" extending hls
hands eEcusinrly. 81 know the effects. ] am
very, very careful"
Adolphe smiled, amused at his friends dis
comfture.
let me see the stuff" he said. and opening
the box he turned into his hand three dirty
grccuish pellets How many arc doseE'
he asked softly.
Mon Dieu! one +, only one" cried the little
man, thoroughly alarmed. "Surely AdolPhe
you do not think Of taking the drug You DO
not know
"stay, Valcutin. Even II do not know,
You IRE here 10 look ont for me. Ny friend, i
will take the hashish."
Impossible, impossible, Ad0lphei' ejacn-
lated NJ. Nalentiu advancing again. Adolphe
4 held him of with one hand while he slipped
4 one OF the pellets IN his mouth and swallowed
I IT, lie smiled swcctly al b. Nalentin.
"Ciel! cried the worthy man. But you
will repent. Tres bieu :"
What changes year may mar; in ones lie!
4 hdolpho Berilliercs a poor obscure ncophyie
OF the brush but atwclyc-mouth before, nowthe
artist Of this seasons exhibition M the French
salon An Paris was talking Of the Aztec
Standardization Paris. whore a thing Is
I Landed to the heavens and forgotten I'm month.
! JIG had come TO pass as NJ. Nalentn had pro-
dieted, but success sat lightly upon the brow Of
/ kd0lphe Bertilliprns. Orders stTcamcd in upon
/ him from true art lovers, from tho newly rich,
4 from the followers Of the popular in anything,
/ but he would accept none lie would paint no
more.
Astonishment was expressed on al sides.
1 What did il mean2 Would he throw his tri-
umph over bis shoulder? At length he shut
himself M, and would see no one but his
4 friend Nalentin. who sought him often. lie
always found him now distracted, ill Al ease,
moved by some strange emotion. The little
man was paincd and iiritatcd by this conduct.
mon Dieui" he would exclaim; is this
I A. f1F.f r.srs. flf
1 you wish 10 sink again into obscurityp Alb,
1 my son, confde in me. Tell me what Is your
trouble"
At which Bertillieres would smile aud shake
4 his head sadly. Then Nalentin, lifting his
shoulders, would say:
THE man is mad.'
But the young artist would reply: No my
1 good Talentin, am not mad. Ny disorder is
4 OF another Kind. ] viii not burden You with
my condolences. Pray leave me. assure you
4 j am better alone"
And NJ. Naleniin. embracing his friend would
4 70 away mystifcd and Erieyed. Once lac
stopped ia the street and passed his hand across
i his forehead "Ah!" lie said 10 himself, a
! light coming into his eyes, idiot that ! was
not 10 have thought Of that before-he Is in
love. But" he added hopefully, that will
pass away"
However. this malady Of ". Benilieres did
not pass away, aud the tender-hcariea man
was unhappy. One day NJ. Nalentin called Al
the pretty little atelier IN the Rue ST. Michel
lie found the door locked. The concierge told
him that NJ. Bertilliercs had gone away th,
night before where he did not know.
Wecka passed. nj. Bertiliercs did not TO
turn. while NJ. Nalentin made frequent visit
20 the studio. always 30 find the door closed
lie tried TO wall patiently for news OF his des
Adolphe Every morning he would spread hi
mail on the table before him, hoping 10 fluid
letter in the artists handwriting. lie did no
despair. lie w0nld surely hear from him. Bu
he swore al himself for being so stupid IS no
TO have kept a closer watch over his friend.
"Ah, 10 is here's" he exclaimed one morning
as he neryOnay tore Of the envelope. Til
letter was dated at Halladolid, and ran thus:
Ny good Nalentu: ] ask your pardon 10
my seeming discOuriosy. But when you haE
read what follows you will be aware of TIA
cause Of my recent actions. While you ma,
fail 10 appreciate the reason why ] have scenes
to underValue The fame, the honor the Realtl
that might have been miHe yet you will Civ
20 mc your sympathy, which will be most wei
come
Ny trouble" as you have called IL, bega
with the taking Of your hashish. As resul
Of that five grains OF caunabis indica / am no.
a waHdgrer
For quite awhile after ] swallowed TIA
hashish pili IN your room that night we con
timed our conversation, as you viii rrmemhel
} Suddenly a thrill shot through me. Ever
nerve vibTated, and ] lost the thread Of on
discourse The blood rushed IN a torrent {
my brain, giants clutch was upon my hear
tho room whirled round and round. The wi.
ard Of the hashish possessed me.
There stole over me terrible sense OF is,
3 lation. ] was alone IN a world Of my own.
tried 10 think, 10 shake Of this feeling. BefoI
this had been burning in MY center, but no
{ j shook as an icy blast hOwled through m
E empty bones. / felt rs IL i should burst iui
atoms, but with sickeninP effort ] held IN,
. self together. ] endeaVored % Tise il WI
like moving a ponoerOus machine, and gay
J up the attempt.
b Here, witt the dying reason, experience
the Grst sensations OF q duality Of existence
0 As forms Of Eastern beauty 19ated before m
{ with voluptuOus grace, j seemed not merely
j see them, but 10 SEQ myself seeing them.
y Al length these faded away 10 dying musi
o aud felt myself metamorphOsed into tran
o parent sphere. ] became conscious 81 q whis
ling sound and bcheld Time approaching
= swinging in bis skinny, yellow hands his fan
4 ing scythe OF gold. Nearer aud nearer 4
came; closer and closer the blade swung until
j WAS bisectCd, aud my hemisphcres went spin
d ming Tar away and were lost 10 sight
e a noise like distant thunder startled IN
Fecbly j arose aud tuttured toward the o
h Dutch clock. Ages rolled on before ] reach,
q IL and looked up into its phlcgmatic face.
10 bad been under the spell but two minutes.
q. All pain bad now loft me. KALEIDOSCOPE
q visions filled my eyes. Great bars Of gold M
Nsrrlr HH.F.-. ~.