The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-09-16

ANU Ireed from all the bonds of men,
he know the awful secret then.
William Winter.
A VERY PECULIAR CASE,
Like many people in this world who,
in apparent health and in the full pos.
session Of all their faculties, have yet un
known to themselves or anybody else
the germs of some dire disease lurking
within them, was totally ignorant that
there was anything the matter with me-
l had never been i'll since boyhood, con,
sequently had never consulted a doctor
Whether, if 1 had, he would have dis
covered my malady before did l know
not; but it is doubtful, seeing that it GER
tainly must be a wholly unusual if not
unique case, at any rate the way found
it out for myself. This phase of it alone
appears so peculiar and incredible that
conceive it must have opened new field
for speculation among the Psychologists,
Psychologists, or whatever the special
ologists are who study these matters.
At the time it happened-thirty years
ago-I was a bachelor, living in draw
ing room communicating by folding
doors with the bedroom behind it, not
hundred miles from the Regent circus.
None of the furniture was my own save
one or two easy chairs, writing table
and rather shabby, dilapidated old
bureau or escritoire-a relic of my great
grandfather's, believe, and preserved
by me as representing pretty nearly all
the property ever inherited. It stood
in the darkest corner of the sitting room,
though near one of the two long French
windows. l seldom went to it, using its
numerous drawers, pigeonholes, etc.,
only as receptacles for old receipts, bills,
! papers, and few old accumulations of
no value which for some reason did not
| wish to destroy. The key to its circular
top had, with reprehensible carelessness
in such matters, mislaid for weeks. This
| gave me no concern. could look for 1t
| when / wanted it-that was enough.
| Other dodgers were in the house, which
was kept by retired butler and his wife,
who, with three servants, attended on
| the inmates.
A young mans life in London, with
out being the least unsteady, frequently
involves him in late hours when he has
a large circle of acquaintance. 1t was
SO with me, especially during one par
ticular season. Operas, theaters, sup
pers and dances crowded SO thick and
fast upon each other that for nights to-
| T ho1
four hours in bed-always having to be
up early. Then, by degrees, when I
could turn in in reasonable time could
not sleep, and on this account even the
thought of long night in bed gradually
became a terror to me. The fact is, my
nervous system was becoming thorough
| ly unstrung, though at the time did not
/ know what that meant; certainly never
thought Of it as an illness, and equally
certain should have secuted any idea of
seeking advice about it. | know better
now; but let me not anticipate, only, it
should be added, that periodically had
some very voluminous and important
private correspondence to attend to. BY
that perversity which frequently seems
| to regulate these affairs, this often fell
out when l was most busy in the day,
and when dinners and parties were most
numerous in the evening. Never choos-
| ing to sacrifice pleasure for business, but
| always striving to combine the two, /
would go at my letters when / came
home, however late or tired, if not sleepy.
Then, to screw myself up to the work, /
would tie wet towel round my head,
stick a pipe in my mouth and brew my
self cup of strong tea. Thus often
wrote far into the night AS matter
of course, after a bout of this kind l
never went to sleep at all. / rose unre-
freshed, feverish, nervous, irritable. A
cup of tea and q slice of toast were sub
stituted for the hearty breakfast Of yore.
could not eat until luncheon; only to-
ward evening did / feel at all myself,
and so late hours became habitual
In addition, another thing was worry
ing me greatly. For the last month or
more l felt convinced / was being robbed.
did not possess much jewelry, but /
was constantly missing certain little
trinkets and small articles. Among
others, silver matchbox, large croco-
die leather gold mounted cigar case, a
pair of gold sleeve links, small locket
containing some of my mothers and
fathers hair, a set of studs, pearl
breastpin and the like. Also a pocket
letter or card case, which l well knew
contained two 81 Scotch bank notes
unusual money, not easily forgotten. I
felt sure that, with every allowance for
careless habits, these and many other
similar objects had vanished in the most
unaccountable way. Search high and
low as would, they were not to be
found anywhere in my rooms.
l had lived there nearly two years
when this vexation began, and knew
not whom to suspect. 1t was horribly
awkward and most unpleasant. The
landlord and his wife bore unimpeach-
able characters, and could never have
looked either of them in the face again
had breathed the faintest suspicion of
their honesty. Three other men, two of
whom knew slightly, were lodging in
the house, as have said, but as to sus-
pecting them Of this petty larceny the
idea was out the question. No, it must
be one of the servants. But which? One
of the three was lad Of sixteen. He
was newcomer, truly. The two women
were in the house when l took up my
quarters there-respectable "elderly par
ties"
did not know what to do for the best.
To lock up the rooms was impossible;
and even to do the same with all my
drawers, writing table, wardrobe, ETC.,
now, after never having previously
turned key on anything, would be at
once to cast slur ON the establishment.
Besides, never could tell exactly when
missed this or that article, because, as
Irepeat. my careless ways had often led
me to imagine that I had lost thing
when ! had merely mislaid it.