The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-01
Now FIRST PUBLIsHRD.l

reason OF man with my eXcltable temper
ameut. Yet did not then 60 mad. When
the bank in which l had invested three
forths of my pat imonv closed it doors
felt as hough had suddenly fallen into the
waters Of a shoreless sea through which
was destined to buffet till death; when,
three weeks later. my idolIzed Agnes
bresthed the last sigh OF her young life on
my breast, the waters rose above my head.
1 was overwhelmed and shut in from air and
Light, without the oblivion of death.
The influence of our little daughter Ethel
kept my empty hands from Selling lethal
weapons and using them upon my misera-
able self. She was at the most engaging
age of chidhood-just 4, when the mind is
opening to receive all the beautiful won
dersof delightful world, and the body
yields graciously to delightful carasses. In
my hearts first astonished incredulity at
my loss, the sight of the child shot pang
into my numbed pain. But later the pres
ence of the baby forced upon, me the fact
that was still human, and not an outcast
soul without hope or responsibilities.
1t was not until l took our daughter in
my arms, to hush her prattle about my dead
Agnes, that felt she who had left us both
was more the mother Of our child than my
wife. Then it was that broke down. Then
it was that, pressing the tender orphan to
my widowed heart, sobs and tears came to
my relief, and realized that l was mere
Inan--one of a thousand others, with an in
durable sorrow.
For time after this / bore up with n
fortitude which astonished myself. Now
and then, however, my sufferings became so
acute that prayed for the ending of them
at any cost, even at the cost OF leaving the
child alone in the world behind me. Often
was tempted with the thought that it
would have been better for me if little
Ethel too had been taken. Then there
would have been no tie Of earth strong
enough to keep me in my misery. How
was l 20 60 on day after day In the society
OF this dainty little being. whose hair and
eyes and pretty ways recalled with such
desolating vtvidness the exquisite compan-
don who had been taken from met
Books and music had been the Injuries Of
my life. They would afford no respits now.
They were vacuous and dull. They had
tost meaning for me- l could no longer
concentrate my attention on them. l was a
man OF no regular pursuits and taking in
Eerest In nothing going on around me, time
hung like leaden cope upon me ana each
new day shuddered with despair as l
thought Of the dreary hours which must 90
by before beneficient sleep would come
once more with its soft anodyne.
1t was early June, and London was at its
loveliesk Whether il was full or empty |
did not know, did not care. had done
with society forever. But in early June.
London has always seemed to me the most
fascinating place on earth.
Then the light il strong and long. and
clear, and the green OF grass OF tree.
FloaKa aiAh {a m
city has not yet begun to swelter Ia dog
day heat, and the river is untainted still :
while II you wander about through un-
known mAzes, labyrinthine defiles of streets.
till daylight fails. it is scarcely worth turn
ing homoward for night You may wan
der on until the light has shifted through
dusks from west to east, until London lies
around you vast and tuexhaustible. in the
strange first flush of morning, sleeping
alone. Then may you, los. ia unknown re-
Riops OF the town, find undreamed-of peo-
pie and occupations springing into life for
day.
The first solace found after my great be.
Feavement was in long, purposeless walks
through the streets of the town observed
no oTSter whatever in my r utes When the
coalition OF my mind became intolerab!a
set out on my long expeditions. Sometime,
I wandered about all night, and far into the
next day. In my home now dwelt only the
servants, who prepared for irregularIty OF
this kind on my part, and little Ethel-toc
young to feel uneasiueSs, even when i STAYED
away beyond the accustomed time This
knowledge that the peace of my home wa:
mot disturbed by unwonted absence of it.
master added depth to my detection. and
made me often so 10th to return that. wher
] felt worn out, sought the shelter of tht
nearest inn rather than face the resoundinp
echoes OF my solitary footsteps through my
deserted home.
Over and over again I prayed heaven
with passionate entreaty that the burden Of
to-day might be removed from me at the
expense OF bearing any load calamity might
place upon me in the future.
This pain l suffer today thought I
sis unbearably greater than any pain OF the
future could be. when my heart is less sor,
with new sorrow"
One cloudless June morning. about .
O'Clock, found myself entangled in a net
work Of streets between the Strand and III,
Embankment. Rightly or wrongly, | cal
this district the Adephi. To perso,
upon first or second visit the nlece ma,
seem confusing. l Thought knew it as wei
as Pail Mall or Regent street. was begin
ing to feel tired, and had half formed til
intention of turning my face toward hom
or one OF the great hotels in Trafalga
square, when suddenly, to my surprise,
found my way stopped by building wher
bad expected to find a roadway,
Everything about the street seemed quit
familiar, except that counted on finding
way out of it into an ascending street open
ing on the Strand.
What now obstructed the way which
had hoped to find. A low building with tn
door in the center. Under a squat pedi
ment of this building ran scroll bearin
the words 'Adelphi Lethe Baths"
had heard Of the baths but never see
them before. What had heard of them.
could not clearly recall. An Acquaintance
must have told me about them while wa
but half listening, and afterward when
remembered fragments of my informant
talk, now brought TO mind that felt sorr
had not given my whole attention to tn
narrator.
looked at these new baths in front of n
with curiosity and interest. could not ca
actly recollect what virtues they we're SUI
posed to possess.
Adelphi Lethe Baths conveyed no NEAR
ing, except that Of their situation and tha
they professed to dull or deaden pain. n
doubt they were a new form Of electri
bath, intended to cope with rheumatism c
neuralgia.
II would be, Of course, unreasonable {
expect any institution Of this kind to b
open at such an hour as in the morning
and yet could not help thinking how re
freshing and soothing bath would be ther
after. my long lonely walk through tn
Rpapino town