Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-09-04
A BRE tTuER OF ETHER.


Having exhausted every form of dissi-
patton, Clifford Damn became brea:her
of ether
OF a disposition prone to excuses of all
kinds, suddenly possessed of the power to
indulge them all, il took but few years
for him to make ruin of himself physical
ly, mentally and morally. lntoSicants OF
every kind had SO devoured his body that
they became necessary to his case. Under
the influence of absinthe, benumbered 10y
the fumes of opium, he was content; but
without them he suffered torture.
Opium and dbsiuthe were not given up
when he took to breathing ether They
made him numb; it made him merry.
When he first breathed the laughing
fumes he was sitting by the window of
his favorite club There was a cottonwood
tree just beyond the pavement, and ms the
gas took effect, every leaf began to move,
to roll up and up until each was as slender
as pine needle; and, at the same time
the tree receded and receded, until II was
nothing but little patch of dancing
green far, far away. The street seemed
to be ezer becoming wider, while the men
aud horses and carriages in it were hlllpu.
tian aud ever dancing and fitt ring
"Ha! ha!' Clifford laughed again and
again, until the street began to grow mar
rover. the men, horses and cabs to get
larger, until the cottonwood came back to
its place beyond the pavement, and he felt
sicker and more weary than ever before.
1t was a tiresome life. Never without
pain, never free from the languor and the
stagnation of an almleSs existence, except
when his whole physical nature was
strained TO its utmost to eNpell the intoxi,
canes he took He was wearied beyond
measure. There were no pleasures. lie
had exhausted them all. Had he not been
a drunkard, an opium eater. a breather of
ether, there would have been a healthy
reaction; but activity now seemed impoe-
sible He had consumed his vital-powers
too far in advance.
Clifford had apartments in fashion
able family hotel They were for his wife
for he passed days without going near
them. She was, so far as mind was con
cerned, an inferior woman, whom he had
married when he had yet to toll for his
and her bread. His later course of life
had made him as impotent in mind and
soul as in body, and he no longer loved;
but she, pure and simple, still worshiped
at his polluted shrine.
She had often besought him with fee.
BILE earnestness not to leave her alone, not
to ruin himself with intoXicants, but he
only loathed her, and so strongly that one
night when she put out her arms to him
he struck her to the floor.
There she lay just beneath the chan
dclier, and the light streamed down over
her face, showing a long bruise across her
temple.
The something with which Clifford had
struck tie blow-he did not know what il
was-dropped to the floor 1t startled
him. The effect of the intoxicants passed
rapidly away, and ne realized what he had
done. Bending over, lie looked into her
face. She was dead. He was sure of it,
Such was the force of guilt that looked
around to see if any one saw. 1t was very
still, ana he heard the ticking of the clock
1t struck the hour-two short quick
strokes. Murder" it said in silver
tones 1t was mockery to speak that
word so n.erriy. Clifford shuddered and
fed into the street.
1t was very late. There was no one in
sight but a cabman, who shouted Cab,
SIR" as Clifford rushed by. en- he went,
not knowing or caring where. He met an
occasional pedestrian. There was no hfe
in the great buildings, except in two news.
paper Offices, whose top stories were beam
ing with light Clifford hurried on
through the brilliant deserted streets until
he was ready to drop from exhaustion
Where should he go2 Anywhere but
to those accused rooms where lay his dead
wife.
Without having Intentionally directed
his steps three he found himself before a
stairway leading to an artist frlend's
studio. He knew that when his crime was
discovered this studio would be the first
place searched for him. He did not care
for that. Besides, there was ether there,
and under its influence he could laugh and
dream, and forget his misery.
Up the stairway and along the hall he
tottered, trembling in every limb Having
constant admlttance to the studio, he had
key. Unlocking toe door, he went in.
There was IRE burning III the CRATE
There was ether plenty of ton lie
mantel. He placed the vessel on a small
table in front of the FIRE. sank into a big
chair and put his feet on the fender.
Oh, how much of these mirthful fumes
ne breathed and how rapidly! He fcrgo;
his crime. He began to laugh. There
was the fire before him with his feet be-
tween HIM and it. They all began to re.
cede from him and dance about in the
funniest way His feet soon seemed to be
separated from his body, and they bowed
TO each other. They seemed to be little
beings who could move and speak And
Clifford laughed or thought he laughed,
until the room rang.
He was asleep now but during the short
period of uncousciousuess strar se visions
were dancing in his brain.
There were the two little beings always
betw cen him and the FIRE One had q
comical, bloated face, with eyes that stuck
cut and nose that was very red. The
other was shadowy. Clifford could see
the Goals and the bars of The CRATE rigbi
through MIN. Yet, strange it was, that
red and grinning face that made him
laugh, and that Rbostly one that awed