Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-24

There were two OF them-~you have seen
the other. He was faithful fellow. They
were poor fools, both of them, but I'M
commonly wisc,n he continued. They
kept II 10 themselves found them in an
aaylutn twenty Eve years ago. They called
them idiots. Idiotsi God help usi"
That strange light seemed TO kindle in
his eyes again while he was speaking, and
II conveyed ANYTHING bat q cheerful sug-
gestion TO my mind.
There rs this difference between idiots
and madmen,n he continued. " The former
are born outside the pale OF human SYM
patty the latter overstep IL. In either
case they are not of this carth--they are
embodied spirits living in world OF their
own creation. bidfng the time OF liberation
from the flesh. And do you know there
are more madmcn in the world than 1t
dreams Off"
He stopped with tone OF sharp interro-
CATION aud looked squarely inty my face.
There are undoubtedly many OF them
said /.
" The lines Of monomania all lead to
madness" he continued. The deeper
ono plnuges into the mysteries OF life the
nearer he approaches 1t. But. mara YOU
one man may venture further than another.
For years | have lived in fear OF two
thincs-madness and death. Not on my
account. but had Rayel 10 think Of"
Nv uncle rose TO his feet before he had
ceased speaking and walked stealtbily on
his tiptoes TO an open door, where he
stood for a moment listening. l could
hear nothing but the sound OF the wind
whistling in the chimney.
WAT here,p he whispered presently.
and then disappeared through the door,
closing il after him. ] held my watch
down TO the freight and saw il was near
IL O'Clock. felt drowsy, and bad almost
fallen asleep when my uncle returned, car
rying q lantern. "Rayel Is asleep" said
he in a whisper. won't you come with
me? II will not take long"
- Certainly" rising and waiting for MN
TO lead the way. BE put on his antique
hat and threw q shawl over his Shout
ders. ava
better wear another coat"
drew on my overcoat at once, wonder
ing what new experience awaited me.
Holding the lantern in front OF him be
proceeded slowly and feebly across the
rear courtyard and unlocked door In one
of the side-wings of the house. through
which we passed into large unfinished
room. .,s,
uncle. shutting across the room and un-
locking another door ON its opposite side.
Hes never been here, never yet" he
continued, pulling the door open. The
dim light of the lantern shone out upon
thicket Of fragrant spruce and cedar; As
/ stepped down upon the ground, follow
ing in the steps OF my uncle, co1ld hear
the murmur OF the great pines towering
far above our heads. Slowly we made our
way through the dense underground, ana
soon entered an open space carpeted WIN
pine-needles and moss. IL was circular
plot in the thlcket, and out OF Its centre
m W
branches wholly obscured the sky. My
uncle hung his lantern on a knot protrud-
ing from the trunk of the tree, and slowly
knelt upon the ground, covering his face
with his hands. Suddenly he beckoned
to me. and knelt down beside him.
"Listenl" said he. DO you hear
voices? She comes to me here. Can you
see her-ny wifef Look about you. 10
you not see herr"
He laid his trembling hand upon my
shoulder. Again l saw that awful CLEAN
in his eyes. The gruesome suggestion he
had made set my nerves tlngllng. ana L
peered about among the shadows of that
dimly- Lighted recess, half expecting some
vision to greet my eyes. Then there came
loud rustling of the branches high above
us. The lantern light fared up and sud
denly went out, leaving us IN total dark
ness.
"She is here he whispered in excite
ment. "Sit still--do not speak"
A deep silence, intensified by the sound
of the night wind in the trees around us.
followed my uncle's words. The going
out of the light he had seemed TO regard as
signal from the spirit world, and sat still
as he babe me, not doubling that his acute
senses had penetrated the veil which
limited nv own vision. / had seen SO
many revelations of his strange power that
pow sat awe-struck and afraid, waiting
for some word from him to end my, sus-
pense. / could see nothing IN the dark
ness, but could hear my uncle breathing
heavily, as if trying TO suppress his emo
ton. Suddenly there was stir III the
bushes near-as. Then heard q step like
that of man on the thickly covered earth
close by my side. I stretched out prone
upon the earth, covering my face with my
hands. l could hear sound as If OF some
one cropping about in the darkness, and
then felt the touch of strange hand
upon my shoulder.