The Forrest City times., 1892-02-12

lam disposed to think that never before did sincere friendship. one which was fated to last unbrokcn for years ripen % quickly as that between Carrisfon and myself. As now look back I find it hard to associate him with any, even a brief. period of time subsequent so OUT meeting, during which he WAS not my bosom friend forget whether o,lr meeting at the same picturesque spot on the morning which followed our self-intrO- eiuefiors was the result of accident or arrange- mrht Anyway we spent the day together. and that day was the precursor Gf many pass ed in each others society. Morning after morning we sallied forth 10 do our best to transfer the same bits of scenery to our skeiehing- blocks. Evening after evening we returned to dine side by side, ard afterwards to talk and smoke together, indoors or out doors as the temperature advised or our wishes inclined.
 Great friends we soon nbecame-inseparsble as long as my short holiday lasted It was perhaps pleasant for each to work in com pany with an amateur like himself. Each cosid ask the others opinion of the merits or the work done, and feel happy at the ap- proyaI duly given. An artists standard of excellence Is too high for a on-professlonaL ' When be praises your work he praises if but
  such commendation condemns it and dis hearfens you.
 However. had Carrfsfon cared to do SO. l think he might have feariessly submitted his productions to any conscientious critic. His drawings were immeasurably more artistic and powerful than mine. He had undoHbf- etiIy great talent and 1 was much surprised to find that good as he was at landscape. he was even better at the figure He could with a firm. bold hand. draw rapidly the most marvellous III1enesses. So spirited and true were some of the studies he showed me. that could without fiaffery advise him, provided he could finish as lie began, to keep entirely to the higher branch of the art l have now before me series of outline faces drawn by him-many of them from memory, and as look at them the original of each comes at once before my eyes.
 From the first had been much interested in the young man, and as day by day went by. and the pecuiiarities of his character were revealed to me. my interest grew deeper and deeper ffatfer myself that am keen observer and skiIlfui analyst of personal character and until now fancied that to write description of it's component parts was an easy matter. Yet when am put to the proof find it no simple task to convey in words proper idea of Charles CarTiSton5 mental or ganization.
 I soon discovered that he was, I may say. afflicted by peculiarly sensitive nature. Al- though strong. and apparently in good health. the very changes of the weather seemed to affect him almost to the same extent as they affect a flower. Sweet as his disposition al- ways was, the tone of his mind. his spirits, his conversation. varied. as it were, with the atmosphere. He was full of imagination. always rich, was at times weird. even gro tesquely weird. Not for one moment did he seem t0 doubt the stability of the wild theo- ries he started or the possibility of the poetic al dreams he dreamed being realized. He cad his faults. of course; he was nasty and impuisive, indeed to me one of the greatest charms about the boy was that, right or wrong each word he spoke came straight l from his heart.
 So far as could judge. the whole ofganiza- ton of his mind was too highly strung. too finely wrought for everyday use. X note of 1 joy, of sorrow even of pity vibTated through ! it too strongly for his comfort or weli-being. f As yet it had not been called upon to bear 1 the test of love, and fortunately--I use the word advisedly- he was not ac- | cording to the usual significance of the word, | religiousm an, or should have thought tnot unlikely that some day he would fall victim | to that religious mania so well known to my ! professional brethren, and have developed | hysteria or melaneholia. He might even have fancied himself messenger sent from heaven for the regeneration of mankind. 1 From natures like Carristons are prophets made
 l In short 1 may say that my exhaustive study of my new friends character resulted in q certain amount of uneasiness as to his futlire-an uneasiness not entirely free from professional curiosity
 Although the smile came readily and Ire quentiy to his lips, the general ben. of his disposition was sad, even Respondent and morbid. And yet few young mems lives promised to be so pleasant as Charles Carris- tons.
 was raIlying him one day on his future rank and it's responsibilities.
 ssYou will, Of course, be disgustingly richs' said.
 Car1istou sighed s'Yes, if l live long enough; but don't suppose shall"
 @'Why in the world shouldn't you? You look pale and thin but are in capital health Twelve long miles we have walked today you never turned hair"
 Carriston made no reply. He seemed in deep thought.
 '.Your friends ought to look after you and get you wife said.
 Il have no friends" he said sadly. No nearer relation than cousin good deal older than am, who looks upon me as one who was born to rob him of what should be hiS-
 But by the law of primogeniture,s so sacred to the upper ten thousand, he must know yon are entitled to it.
 'Yes; but for years and years was always going to die. My life was not thought worth six months ptrshase. All of sudden got well. Ever since then have seemed, even to myself a kind Of interloper."
 Tt must be unpleasant to have man long ing for one's death. All the more reason you should marry. and put other lives between him and the title.n
 II fancy shall never marry" said Carris- ton, looking at me with his soft dark eyes. You see boy who has waited for years ex peeting to die. doesn't grow up with exactly the same feelings as other people, 1 donl think shall ever meet a woman l can cart | for enough to make my wife. No, expect my cousin will be Sir Ralph yet"
 tried to laugh him out of his morbid ideas Those who live will see" I said. Only promise to ask me to your wedding, and bet ter still, if you live in town, appoint me youi family doctor. It may prove the nucleus oi that West End practice which it is the dream of every doctor to establish
 I have already alluded to the strange beau ty of Carrist0n's dark eyes. As soon as com panionship commenced between us those