Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-08-26
UNDER A CLOUD.


tations spent many pleasant hours in his
coy bachelor apartments. One evening
after returning from patient and seating
himself before the fire to the enjoyment of
a last cigar before retiring for the night he
told me the following story:
: A few years ago left the care of my pa
tients in the hands of a brother physician
and went down to my old home in the
western part of New York to settle up the
remainder of the business connected with
my fathers estate. It proved much more
troublesome than expected and detained
me in the old place for several weeks.
During that time was guest at farm
house at the edge of the village, where an
old friend of the family resided.
According to the good custom of the
people in that section of the country all
the attaches of the farm were counted as
members of the household and dined to-
gether at the same large table, 1t was
early harvest time and the family was in.
creased by number of temporary farm
help who were hired for the busy part of
the season. Among these was young
fellow about twenty, of fair complexion,
broad intelligent brow. but of a cast of
countenance expressive of deep melan
choly.
The men were jovial set and filled in
the bits of leisure at mealtime and after
the days work was over in recounting
their numerous experiences. This man,
however, never shared in their hilarity,
but sat silently apart in a dark portion of
the room until time for retiring. I in
quired who he was, and was told that his
name was Dave; they had never learned
his surname; in fact, they had never asked
about it.
Dave had come early in May and had en-
gagged for the season. He was an excellent
worker, they testified, but very reticent,
never speaking except in answer to a ques-
ton or when it was an absolute necessity
to ask one He was kind to the animals,
clever in taking hold of any new kind of
work and very industrious, often perform
ing more than two good men. They did
not understand him, but hoped that he
could be hired for another season.
became deeply interested in this Dave,
and resolved to make study of his char
acter and, if possible, win him over to
more cheerful view of life. began to ad-
dress him whenever we met on various
topics concerning his works, but, although
received courteous answers, was wholly
seemed to be brooding over some painful
idea that refused him moments respite.
| noticed the FESTIVE, nervous energy with
borious effort could keep down an inward
demon of thought.
He continually wore look of depression,
and sometimes in the dim light of the
corner where he sat after the days work
IL T I'd k,,, I.
eyes and look of agony on his face, but
he said nothing. I began to think that he
was one of those enigmatic beings upon
whose spirit some hidden disease had shed
an eternal melancholy, and that perhaps
there was no concrete cause for his reti-
cence and gloom.
One day the sun arose warmer than
usual, and by noon the air had become SO
charged with heat and moisture as to rem
der physical exertion almost impossible
After dinner the men lay down in the
shade of the cool naples and declared their
unwillingness to do anything further until
late in the afternoon. They would make
up for lost time after shutdown. Dave,
however. took his fork as usual and start
ed for the field, and when the old farmer
called and urged him to wait until the
worst of the midday heat had worn away
he only shook his head and answered that
he didn't mind the heat.
Later, when the men went back to their
work, they found Dave lying in the burn
ing sun as though dead. They brought
him to the house and placed him under
my care. For many days afterward his
life hung in balance and only the most
careful nursing prevented the shock from
proving fatal. Much of the time he was
delirious and in the rawlings of his disor-
dered mind learned something of his past
history. He often cried out:
"Elsie, didn't do the deed, but they
will hang me; yes, they will hang me, for
they heard me say that would kill him.
| didn't mean what said and didn't do
it. Elsie, don't you believe me? Come
back, Elsie, come back, come backl' and
in his frantic eagerness had to hold him
down by force. His voice became almost
pathetic as he pleaded for Elsie not to turn
away with that look of horror on her face.
SIT is not the hanging, Elsie" he often
cried out. II could easily die If it were
not that you believe me guilty. Oh. that
wretched threat and that Wretched quar-
rel; but tell you, Elsie, that am limo
cent" Sometimes he would grow quiet
End murmur softly, 81 knew, dear Elsie,
That you would believe me innocent"
One morning he opened his eyes, and l
raw by his look that reason had returned.
He asked what had happened, and told
him that he had been very ILL.,. care you
The doctorf" he asked, ''and whose house
is this? was never in this room before"
/ eyaded the simple question by telling
him that he was with friends and that he
must keep quiet and talk and think as
little az possible until he grew stronger,
He promised to obey and lay back on his
pillow looked in a few minutes later
and found him sleeping calmly with
smile on his face.
He began to convalesce after this, but
the old look returned and checked some
what the progress Of returning health.
One afternoon l said: "DaFe, want to be
your friend You are in trouble. knew
that something was making you unhappy
before you became ill, but during your III
aess heard yeq refer to the cause, Do
not be afraid, but tell me all and mag hs
able to Eelp you" He opened bis honest
blue eyes with look SO sad that pitied
him as had never done before.
CDR Leonard" said he, 'did you learn
that am suspected of numbering an old