Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-19
UNDER A CLOUD.

l was stopping at Lakeside when I
met DR.. Leonard, and nfesponse to
his invitation spent mahS pleasant.
hours in his coy bachelor apart
ments One evening after returning
from a patient and seating himself
before the fire TO the enjoyment of
last cigar before retiring for the night.
he told me the following story:
A few years ago / left the care of
my patients 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 faith
er's estate. 1t proved much more
troublesome than l expected and de-
tanned me in the old place for several
weeks During the time | was a
guest at a farm house at the edge Of
the village where an old friend of the
family resided.
According to the good custom of
the people Of that section of the
country, all the attaches of the farm
were counted as members of the
household and dined together at the
same large table. 1t was early harv-
5st time and the family was increased
by a number of temporary farm help
who were hireu for the busy part of
the season. Among these was a
young fellow of about twenty. of fair
complexion, broad, intelligent brow,
hut of cast OF cOuntenance express.
I'VE OF deep melancholy.
The men were a joyial set and
filed in the bits of leisure at meal
time and after the days work was
over in recounting their numerous ex-
perienCes, This man, however never
shared in their hilarity but sat
silently apart in dark portion Of the
room until time for retiring. l in
duired who he was, and was told that
his name was Dave: they bad never
learned his surname, i'm fact, they
bad never asked about il.
Dave had come early in May and
had engaged for the season. He was
an excellent worker, they testified,
but very reticent, never speaking ex-
cept in answer to a question, or when
IL 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
performing more than two good men.
They did not understand him, but
hoped that he could be hired for an
other season.
became deeply interested in this
Dave and resolved TO make study of
his character and, if possible, win
him over to more cheerful view Of
life I began to address him when
ever we met on various topics con-
cerning his work, but although l re-
Ceived courteous answers, was wholly
unable to get him into conversation.
He seemed to be brooding over some
painful idea that refused him a mo-
ment's respite. noticed the restive,
nervous energy with which he
worked, as if only the most labori-
Gus effort could keep down an inward
demon of thought. He continually
wore look of depression, and some
times in the dim light Of the corner
where he sat after the day's work was
done l fancied l perceived tears in
his eyes and a look of agony in his
face, but he said nothing l began
to think that he was one Of those
enigmatic beings upon whose spirit
some hidden disease had shed an
eternal melancholy, anil that perhaps
there was no conrcetc cause for his
reuicence and gloom.
One day the sun rose warmer than
usual, and by noon the air had be-
come so charged with heat and moist
ure as to render physical exertion
almost impossible. After dinner the
men lay down in the shade Of the
cool NAPLES and declared their IN
willingness to do anything further
until late IN the afternoon. They
would make up for lost time after
sundown. Dave, however, took his
fork as usual and started for the field,
and when the old farmer called and
urged him to wait until the worst of
the midday heat had WORE away he
only shook his head and answered thai
ne didn't mind the heat.
Later, when the men went back to
their work, they found Dave lying IN
the burning 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 deiirious, and in the rawlings Of
MS dSordered mind 1 learned some-
thing Of his past history. He otter
cried out:
Elsie, I didn't do the deed, but
theY Will hang me- ,0r they heard me
say that l would kill him I didn't
mean what said, and didn't do it,
Elsie, don't you believe me9 Come
back, Elsie; come back, come back"
ana III his frantic cagerness l had to
hold him down by force. His voice
occame almost pathetic as he pleaded
ior Elsie not to turn away with that
ioaH OF horror on her face. ut is
not. the hanging. Elsie" he often
Hu OUT. Il could easily de II 10
tSfe not that you believe me guilty.
On, that wretched threat and that
EieCched sd quarrel; but 1 tell YOU,
Elsie that l am Innocent" Some
ti'nes he would grow quiet and muir
mur softly; II kneg, dear Elsie.
'nat you would believe me innocent"
o2e morning he opened his ewes.
ana saw by his look that reason had
returned. BE asked what had han-
penea, and l told him that he had
eesn very Ill tAEe you the doctor?n