The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-09-23
miscellaneous.
FATE'S MEASURE.

1t was an odd looking room. Plas
| ter casts and half-fnished pictures
adorned the walls. here and there Il
rough sketch. Bits of broken statu
nry, dusty rolls of canvas, an occa
siuuai piece of unmodelled clay, easels,
| palettes and brushes in hopeless con
| fusion marked this the work room of
an artist. The floor was bare except
| for a tiger-skin thrown in front OF Il
large fireplace where the cracking
hickory wood diffused u CHEEKY glow
| throughout the room. A flood of light
came in through the skylight and il
Illuminated a portrait resting on an
easel, before which Il young man was
seated, painting.
The portrait was that of youth
whose sun of boyhood had scarcely
set the face was singularly earnest,
with large blue eyes, fair hair regular
features, and an expression which
baffied description.
| The artist was Robert MERCER
| Now and then he paused, and then
| continued as if his task were painful
and difficult. Occasionally he arose
and carefully scrutinized his efforts
Suddenly the door was pushed open
and a young man entered. He greet
| ed the artist Familiarity.
"Ah, MERCER, how does the picture?
| Almost finished, | see. You promised
| to tell me the circumstances OF Blanc's
| death some time. Why not now?''
The young fellow threw off his over
coat and sat down by the fire with an
expectant air Mercier rose, leaned
one elbow on the mantel-piece, and
| gaZed steadfastly at his friend.
81 doubt if you will believe it when
told, but if you care to hear, listen.
| 1t is strange narrative And he
related the following -
knew Edmond Blanc in Paris we
! had rooms together in the Quarter
| Latin He WAS studying to become
an artist, and was very handy with
his brush. That sunset on the mantel
is his work He was not wealthy,
and II little too proud. On the other
! hand he was courteous and good
| hearted. always knew just what to
do at the right time, and II most gen
erous fellow. But he had temper
! quick. dangerous, and at times uncon-
| trollable.
One Sunday in October, late in the
afternoon. | sat in the study, wonder
| ing what had become of my chum,
when suddenly Edmond rushed into
| the room in Il perfect frenzy OF excite
ment. His manner indicated that
something frightful had occurred his
face was ashen pale, and his tremb-
| liLg hand confusively grasped small
| dagger.
He sank into q chair, and began i'll
Il wild, disconnected strain
THAT cursed tree. At last have
escaped from it ~
81 OIL nt nI
| Before | could answer, however, he
resumed:
"Mercier, listen to he. After left
YOU this morning walked toward the
country. | felt worried about those
| academy debts. and thought IL quiet
| ralnbie would do me good. l was
walking along with Fideie at my heels,
when Il thunder shower came upon
! us | looked around for some protec-
! ton from the rain, and spying Il tree
near ut hand, ran toward il. found
| there a man who had already awaited
himself of its shelter We fell into =,
conversation which laste.l long. and
! somehow was turned into political
| dispute. We both become Very angry.
Suddenly he caught he by the throat
and pulled out u dagger. | snatched
it from him, but by an unexpected
twist the point pierced his side, and
he fell ut my feet, dead. Oh, MERCER,
] am a murderer -
Here the poor fellow covered his
face with his hands and groaned.
After awhile he went on
but this isn't all. After this horri-
BILE thing happened | turned to come
home, and us | looked behind me-
swear it is true there close at my
| back. was that tree following me. |
thought | was the victim of some
CHASTITY hallucination, and tried to
reason myself out of it; but it is true,
shadow. At times had TO run. for
was afraid it would fall on me- Thank
| Heaven, / have left it outside ~
Then he would say no more, moth
| ing about the man he had left for
dead, nothing of the possible conse-
Quences of his deed, and it occurred
to me that it was all Il miserable mis-
| take, temporary alteration induced
! by over work and worry.
AS he seemed completely exhausted
| by excitement. | persuaded him to re-
tire An hour later, as he slept peace
| fully, | examined the dagger still lying
on the study table. 1t bore no signs
of recent use ; it was Il small bit OF
pointed steel, such as the women of
medieval times were accustomed to
carry concealed about them. 1retired
fully believing that the next day
would clear up the mystery.
The next morning | was awakened
early by hearing Blanc calling Inc. |
hurried to his room. There he was
before the open window, which faced
the thoroughfare, gazing with indie
scribable horror at something outside.
What is it % asked, running to
him
''Oh," he cried, there is that cursed
tree in the middle of the street, and
people don't seem TO mind it-they
pass right by. Sect waves its arms
toward mem
l looked where he pointed, but /
could see nothing.
"Some strange fancy has take pos
session of your BRAIN" l said.
He turned to me with a look of I'M
uttcrable agony, and l shall never
forget his face as he said with stern,
aim st fierce emphasis
You speak falsely You must be
blind, stone blind, if you cannot see
it ~