Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-04-02
"Ani that was all2" I queried, after
trying to think of something more con

tell. FIRST, ABOUT van Orden. am not
a philosopher like you, Amos, and so |
am not ashamed to say that this series of
dreams impressed me deeply. They not
only alarmed but bewildered me- Had
they been the same scene repeated-say,
the cliff would have made a vow,
and kept it, to never go near such a
place, but | could not avoid hammocks,
by-streets, banquet halls and bathrooms
as well, without being downright her
NIT"
"But you could avoid Van Orden," l
suggested.
mot absolutely, without leaving the
university. Yet determined to avoid
him as much as possible, and did so.
Mind / felt no resentment, but as days
passed on | gradually formulated the ter
rifying theory that Van Orden was des-
tined to kill me. He might kill me in a
hundred accidental ways-on the play
ground or in the gymnasium, at tabe, in
the street, am sure | thought of hun
dred possibilities. The idea took such a
hold of me that | actually turned aside
to avoid meeting him, even in crowd.
He noticed my behavior, | know, and
felt justly otfended-he has told my
friends as much-but made no expla-
nation. What could explain2 To re.
hearse my dreams as / have done to you,
and offer them as an excuse for my con
duct, would subject me to ridicule. Be-
sides, wanted him to avoid me, SO as to
reduce the chances.
~ see; and it seems to have reduced
the chances considerably. Van Orden
has not killed you"
"No, nor never will, " Frank laughed.
was rather surprised at the sudden
change of demeanor, but before | had
time to make comment, he became
grave again. -"'
"Amos," he said, with sigh, "there
is nothing in dreams. l have told you
that l have had five most vivid dreams,
so realistic that l cannot recall them
without feeling cold chill creeping over
me, aud yet they have come to naught."
"Wait Bit" objected, becoming at
once logical and argumentiye, "you can
not be certain of that. will never be-
lieve that dream is in any sense a
prophecy of good or evil, but, on your
part, you can never be certain that Van
Orden will not kill you until you are
drawing the last breath of natural
decease.'
"On, yes can, most wise logiclan!
cried Frank. ''You have omitted one
major premise-suppose Van Orden dies
first2"
ais he dead9" l cried, in turn.
For answer Frank turned up the stu
dent lamp until the light flooded the
apartment, then he took from near by
cabinet polished skull, aud stood it on
the table before him.
"This is Van Orden," he said briefly.
cyan Orden!" l repeated, recoiling
slightly.
''Don't be alarmed" said Frank, after
an outburst of merriment. | can read
your thoughts, Amos. No, did not
kill him, although an acute reasoner like
yourself might have argued that was
justified. No, poor fellow''-dropping
again into melancholy tone-"he died
natural death, if disease is NATURAL
Sand how did you become possessed
of this CHASTITY menento2"
''In roundabout but perfectly legiti-
mate manner. Van Orden--I told you,
did not2-was poor chap, working at
odd jobs here and there to pay his board
and buy the necesslries OF life during his
term, and when he died, there was no
one to bury him. He was retiring
fellow-the pride of poverty, you know
and no one knew where he lived; to
tell the truth, no one cared to inquire,
and when he was taken sick, he was too
proud to appeal to his friends for help.
So he was taken to the almshouse hos.
pital when he grew delirious from fever,
! and there he died. You know what be-
comes of pauper bodies, don't you2
Well, / missed Van Orden, but, under
the circumstances, did not care 20 inquire
about him, aud when | next saw his face
it was upturned on dissecting table"
looked at the grinning skull within
reach of my hand, and with difficulty re-
pressed shudder.
AIT was dreadful shock to me for a
moment, and then actually felt thrill
of joy, something like murderer who
has been reprieved, / imagine. But l
did not breathe entirely easy until got
this IL my posscssion"-tapping the
skull--''and it cost me pretty penny
you know skulls are expensive. l
worked over it until got it into excel
lent shape-don't you think2'
81 shouldn't care to keep it," I said,
earnestly.
Shouldn't your" said Frank, in sur
prise. at is my greatest object-lesson;
one | shall remember-as long as | live.
See what it teaches mel Here am l, a
young man5in perfect health aud sound
mind, troubled with no mystical notions,
aud a member of a profession that is
singularly free from superstition, and yet
series of disordered visions lead me to
unhappy days and restless nights, rout
my reason, aud warp mysjudgment, and
worst of all, make me cruelty suspicious
and unjust to fellow being who never
did nor never would have done me an
injury. Could any lesson be more i'm
pressivel Poor felIowl' he added,
with tears in his eyes, as he took up the
skull in his left hand, aud slowly passed
his right hand ever the Uranium. SIT
will be many days before l can forgive
myself for doing you ar injustice. Who
I knows, Amos, that if it had not not been
for those foolish dreams, l would have
been his dearest irend2'
"Who knows2" echoed, keeping my
eyes upon the skull, which had for me
singular fascination.
''He was Loble fellow, and would
have made noble friend. l wish you
had known him, Amos; you would have
fliked him. l look at this every dly,
and try to picture it as alive. His mouth,
his eyes"
"Nyhat is thatl' l asked as Frank ut
tered "a slight exclamation. ....,-..-.-.. ...,.
81 have pricked my finger in the eye
socket-a mere scratch,' he replied.
Then, rising, he put away the skull with
a sigh. "Well, well, I'll forget it in
time, Amos; but the whole affair has
certainly been epoch in my life. Take
another cigar, Amos"
Our senior delegated to me to 90 to
| Montana next day, where silver trust
was being organized, and some one was
needed to draw up the preliminary
! paDers. and it was inur weeks hpfora 7