St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-10-14

us there anything new in the case"
| asked.
"Everything is new" he replied.
Then he put on the cloak of his pro
fessional manner which disguises senti-
ment perceived at once that some
thing unusual had happened to Hall, and
that my friend had been deeply affected
by it.
DEATH" said to myself, land prob
ably by his own hand"
Again we were in the doctors study,
and in my old place ready to listen.
"You remember" DR.. Mayer began,
"that | told you Of Clarence's love- The
young lady in question was Miss Char.
lotte Warren, of New Haven"
"Daughter of Sam Warren, president
of the Connecticut Northern Railroad?
have met her. She is by all odds the
prettiest girl in the State
81 honestly believe she is. Well,
Clarence used to call on her about three
times week. They were engaged, of
course. Last Friday evening he was in
| New Haven and he remained at the house
later than usual. In fact, when he took
his departure there wasn't much time in
which to catch his train. He believed
that by running he could make better
time than by riding. So he took q
straight cut for the station. His way
one point led him through a rather
tough part of the city and brought him
upon an exciting adventure.
at seems that little fellow who was
out late selling papers was being tor
mented by a big brute for what reason I
| didn't learn. guess that innate cussed-
ness was the only real explanation. Clar-
ence interfered to save the boy, at the
risk of losing his train. He didn't risk
anything else, as you know, having seen
him. Somehow the tough didn't see
/ Clarence quite SO clearly. His name, l
remember, was MCGEE. Well Mr.. Nc
Gee resented Clarence's interference
Clarence was perfectly cool. To him it
was only dream and could have but
one termination. He seized Mr.. McGee
and in second the ruffian was standing
on his head in the mud. He got upon
his feet again and drew pistol. Clar-
ence took it away from him and, lifting
him clear of the ground, rammed him
head foremost into an empty ash barrel.
When Mr.. MCGEE had extricated himself
he appeared to be satisfied.
You run home, now,' said Clarence
to the little boy.
81 daren't, said the boy, hell foller
me an lick me-
This view of the case appeared quite
reasonable to Clarence. He looked at
MCGEE and then at the boy and quickly
made his decision.
"Tll 60 with you,' said he. They
passed through many dirty streets, and
still the boy said home was long way
off. You can 90 alone, now, said Clar-
ence. That fellow can't find YOU For
answer the boy pointed in the direction
whence they had come. On the other
side of the street a bulky figure stood in
the shadow. 80 he's after u.s. said
Clarence 'He amt after you, said the
boy, grinning; hes had all he wants O.
you. It's me he's after
$50 they went on together, and at last
arrived at the door of a fairly good
house. Here Clarence would have said
good Knight, but the boy begged him to
90 in and receive his mothers thanks
In the little fellows eyes Clarence had
become hero. The sound of their
voices brought woman to the door,
The boy instantly poured forth his story,
and the woman's gratitude was unbound
ed. She did not, however, neglect to
scold the boy for remaining out so late,
against her oft-repeated orders, as she
declared. She prevailed upon Clarence
to come into the house for minute, and
there, in the light of the lamp, he found
himself face to face with his former
landlady, Mrs. Rogers.
"She new him instantly, and renewed
with greater fervor the expression of her
gratitude.
$50 you didn't recognize Harry she
cried. well, he has grown wonder
fully since we moved down here
''She told him the entire family history
of course, and it was nearly 2 o'clock
when he rose to go. But she wouldn't
hear of such a thing. He couldn't find
his way back, he would be robbed and
murdered he must be half tired to death.
One at least of these arguments was
valid; it would have been very hard for
him to find his way to the station. So
the upshot was he consented to spend the
night in Mrs. Rogers spare room. He
was asleep as soon as he touched the bed,
and daylight had long since come when
he awoke.
"For some minutes the shadow of
sleep oppressed him, and then slowly,
with deadly accuracy of detail, the pres
ent scene made itself perceived. He lay
in the same rude bed, the same dull,
yellow walls stared at him, the same taw-
dry furniture Knocked him. He had re-
turned to the old life. The dream was
done
"By what device of Satan it happened |
that the room was almost an exact re-
production of that in which he had suf- |
Tered in the old days, l cannot say, but |
such was the case The Rogers family |
had brought their furniture with them
from New York, and had stocked the
spare room with their best, which had
been Clarence's in the days of his pow
erty.
''He did not question the immediate
evidence of his senses. That room had
oeen the hardest link in the chain which
lad bound him to reality. He could not
lream there. He had dreamed of escap-
ng from it, and Of living in uninter-
'upted fancy for months. The wealth,
he freedom, the love that he had found
II dreamland were taken from him in a
econd
II do not wonder at what followed.
Clarence arose, and, having partly
dressed, sat down beside the table in the
enter Of the room and buried his face
n his hands. He has as much courage
IS most men, think, but not enough to
year this. Mind you, his delusion was