The record-union., 1894-04-14
The Man With a DiehrOtic Pulse.

Copyright, 1894, by Edgar L. Wakeman. All
rights reserved.
As Mr. Slipson Cogleigh had invented
something in the line of machinery which
made him very rich in properties and
exceedingly poor in health, he possessed
certain testamentary possibilities neces-
sary to be closely looked after by those
nearest him in ties of kinship and inter-
est.
He was still a young man in years, but
very old one in mental and bodily SUI
fering. He had been too absorbed IN
money getting to provide himself with
wife, children and home as partial and
potent defense against those who had de-
cided that his gainings should be theirs,
and consequently relatives had taken
possession of his person and made his
life wretched with their wranglings for
preference.
He had really made several desperate
though futile efforts to escape from the
bondage which his riches imposed, but
his stomach had failed him early in his
career, neuralgia overlook him at SUBJ
sequent period and the rackings OF rheu-
nlatism had followed. Besides this, as
any one could see from the lateral nncon-
trollable motion of his hand when writ
ing, inordinate use of coffee, tea, tobacco
or other stimulant, had given him what
those most interested termed dichrotlc
pulse. and this was chiefly relied upon
to carry Mr.. Slipson Cogleigh off at any
convenient moment,
His poor relations, like all poor rela-
IL hn-f Of hoo q
found himself no match for them IN cum
ming and contrivance, and he at last per-
force became resigned to a lingering death
in the society of those who, on the prln-
ciple of the sarviYal of the httest, had
been most ingenious, most vigorous ana
most daring in warfare upon each other
and in assaults upon his personal liberty,
until the narrowing circle OF 1nexorabIe
prisonnent surrounding him had been
reduced to the small though alert and
vigilant party which accompanied him to
the little known but marvellous baths OF
Furnas. in the Island of st. Michael,
among the far and dreamtul Azores.
The lnemb bers of this surviving heroic
band-for there was a touch OF herolsm
in each individual purpose from their va
rious standpoints OF motive and action
were disposed at convenient distance
from Mr. Cogleigh and his man-servant,
upon the promenade deck OF steamer,
which was now rounding the nights OF
Point Delgada and making its entrance
into the artificial harbor of Ponta Delga-
da, the third city III size and importance
in Portugal and the Azores.
Before them the quaint old city strag-
eled to the right and left like check
cred ribbon OF pink and blue, creeping
prettily out and up over pleasant ways
of almost tropical yerdure and bloom, to-
ward circling group of high and SER
rated outlying hills. Fine old Doric
structures crept in through the film of
distance, and gradually were disclosed
the sunny streets, OYershadowed now
and then by massive cupola, ungalnly
dome or delicate minaret, opening out
and on, past tower of church or ancient
campanile, to the tar and lovely quintas
and villas OF the rich, like white tecks
against the neatnery mountain SldeS De-
yond.
They saw, too the lazily shifting
threads OF Azorean lite, the just arrived,
low-lying Government mail steamer Irom
Lisbon, with the frantic demonstrations
and regard from thousands OF islanders
upon The quays and scuddiDg, budding
small boats, swarming about; queer look
ing craft laden with the fine, sleek cattle
from ST. Mary's and manned by hairy
lot armed with oxgoads like the pixies OF
Spanish picadors; strange Mediterranean
brigs and brigantines, suggesting the
days of Algerlne pIracles; cumDrous
lighters with their single sails OF mating,
laden with gaudily painted island pot
tery: New Bedford whalerS on their way
TO home ports; London fruit packets
which have made OF the Azores an odor-
Gus market garden for England, ali inter
SperSed with customs offlcerS' DoatS, To-
bacco boats and beggar boats lnnumera-
BILE, and the guadanos Of the touters tor
the shadowy old Ponta Delgada inns,
- >. o19 m IlInr~ .
ma minha casa eSJa nOlte! tnat is &c
lodge at my house this night" rose
shrill and clear above ali other discord-
ant sounds, carrying undoubted pledge
OF welcome to every soul upon every ln'
coming craft.
The impressions upon the sCogleigh
party were varying and various, but
they all took on iorm ana seeming
through the one predominant object OF
their journey.
tAh., exclaimed bland old Manoel
Periera. Mr.. Cogleigh's Portuguese man
servant, with kIndhng eyes, as he tucked
the rugs q little closer about the lnYallu
and apparently quoted from some OLD
island ballad ''tne glories that beglrl
You Will surely be new man, Mr.
Cogleigh, before you nave known my
blessed island of ST. Michael for three
balmy months!'
..If l could get rid of portion o.
them," with hopeless gesture toward
certain of his watchful retlnue, Il might
Manoel. 1 fervently pray for poth."
"a meni" responded Manoel. softly
giving the rugs another kindly tucking.
"Ughi They're lot OF savages!" In-
sisted Miss Betsy, commonly Betty Gam
per- one of the active constituents OF the
near and vigilant group. She was Mr.
Cogleigh's maiden aunt, who had beaten
off all other representatives of her side OF
tile family in the battle for the invalid
wealth. "Pve sacrificed the best years
of my life watching over Shpson, ano
now I'm dragged Oft here TO keep on sac
rIficing and suffering. But he'll pay fol
il. He'll pay for it, mind you!
This was largely warning 10 her com
nanions that Betsy Camper was not 10 be-
iaken Oft her guard. even in the Azores
and il reused Mrs. Broadbreadth Drug
pet. beside her, 10 reassertion OF bel
claims and to cue notice OF her deter
mined intentions.
Mrs. Drugget was only an aunt by mar.
rjaoe 10 the invalid. but her victory hac
heeu in making her home his hospita
and iail. as we'll as the domlciIe, at excel
lent rates, of the other members OF thi
narty who were brayely remaining witt
t,ogieigh until his dlcnrotic pulse shoule
Owe auiet nnish to his affairs.
..Hunph.'' retorted Mrs. Drugget, witt
the superior air of superior martyr
s.talk about sacrificing! If you'd beei