The Portland daily press., 1894-05-07
A MELOMANIAC.

fact that one of their number has become
deranged. They say of the afflicted man
that he is transferred to the thirteenth,
for it is statistically true that every thlr-
tenth man succunlbs to the severe mental
strain required for a successful completion
of the prescribed course. Rene Tavern1er
graduated at the head of his class and was
consequently free to embrace the civil Ca
reer. To every ones surprise, he preferred
to enter the artillery. In all scientific re-
uuirenents he ranked pre-eminent, but his
records for military tactics and horseman'
ship were deplorable, as was also his want
of neatness and discipline. He would ap'
pear on parade without a collar or minus
his buttons, which usually only chung to
him by thread. He would answer roll
call long after the drum had ceased beat
ing and then wonder why his appearance
should create such disturbance.
In his opinion the captain had queer
way of instructing the men.
IN Tavernier, you will report for two
days under arrest. Return to the line. You
do not know your lesson.
"Permit me te remark, captain, that
this is hardly tho way to teach it to me-"
"You may take four days more.
"Delighted, captain, to see that you ap-
preciate the justice Of my remark.
Why this singular fellow had chosen a
military career was a mystery to his COM
panions, who even then considered him
Slightly off. ;"
Once assigned to regiment, matters
were infinitely worse. Arrests rained upon
his Indifferent head, for he whiled away
his hours of captivity by solving intricate
problems destined for publication, works
which gained for him complimentary let
tiers from the leading mathematical lights
of Paris
When I met TaveTnier, he was with the
Eighth artillery, stationed at Metz He
seemed placid enough, but his wide open
ewes had a somewhat restless glance and
his eccentricities had already become pro-
verbal in the regiment
He occupied an apartment consisting OF
small bedroom and an enormous parlor:
,cantily furnished with grand piano
placed between the two windows and
round table in one corner. This arrange
ment of things removed all useless obsta-
cles which Tavernier might have encoun-
tered in his endless walk up and down.
On the table were invariably placed bot
tie of absinthe, one Of strip, decanter OF
water, glasses and plates heaped with
sweets and cakes. His orderly had 1nstruc-
tions to rerlenish these provisions every
morning, for each afternoon they were con-
sumed by bevy of pretty actresses, chorus
girls and ballerinas whom the crazy cap
tain,'' as they called him, invited to a five
O'Clock"
These ladies, in more or less startling
gowns seemed to enjoy these gatherings,
where they dissected their neighbors' repu-
JoI boo and
bibed sweet wines, while their host, hands
clasped behind his back, walked through
the long extent of the room.
In summer he wore a long coat OF light
figured material; in winter, wadded silk
kimono. Turkish shoes curved up at the
toes and smoking cap jauntily poised
upon the back of his head completed his
singular attire
Passing by each group, he had word
for each fair friend "Dear lady, why did
YOU not come yesterday? I was SO uneasy
about YOU" my dear, you are positively
bewitching in that hat" Couldn't per-
suade my charming friend, to nibble just
one more little cake?" etc. Then, relaps-
ing into his habitual silence, he would
continue his walk, completely absorbed in
thought.
Nothing ever occurred at these somewhat
eauivocal gatherings that would not have
been considered perfectly correct in the
best society. Only once the usual calm was
disturbed by little variety actress, who,
in spirit of fun, had brought Turkish fez
with her AS the captain passed her she
whipped off his cap and substituting the
fez exclaimed, Behold the pasha!"
A general laugh greeted this sally. Tav-
ernier, at first surprised at this lack of re-
spect, tore off the offending headdress. He
grew pale. Such terrible expression crept
into his eyes that the light hearted culprit
trembled in fear, and her companions NO
longer laughed.
At length, pointing to the door, Taver-
nier thundered forth these three words,
which sounded like an anathema from
heaven:
"Leave my presence!
At the stroke of Tavernier brusquely
stopped in his walk
"My dears" said he, ''it breaks my heart
to interrupt your conversation, but am
forced to beg fer five minutes silence"
He opened the window sat down before
the piano, played for two or three minutes,
then leaned forward anxiously listening
to the sounds without.
Evidently satisfied, he returned to the
Instrument and again executed several
bars, then closed the window and Bapidly
wrote something in his notebook.
eNow, my dears, pray continue youl
charming chatter"
His feminine friends had not failed te
comment upon the apparent GOODNESS Of
their host. whose friendship they would
have been willing enough to meet more
than half way. He, however, was evident
ly satisfied with their multitudinous pres
ence and had never evinced an individual
preference.
In fact, he was desperately in love. OPP
posite his hose lived N. Vernon, whose
young wife was the object of Tavernier'
alteration s5trauge to say, he had never
spoken to her and had barely seen her.
One evening her pretty silhouette had ap-
peared outlined against the curtains That
WAS all
But the sounds of her piano had often