Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-05-09


with shame. Viewing myself in the
lurid mirror of those dark eyes,
saw myself rs others SEQ mo. Ncvor
has an author been SO at the mercy
of n critic before.
Il claim no marvellous foresight, :"
WanlCSS said Stcrnly. Lot us try
again. Hero is another story, called
A Strange Coincidence. Mood | say
that 1t rofOrS to u singular dream of
n deserted vito which makes such
an impression upon her that she tel
egraphS her husband not to 20 near
II certain place at timc named. He
diSrogardS tho warming and is muir
dorcd. Again, l will ask you to cor
rect mo if / am mistaken"
"W"l, you arc this time" said
rs chccrfully rs possible. Tho hus.
band rcfrainS, and somo ono mis-.
taken for him is done to death"
This little point in my favor ron.
dcrCd mo moro cheerful. Twas about
to give vent to some little jou d esprit
when my companion gavo u cry of
rago and horror, at tho Same time
dashing the book to tho ground. Il
know It, " he shouted rs he bounded
to his foot Il know that should
como across it in that cursed vol.
umo. l cannot cvcn get away from
1t i'll my solitary retreat. Is there
no originality in the craft at all:
HCro 1t Is in your volume called BIZ
Mental Telegraph. Tho tito explains
tho story. Oh, l know that mystcri
GUS, slender, beautiful maiden, Will
her visions and Authorizations, but
too woll-tho psychological sirc1
who has driven mo to madness. She
RECEIVERS whom she gets a husband
and becomes model queen of tn,
nursery ever aftorward. But l shall
always DO tho samo. 1t is you anC
your class who arc responsible fol-
this. You must die"
With the last word ringing on hi.
lips WanlcSs flow at mo and bore
mo to tho ground. Strong as was
l was poworless III his grasp, for tn,
mailman possessed the strength of
dozen beings at that moment.
could feel his hot breath upon my
face as he bont over me.
You arc one of tho ficndS who hay,
robbed mo of my reason" he hiss
ed. You arc ono of the successful
hacks who dress up old tales and try
to galvanizo paralytic corpscs int
life until the gibbering dead face,
mock us to insanity. Oncc deemed
the world to be fresh and bright
but tho weary mOnOtony of tho nov
els I Cravcd for made me what am
Mako tho most of your time YOl
will never leave this room alive. a.
n duty to my follow sufferers l an
going to rid tho world of one scrib
bling fiend tonight"
/ tried to oNpOstulate, but tn,
words died on my lips. WanlcS
bcnt over mo and gripped my throa
with ConvulSive force. The strength
of despair came back to mo as re
allied that we wcrc III that Solitar,
place alone, and that my life depend
ed upon my own efforts. We rolloC
over and over, but Wanless was al
ways uppermOHt. From time to tim,
compelled him to rclinquish hi
grip The sudden rush of air to III,
lungs caused me TO feel sick and diz
zy. But the contest was bound tC
end In one way, for as I became
weaker my antagonist gathered fresh
vigor.
1T Is useless, he cried triumph
antly. "Hou have got to die.
l knew it, but would not dospar,
And then, rs l commenced to fail
there camo n sound welcome rs 6
voice from hcavcn-tho sound OF
Bellamy's step in tho hall. He tried
the door, only to find it fast He
shouted, and i'll response came fee
bic gurSlc from me. Bellnmy wasted
no further time. Something told
him that he had arrived in time tC
prevent n terrible tragedy. As Bel
lamy's whole weight broke in tho
door WanlcSs gave mo squeeze
that caused tho countless stars t
dance and flicker before my eyes
Then sleep peaceful and childlillc.
When l came to myself again,
was in bed. The windows wcro opcr
to tho breeze, n glorious sun was
shining, and Bcllamy stood respect
fully before me. On tho whole, felt
lttlo the worse for my adventure.
Il am extremely sorry for what
has happened, sir" Bollamy said pc,
litely. Tho people here know moth,
ing. and shall esteem it a persona,
favor if you will preserve our Sc
crct. l ought perhaps to have told
you, sir"
But what on earth is tho matter
with Mr.. WanlcSS?" / asked.
well, sir Bethany said defer.
entially, my masters namo is no,
Wanlcss at all He is Mr. Cultshaw,
tho critic and eSSayiSt who used &c
be reader to McSsrs. Gilley, the
great publishers. OF course YOU
know him by namc, sir. Two years
ago the poor gentleman had brain,
| fever from oVcrwOrk, and he's never
been the same since. If he has three
glasses of wine, he's quite mad.
Usually he is harmless enough, hut
when excited he has perfectly
morbid hatred of magazine writer's.
! He attributes his maladv TO reading
the same class of story with what he
calls the same motif over and oven
again. He did not know you by
| Sinht md iMlnnl 1niStnnl. rn,,r nn.,,.