The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-09
An HOUR OF TORTURE

Napoleon Whites was a happy man.
Napoleon was a shining light IN Morning
dale. He had studied law, he had studied
theology, and he had studied medicine,
but as his father had left him in possession
of a goodly estate he had not yet decided
to which Of the grand professions he should
lend the glory Of his name.
But one thing Napoleon Whif8es had
done-he had married.
Like a star of the first magnitude had
Amantha Jessup dawned upon the social
horizon OF MorningdaIe. None had known
her previous to her advent, but there were
those who had known her progenitors in
the other years
His heart had been offered up, and the
Offering had been accepted, and, moreover,
Amantha had given her own heart in ex-
change.
Napoleon sat in his studio. It was a
large room on the lower floor, overlooking
a broad garden. Napoleon sat there,
smoking a richly colored Ineersohaum, his
mind busy in framing castles in the clouds
of smoke, when Amantha entered.
My angel is going out2' he said, when
she had kissed him.
Yes, darling, but not for long. shall
soon return, and when come back you
must let me come and sit with you here.
ana only perfectly happy when I am with
my love.
Amantha went away, and Napoleon
pushed his pipe aside.
Poor foOIsl'' he muttered to himself
They would have cast suspicious upon
my angels character They would have
made me doubt herl Verify, they have
their reward, and I have mine"
He had spoken thus, when the door
communicating with the hall was unoero-
moniously opened and a stranger entered.
Napoleon arose There was something in
the appearance of the stranger that filed
him with awe.
Pardon me, sir, for this intrusioni
Ny business is of Importance. Your name,
sir
Napoleon Whites"
"Ah, thought sol But be sested-bs
seated"
s'Mr Whites, you wonder why I am
here? I saw a lady leave this house-a
lady beautiful-beautiful without but,
alas, within
"Holdl'' interrupted Napoleon. ''Rfy
wife has but just left me-
II feared it. Her dress was Of blue, her
mantle Of white Grape, her bonnet gossa-
mer spray, her tresses golden, her eyes
heavenly blue, her''-
"Enoughl" again interrupted Napoleon.
g You have described my Amantha.'
The stranger wrung his hands.
ALAS, another unfortunate duped and
betrayed
Napoleon started to his feet.
Mr.. Whif1es 1 seek no vengeance on
you. Behold in me Emil Blenheim. Once
I was for a time Withdrawn from the
realms Of science, attracted by an earthly
spirit That earthly spirit dwelt in the
form of Amantha Jessup. L told her of my
love, and she reciprocated it. We were
married. A few short months of bliss-a
few ecstatic months-and she left ne
bore away my jewels-broke my heart.
don E blame you. Nor shall my hand rend
the fair flesh of the woman who has be-
trayed US both. But the law shall decide
between us. -
Fun half an hour WHITES sat in his
chair with his head bent forward upon the
table Finally he arose and went with tot
tering steps to his cabinet and from one
Of the drawers took pistol. He cooked it,
but he hesitated.
mo. This is too CHASTITY work. It
shall be moro quiet
He put back the pistol and from another
drawer he took a morocco case in which
were a score Of tiny walls.
He went to the sideboard, and into a
goblet poured a generous measure of wine,
and into the wine he poured half the con
tents OF the vial, then set the goblet upon
the table before him.
He had grasped the goblet, when the
door OF his room was a second time unoer-
enormously opened. He looked up and be-
held an elderly gentleman with a benevo-
lent aspect accompanied by two stout serv-
ing men.
81 beg your pardon, sir, - said the elder
ly gentleman, "but this intrusion is not
without cause. You have had visitor
within an hOuFg''
'BlenheimT' suggested Napoleon.
The elderly gentleman smiled, and the
two stout serving men nodded.
My dear Mr.. Whites, by that name I
recognize my patient, though he has no
legal claim to it. Can you tell me whittier
he has gene2'
He left me half an hour ago. What Of
him? Who is heg''
"A patient escaped from our insane asy-
1um at Worcester. His name is Jarvis
Thorn burn. A railroad accident, by which
he was seriously injured and his wife,
whom he devotedly loved, was killed, com
ing upon him at a time when his mental
powers had been strained to their utmost,
completely unseated his reason. Poor fell
low His greatest suffering consists in
the impression that his wife has deserted
him. -
And, - ventured Napoleon, che some
times takes other men IS wives for his?''
Yes, and that phase of his insanity is
the one we have chiefly to guard against.
He never sees a beautiful woman that he
does not claim her as his wife
! He had just poured the fatal contents Of
the goblet out Of the window when the
door was opened for the third time, and
/ Amantha, radiant in her loneliness stood
i befOre him Nav York News