The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-05-07
A NOVEL IN A
NUTSHELL.

No one brought into casual contact
with Edward Flint would have sus-
pected that he was of unsound mind.
None the less he was one of the most
dangerous lunatics that l had in the
X asylum.
He had been an exceptionally able
lawyer, and, up to his 10th year, had
been making a large income. over
work had, however, told upon him,
and he was suddenly seized, while i'll
the company Of some friends, with
acute homicidal mania. He had been
with me for four years, and, on the
average, had an attack of mania every
six or seven weeks. During his period
of lunacy he was so ferocious as to de-
mand constant care and supervision.
and of course. as a result, had to be de-
tanned in the asylum.
In his saner intervals no man could
have desired pleasanter companion.
and it was my constant habit to spend
half an hour or so day in his con-
genial company. One day, just before
his periodical attack, he told me the
following story, which is of such a
unique character that give it just as
he told it me- At it's conclusion,
wrought up to pitch of fury, he made
a determined attack on me, and I near
ly paid for my tale with my life, being
only rescued with difficulty by the at
tendants.
81 was what the world would call a
successful man, and on my fortieth
birthday l reckoned 1 was making over
$4,000 a year. l had always been a
lonely man and had never had the least
inclination toward female society, con-
tenting myself with my work and my
books. One day, however, had to
wait upon an old gentleman who had
recently come to our town for the pur-
pose of drawing up his will. When
this was done 1 was introduced to his
daughter, girl about 20. Ethel Mill
kin was not what might have been
called beauty; still, 1 knew at once
that had met my fate. To you, doctor,
married young and happily, it may
sound ridiculous for a middle-aged
man to be talking of love, yet to me it
was desperate fact. l will not bore
you with her description; suffice it to
say that, trembling, 1 took my leave
and went back to my Office. There
thought long and deeply over this new
phase in my life, and finally resolved
tnat, cost what it might, l would mar
~ Miss Millikin, and that if 1 couldn't
no one else should.
''It was clearly absurd for me to at
tempt to win her love in the usual way,
the disparity in our years was so great
so l decided to win her respect first.
81 took time over it and quietly inter
ested myself in her pet projects, sub
scribed to her sick fund, lent her books
and was of use to her in many ways
Already she regarded me as a very
dear friend, and, I have no doubt
would soon have learned to love me-
"One night was to take her and her
sister to the theater and had booked
three stalls. At the last minute, how
ever, to my secret joy, her sister had a
bad headache and was unable to GO
We went as arranged and 1 decided to
put my fortunes to the touch during
the performance. On our arrival the
theater was crowded and, to my in
tense annoyance, l found a young eli
ent of mine, Sir Edward Berkley, in
the next stall to ours. 1 was Obliged
to introduce him and had the mortifica
ton of seeing that Miss Millikin had
made an impression on him. What
chance had I against young, wealthy
and handsome man? And with Jealous
eyes l already saw the Chateau d'Es
Nf
reared, in ruins.
"On our return from the play Berk
ley insisted on accompanying us to Mr.
Millikin's house and was introduced
by me to him.
''The acquaintance ripened into
friendship, and friendship into love
which l was powerless to prevent; ant
one day Berkley burst into my Office
in great state of excitement and ask
ed me to congratulate him!
me, Of all men! How l managed
with impotent rage at my heart to kee1
a smooth and smiling face do no
know; but, to add to the bitter iron,
of the situation, l had to receive in
structions to draw up my successful
rivals marriage settlements. 1 coult
have cheerfully murdered him as he sa
in his chair so bright and cheerful
with the happiness of youth CLOWN,
in his face. Suddenly his face twitch
ed. and he hastily put up his hand t,
his brow.
what is it" I eagerly asked, hop
ing he might be going to be i'll.
'Nothing-only neuralgia. 1 hav,
suffered from it for years and hav,
tried everything, and seen all the doc
tors; but to no avail. So now l maxi
the best of it,
$50 saying, he got up and took hi
leave, to go and make love-curse him
to his fiancee.
mo one knows what days and night
/ spent, although l worked until m!
body was aching; my brain would no
let me sleep. roamed up and dow1
my room. planning impossible method!
of revenge. only to see the futility o1
it ALL The times are not suited fol
melodrama, and if could only watcf
and watch and-wait.
ION morAing I crawled down to the
Office feeling utterly done up and list
lessly examined my correspondence
Among it l noted one from an ole
friend who was practicing as physi
clan in Paris. Tossing the rest of the