The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-05-20
A NOVEL IN A
NUTSHELL.

No one brought into casual contact
with Edward Flint would have Sus-
pected that he was of unSound mlnd.
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, a
been making a large income. over
work had, however, told upon MIN,
and he was suddenly seized, While IN
the of some friends, with
acute homicidal mania. He had been
with me for our 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 a ~pleasanter companion,
and it was my constant habit to spend
half an hour or so a 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 its conclusion,
wrought up to a pitch of fury, he made
q determined attack on me, and 1 near
ly paid for my tale with my life, being
only rescued with difficulty by the at
o tepdantS.
q was what the world would call a
successful man, and or my fortleth
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 n my
books. One day. however. l 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 | was introduced to his
daughter, a girl about 20. Ethel Milli-
kin was not what might have been
called a beauty; still, l knew at once
that l 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 a desperate fact. l will not bore
you with her description; suffice it to
say that, trembling, L took my leave
and went back to my office. There l
thought long and deeply over this new
phase in my life. and finally resolved
that. cost what it might, l would mar
nv Miss Millikin, and that if | couldn't
no one else should.
1T 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 1 decided to win her respect first.
Il 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, l have no doubt,
would soon have learned to love me
Zone night 1 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 | decided to
put nv fortunes to the touch during
the performance. On our arrival the
theater was crowded and, to my in
tense annoyance, | found a young eli
ent of mine, Sir Edward Berkeley, in
the next stall to ours. l was obliged
to introduce him and had the mortifica-
ton of seeing that Miss Millikin had
made an impression on him. What
chance had L against a young, wealthy
and handsome man? And with jealous
eyes | already saw the Chateau DIES
payne of love, that L had so carefully
reared, in ruins.
ION our return from the play Berk-
ley insisted on accompanying us to Mr..
Millikin's house and was introduced
by me to him.
1.-The acquaintance ripened into
friendship, and friendship into love,
which / was powerless to prevent; and
one day Berkeley burst into my Office
in a 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 keep
a smooth and smiling face l do not
know; but, to add to the bitter irony
of the situation, l had to receive in
structions to draw up my successful
rivals marriage settlements. l could
have cheerfully murdered him as he sat
in his chair so bright and cheerful,
with the happiness of youth glowing
in his face. Suddenly his face twitch-
ed, and he hastily put up his hand to
his brow.
what is it?' I eagerly asked. hop
ing he might be going to be i'll.