Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-05-28
Washin9tun Standard
A NOVEL IN A
NUTSHELL

No one brought into casual contact
with Edward Flint would have suS-
pcctcl that he was of un>ound mind.
None the less he was one ri the most
dangerous lunatic> that had in the
n asylum.
He had been Al exceptionally able
lawyer, and, up t" his 10Th year, had
been making large income. Over
work had, however, told upon him,
and he was suddenly seized, while in
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 lunacv he was so ferocious as to de-
mand constant care and supervision,
and Of course, as result, had to be
detained 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 day i'll 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 1 give it just as
he told it me. At its conclusion,
wrought up to pitch of fury, he made
determined attack on me, and !
nearly paid for my tale with my life,
being only rescued with difficulty by
the attendants.
al was what the world would call a
successful man, and on my fortieth
birthday l reckoned / was making
over $4,000 year. l had always been
a lonely man and had never had the
least inclination toward female society,
contenting myself with my work and
my books. One day, however, l had
to wait upon an old gentleman who
had recently come to our town for the
purpose of drawing up his will. When
this was done l was introduced to
to his daughter, girl about 90 Ethel
Millikin was not what might have
been called beauty; still, l knew at
once that had met my fate. To you,
doctor, married young and happily, it
may sound ridiculous for 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, I took my
leave and went back to my Office
There I thought long and deeply over
this new phase in my life, and finally
resolved that, cost what it might, /
would marry 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 I decided to win her respect
first.
IL took time over it and quietly in
terested myself in her pet projects,
subscribed 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.
zone night I was to take her and
her sister to the theater and had
booked three stalls. at the last min
ute, however, to my secret joy, her
sister had bad headache and was UNI
able to 60. We went as arranged and
I decided to put my fortunes to the
touch during the performance. On
our arrival the theater was crowded
and, to my intense annoyance, found
a young client of mine, Sir Edward
Berkeley, in the next stall to ours. I
was obliged to introduce him and had
the modification of seeing that Miss
Millikin had made an impression on
him. What chance had against a
young, wealthy and handsome man?
And with jealous eyes already saw
the Chateau d'Espagne of love, that I
had so carefully reared, in ruins.
"On our return from the play Berk.
ley insisted on accompanying us to
Mr.. Milliken's house and was intro
duced by me to him.
"The acquaintance ripened into
friendship, and friendship into love,
which I was powerless to prevent; and
one day Berkeley burst into my Office
in q great state of excitement and
asked me to congratulate him!
"Me, of all men! How I managed
with impotent rage at my heart to
keep a smooth and smiling face do
not know; but, to add to the bitter
irony of the situation, had to receive
instructions to draw up my successful
rivals marriage settlements. 1 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 twiched,
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.
"Nothing-only neuralgia. have
suffered from it for years and have
tried everything, and seen all the doc
tors; but to no avail. So now make
the best of it, n
$50 saying, he got up and took his
leave, to 60 and make love-curse him!
tn his fianpne