The Van Buren press., 1899-05-06
THE TIMELESS MAN
z~-I

startled b the news of the tragic
end OF Godfrey Warren, whose sudden
accession to xasf wealth had been the
talk Of society. The true story of his
death was never told, but il was known
that he died mysferiously and alone.
One of Mr.. NarTen's descendants now
Offers us the following yeritable record
OF the strange circumstances which led
10 his unhappy ancestors miserable
eId. 1t is d weird tale that viii linger
long in the memory.
Godfrey Warren suffered from one of
The most singular hallucinafions the
world has ever known. He believed
II at so far as he was concerned time
went infinitely faster than with other
people. In the midst of a conversation,
with his mind seemingly intent upon
tie subject discussed, he would inter
rupt the speaker to consult his watch;
then, replacing it in his pocket, he
would nod with an exclamation of i'm
patience, as If annoyed at the fight
of time. His mind travelled with the
rapidity of lightning from one subject
TO another, until tlength sspeech lost
coherency and became unintelligible.
He had been an inyeterate smoker; now
he no longer indulged in this recrea-
ton; he had no time. His fayorite
books, his violin, which he played with
considerable skill, lay neglected. Mean
while he rushed about breathlessly,
with the air of a man to whom the loss
of a moment meant death.
go Slow said his family physician.
81 can't" the young man would re-
spond with a sigh; there is so much
for me to do"
1t was at this period that his friends,
solicitous for his welfare, persuaded
him to put himself into the hands of
physicians. Worn out by their en-
treaties and his own fears, Warren
finally consented. After lengthy con-
sulfation, the tribunal decided that, as
the reckoning of time appeared to be
his sole malady. the remedy lay In his
being placed in quiet locality and de-
prived of the records of passing events
Perfect seclusion for the patient, they
argued. would bring mental repose
And his fathers old friend, Prof. Her
bert, agreed to take charge of him.
Warren proved docile patient. He
parted with his watch willingly, and
abandoned himself, without regret, to
the rules prescribed for him.
Accompanied by the professor and
his daughter, he arrived safely at the
retreat. So intent was he upon being
cured of his mania that on their journey
Warren had failed TO note revolutions
of the carriage wheels, and had even
become interested in the young girl
who regarded him curiously, as she
might new planet.
The apartment assigned to him was a
large circular room, flooded with sun
light. The walls were hung with charts
OF the heavens, while on the floor were
spread Persian rugs of brilliant and in
tricate designs. Altogether Warren
was pleased with his new quarters
Certainly it was pleasant room. Yet
there was something missing.
He frowned slightly; then his eyes
fell upon sun dial of ancient pattern
He quickly turned away, affecting
not TO have noticed it. The professor
and the girl retired, and as he heard
them descend the circular stairway he
smiled. His eyes were fixed upon the
dial, and dream of joy lit them. lie
would be able, with practice, to calcu
late the exact time of day. He could
have danced with delight at the
thought, yet he shuddered at the pros
pect. That night he retired early il
order not TO think of time.
The next morning he began to rebe
at his confinement. He thought of him
self, young, rich and ambitious; re
cluse confined in an observatory, will
no companions save charts and books
and no record of the passing of time
The latter appeared TO him a terrible
condition. Life was going on else
where. People were keeping appoint
ments hourly. Railway trains wer,
laundering over the country, all sched
uled, timed to the minute. Soon h,
would not be cognizant of the day Of
the week, month or year.
Oh, if he had his watch He sat fol
hours with his fingers held upon hi,
pulse, counting its beats. Sixty time
siXty-that made an hour. At length
he began to mark the walls with q
poeketknife, each time cutting deeper
The seconds he indicated by dashes
the minutes by dots, and the hours b,
stars. Soon he removed the maps and
charts in order to continue his chron.
ology. Days passed, during which he
ate little, staring absently at the serv.
ant, who had lately begun TO mani
fest a fear of him. Time that had al
first appeared interminable now seemed
fairly to fly away from him. He would
walk the circuit of the room, moving
at regular speed, counting as he went
Then he would quicken his pace until
at his calculation, he completed ten Of
these revolutions minute.
Upon one occasion the professor
called upon him, and Warren shouted
Thief thiefl give me back my
watchi"
The old man retreated hastily, and
now the patient was visited by no one
but the servant, who contented himself
with knocking upon the door and leay.
ing the tray OF food outside.
Warren was growing insane. He be
gan 10 fear himself, but what he dreaded
most was the loss Of time. To Warren
timewas deity, alternately worshiped
entreated and feared.
Summer had passed without any via