The Winslow mail., 1899-06-22
THE TlMELESS MAN
4 7~e>s~@>s~e~~~e>S-AS

end of Godfrey Warren, whose sudden
accession to vast wealth had been the
talk Of society. The true story CT his
death was never told, but it was known
hat he died mysteriously and alone.
One Of Mr.. Warren descendants now
offers It's the following veritable record
Of the strange circumstances which led
to his unhappy ancestors miserable
end. 1t is d weird tale that will linger
long in the memory.
Godfrey Warren suffered from one of
the most singular hallucinGtions the
world has ever known. lie believed
hat 50 far as lie was concerned time
went infinitely faster than with other
people. IN he midst of Il conversation,
with lis mind seemingly intent upon
he subject discussed, he would inter-
rupt the speaker 10 consult his watch;
thcn, replacing it in his pocket, he
would nod with an exclamation Of iu-
patience, as if annoyed at the flight
Of time. His mind Travelled with the
rapidity Of lightning from one subject
TO another, untilat length hisspeech lost
coherency and became unintelligible.
lie had been an inveterate smoker; now
he no longer indnlged in this recrea-
lion; he had no time. His favorite
books, his violin, which he played with
considerable skill, lay neglected. Mean
with the air of Il man to whom the loss
OF a moment meant death.
60 slow" said his family physician.
81 can't" the young man would re-
spond with a sigh; there is SO much
for ne 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 4 lengthy con-
sultation. the tribunal decided that, as
the reckoning OF time appeared to be
his scle maIady, the remedy lay in his
being placed in a 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 ii docile patient. He
parted with his watch willingly, and
abandoned himself, without regret, to
the rules prescribed fer 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 a new planet.
The apartment assigned to him was
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
lie frowned slightly; then his eyes
fell upon sun dial Of ancient pattern.
He quickly turned away, affecting
not to have noticed it. The professor
aud the girl retired. and as he heard
them descend the circular stairway he
smiled. His eyes were fixed upon the
dial, and a 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 in
order not to think of time.
The next morning he began to rebel
at his confinement. lie thought Of him
self, young. rich and ambitious; re-
cluse confined in an observatory, with
no companions save charts and books,
and no record Of the passing Of time.
The latter appeared to him terrible
condition. Life was going on else
where. People were keeping appoint
ments hourly. Railway trains were
numbering over the country, all sched-
uled, timed to the minute. Soon he
would not be cognizant of the day of
! the week, month or year.
Oh, if he had his watch! He sat for
hours with his fingers held upon his
pulse, counting its beats. Sixty time
lSiXty-that made an hour. At length
he began to mark the walls with a
| pockethnife, each time cutting deeper.
| The seconds he indicated by dashes,
the minutes by dots, and the hours by
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 at
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 thief! give me back my
watch!"
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 leav
ing the tray of food outside.
Warren was growing insane. He be-
gan to fear himself, but what he dreaded
most was the loss of time. To Warren
time was a deity. alternately worshiped,
entreated and feared.