Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-02-17
A DISCIPLE OF MESMER.

w fhiuE use w q oNOiN ""'NH ""~
ir m bis llps some few weeks ago.
Bnr then have to plead AS an
excuse that he ought not to be SO
indiscret az to collide IN a strug-
Cling journalist who is ever on the
lookout for interesting "copY.'
An introduction is necessary.
S.flice 1t to say that COnyerS, who
is an artist, had entered my dig
giugs on the day in question after
hallns been absent on a sketchlDg
tOuI in the south OF Ireland for a
little more thaE fifteen rlOntbs. lie
came with the announcement that
he was going to be married to an
Insh eiIl-Kathleen O'Nell by
Lame. | became interested. My
eager questioning elected the iol'
lONing facts:
He had first core across Miss
O'Ntil in the vicinity of LlsmQre,
it appears. CunOI sly enough, the
Cause of hi' original interest III her
was an expression OF haunting
sadness whc was ever Oh her
iact; nor had le known her long
uefoIe experienced an enthusl'
astlc desire to have a hand in clear
ing he sadueSS away. Bat how
could be learn the caus-i By good
ioitua { he vas permitted 20 hear
ii e slory from her Own lips, al
though she had spoken to no man
before about il.
My fatber,' she sad, "is H.
sane"
Good heavensw
He lad never entertained that
possibility.
No wonder the poor girl was sor'
roWful. Bat how bad it happened !
1--WE llvtd until Year ago in
Dubliu.n she answered. "MJ father
Nas merchant thtIe. he had a
uaId Struggle, but at last success
c,me. Not that his ba ance at tue
bank VAS sufficient of itself; but II
I he ht could sell his premises and
cunrec ion lie could retire, which
Aas What be desired, for he was
growing old. Fortunately, a pnr
chaser was soon procured 10 al
lrish baronet, SIT Patrick O'COu
n-ll by name, who wanted Il for the
purpose Of establishing b sNOungeI
Sous in business. An agreement
" as signed. Sir PetTick could not
paN cash down, his money was tied
a.; but he would Lave ST fhcitnl
tree IN six months time. He, how
ever, promised to lodge With mS
father as S, security in the meantime
he family diamond, valued at
$50, ,OO0-fa father, you must un
derstand. had all honorable name
The pity of what followed. Il
was at the place of business, on
certain afternoon. that the Jewels
we're handed over, and father, fol
one night only, locked them in hi'
escnritoire, intending next day t
take them 10 the bank. Alas! the
self.same night the premises wert
burnt TO the grOund-nOthing wa'
rescued. The sudden shock turneC
NV fathers brain, AS for II Othel
aud /, after We had paid TO tn
baronet money equivalent to thu
value of the diamonds (which th'
insurance, bankin G account, &C.
enabled us to do), We had jas
sufficient left to live in simplicity
So We came down to this quie
place. We are allOw,d 10 kee
father, because the form of bis dis
ease comes under the heading 9
melancholia. he is not dangerous
but he does not know even motEe
aud me-"
Such is a brief outline of the sa
story.
Well, this life, they say, is u ad
up of curious chances. As Conver
vas nearing his "digglngs" aftel
ward, who should he run up agalDs
but hls old chum, Charley MsntoT
whoIs confidential agent In th
employment of Cray & Helmslel
of LlncOIn's Inn Fields.
"Hallol What are YOU dom
, down this way, CharleyF shoute
$ COnyers.
"SeaTching for a needle In
J hay.stack, nv boy. l want DAM
O'Nell, supposed to be residing
this quarter, formerly a mercha'
trading in Dublin. | say, thousi
what makes yOu look so excited
Conyers took his arm and II
him to his "diggiDgs," which we
conveniently near.
I, "WeI, that's cool. Suppos'r
you make staIt by telling II
d Why you're so nightly lnterest'
l. a., kfn,1u