The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-04
The TimeIess Man.

Some fifty years ago the world was
startled by the news of the tragic end
Of Godfrey Warren, whose sudden ac-
cession to vast wealth had been the talk
Of society. The true story Of his death
was never told, but it was known that he
died mysteriously and alone.
One of Mr.. Warren's descendants now
offers US the following veritable record OF
the strange circumstances which led TO
his unhappy ancestors miserable end 1t
is a weird tale that will inger long IN
the memory.
Godfrey Warren suffered from one Of
the most singular Authorizations the world
has ever known. He believed that 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 the subject discuss
ed, he would interrupt the speaker 10 con-
suit his watch; then, replacing it in his
pocket, he would nod with an exclamation
Of impatience, as if annoyed at the flight
Of time. His mind travelled with the ra-
pidity of lightning from one subject TO
another, until at length his speech lost
conference and became unintelligible. He
had been an inveterate smoker; now he
no longer INDUCED in this recreation; he
| had no time. His favorite books, his vio-
! lin. which he played with considerable
skill, lay neglected. Meanwhile he rushed
about breathlessly, with the air of 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 physi-
clans. Worn out by their entreaties and
his own fears, Warren finally consented.
After a lengthy consultation, the tribunal
decided that, as the reckoning of time ap
| peared to be his sole malady. the remedy
lay in his being placed in a quiet locality
and deprived of the records of passing
events. Perfect seclusion for the patient,
they argued, would bring mental repose.
And his fathers old friend, Professor
! Herbert, agreed to take charge CT him.
Warren proved a docile patient He
parted with his watch willingly. and aban-
| doned 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 as they journeyed Warren had
! failed TO note revolutions of the carriage
wheels, and had even become interested
in the young girl, who regarded him curl
ousy, as she might new planet.
! The apartment assigned to him was a
| large circular room, flooded with sunlight.
The walls were hung with charts of the
heavens, while on the floor were spread
Persian rugs Of brilliant and intricate de-
| signs. Altogether, Warren was pleased
with his new quarters. Certainly It was
pleasant room. Yet htere 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 re-
tired, 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. He would be able, with prac-
rice, to calculate the exact time of day.
He could have danced with delight at the
thought, yet he shuddered at the pros
pect.
He sat for hours with his fin
gers upon his pulse, counting its
beats. Sixty times sixty-that made
an hour. At length ne began to
mark the walls with a pocket knife, each
time cutting deeper. The seconds he in
dicated by dashes, the minutes by dots.
and the hours by stars. Soon he removed
the maps and charts in order to continue
his chronology. Days passed, during
which he ate little. staring absently at the
servant who had lately begun to mani
fest fear of him. Time that had at rst
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 calcu-
lation, he completed ten of these revolu-
tons minute
Upon one occasion the professor called
upon him, and Warren shouted
'"Fbiefi theft Give ma bo OH }oJ,
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 leaving the
tray of food outside.
Warren was growing insane. He began
to fear himself, but what he dreaded most
was the loss of time To Warren time was
deity, alternately worshiped, entreated
and feared.
change in his condition. His friends were
hopeful still, and the professor, although
reticent, expressed his belief in the ulti-
mate success of the rest cure.
Warren had become Indifferent to ev-
erything but his task. The walls of his
room were defaced with the knife cuts;
there remained only an inch Of space up
on which to mark his interminable hero
glyphics. Observing this, he began to
anew. He shook his head sadly.
only an inch" he muttered
Then he sprang up, and, seeing a knife
began to work industriously. One, two,
three, then up to sixty, then sixty again,
and so on until the space was completely
covered. He was in despair. Suddenly a
brilliant idea occurred to him. He gath
cred up the rugs, rolled them together
and tossed them out of the window. Then
hsa hncr10 n rryf orl-- he
quently weary and bending, his knees cal
lous, his hands shaking, he would fail
asleep, and wake only to continue his
task. Day and night became alike to him.
Finally the floor was covered. What
was he to do now? AS the problem con-
fronted him the mailman wept tears of
despair He sat for some time crouched
beneath a window. then a slow smile diff
fused itself over his face. He tore away
his sleeve, and. bearing his arm. pricked
his skin with the point of the knife He
counted aloud as he did SO, while the blood
trickled from the wound. Then the mad
man grew elated; there would remain yet
another arm. after that the legs, finally
the chest
His fingers were cIotted with blood Is
he worked eagerly, tattooing arms and
legs. In the silence Of theroom he heard
a familiar sound. It resembled the tick
AitE VI a N+t-A- ne pduScA AH4lE ~ is
ten. Yes. he was not mad: no one could
mistake the steady "tick, tick"
a clocki He sprang TO his feet, the
knife Gathering upon the floor A clock,
Where was il? He dashed about the room.
He could see nothing-the clock was hid
den. sin steadily sounded the tick
tick" Always at the same distance; no
nearer. no further.
He remembered a watch that he had
carried when a boy: a silver gift watch