St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-06-03
THE TIMELESS MAN

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COME fifty years ago the world was
- startled by the news of the tragic
end of Godfrey Warren, whose sudden
accession 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 yeritable record
f the strange circumstances which led
to his unhappy ancestors miserable
end. 1t is a weird tale that will linger
long in the memory.
Godfrey Warren suffered from one of
the most singular hallucinations 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 conversation,
with his mind seemingly intent upon
the 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 inn
patience, as if annoyed at the fight
of time. His mird travelled with the
rapidity of lightning from one subject
to another, untilatlength his speech lost
coherency and became unintelligible.
He had been an inveterate smoker; now
he no longer indulged in this recrea-
tion; he had no time. His favorite
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 cant" the young man would re-
spond with a sigh; there is so much
for me to do."3 &
1t was at this period that his friends,
selicitous 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 a lengthy com
sultation, the tribunal decided that, as
the reckoning of time appeared to be
his sole malady, the remedy lay his
being placed in quiet locality andsde2
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. 8Bsa asM1 l3A
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 a 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. He
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. He thought OF him.
self, young, rich and ambitious; a 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 a terrible
condition. Life was going on else
where People were keeping appoint
ments hourly. Railway trains were
numbering over the country, all sched-
aled. timed to- the inmate 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
sixtythat made an hour. At length
he began to mark the walls with a
poclxetknife, 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 be
ate little, staring absently at the sery;
ant, who had lately begun TO mani.
fest fear of him. Time that had al
first appeared intermina blenow seemed
fairly to fly away from him. ITe would
walk the, circuit of the room, mosipg
at reguEf speed, counting as he went
Then he would quicken hit pace until
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