The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-08-01
THE TIMELESS MAN

ANOME nifty years ago the WOrid was i
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 veritable record
of the strange circumstances which led
to his unhappy ancestors miserable
end. 1t is weird tale that will finger
long in the memory.
Godfrey Warren suffered from one of
the most singular Authorizations the
world has ever known. lie 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 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 at length his speech lost
coherency and became unintelligible
lie had been an inveterate smoker; now
be no longer INDUCED in this recrea-
ton; he had no time. His favorite
books, Ills violin, which he played with
considerable skill. lay neglected. Mean
while he rushed about breathlessiy.
with the air of a man to whom the loss
of n 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 10 do"
1t was at this period that his friends,
sclicitous 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 cor
suitation. the tribunal decided that, as
the reckoning of time appeared to be
his sole malady, the remedy lay in hi:
! 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 docile patient. He
parted with his watch willingly, ant
abandoned himself, without regret, tC
the rules prescribed for him.
Accompanied by the professor anC
his daughter, he arrived safely at thu
retreat. So intent was he upon being
cured of his mania that on their journe.
Warren had failed to note revolution
of the carriage wheels, and had ever
become interested in the young girl
who regarded him curiously, as sh
might new planet.
The apartment assigned TO him was
large circular room, flooded with sun
light. The walls were hung with chart
of the heavens, while on the floor wer
spread Persian rugs of brilliant and in
tricate designs. Altogether Warrel
was pleased with his new quarters
Certainly it was pleasant room. Ye
there was something missing.
J He frowned slightly; then his eye
fell upon sun dial OF ancient pattern
He quickly turned away, affectin
not to have noticed it. The professo
and the girl retired, and as he hear
them descend the circular stairway
smiled. His eyes were fixed upon tn
dial, and dream of joy lit them. Il
would be able, with practice, to calcJ
late the exact time of day. He coul
have danced with delight at til
thought. yet he shuddered at the pro:
pect. That night he retired early i
order not to think of time.
The next morning he began to reb'
at his confinement. He thought of hin
: self, young, rich and ambitious; a II
cluse confined in an observatory, wit
no companions save charts and book
and no record of the passing OF tim
The latter appeared TO him terribl
condition. Life was going on els'
where. People were keeping appoin
ments hourly. Railway trains wei
laundering over the country, all sche,
} uled. timed to the minute. Soon
would not be cognizant of the day {
the week. month or year.
Oh. if he had his watchl He sat Il
hours with his fingers held upon b
pulse, counting its beats. Sixty tin
sixty-that made an hour. AT lengi
he began to mark the walls with
} pocketknife, each time cutting deene
The seconds he indicated by dashe
g the minutes by dots. and the hours
r stars. Soon he removed the maps al
!. charts in order to continue his chroi
, ologv. Days passed, during which
I ate little. staring absently at the ser
ant, who had lately begun TO man
fest fear of him. Time that had
first appeared interminable now SCENE
fairly to fly away from him. He won
walk the circuit of the room, moviI
at regular speed, counting as he weI
Then he would quicken his pace unit