The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-07-14
VOL. XXI. RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY, MD, FRIDAY, JJ


will be well with thee and as thou
wishest."
"How shall / use this?" asked
Charles, putting the bottle into his Vest
pocket.
"As thou hast seen me do. But use
not until thou feelest thy powers fail
ing"
For the next few days all went as be-
fore. Charles Hendricks presented him
self at his place of business as usual,
and was beginning to berate himself as
fool for believing even for a short
time in the efficacy of the Arabian's
treatment, When, on the ninth day
after the inoculation, he was seized
with severe pains in the head. Com
PEELED to give up his work, he retired
to his bed, where he soon developed Il
high fever which rapidly merged into
delirium.
Wildly he tossed and raved, but sud-
denly in the night there came a burst
of music. Nearer and nearer it seemed
to come, and then, while he listened, en-
chanted, the music ceased as suddenly
as it had begun. The mists cleared
away from his mind, and he lay quiet
ly, his mind unusually clear and active.
In the morning he arose, apparently
as we'll as ever, but that strange clear
ness remained. Taking up the papers,
he turned as usual to the stock reports.
To his surprise, he found that all stocks
had fallen. With new, clear wisdom.
he saw that the lull was but temporary.
Something within him told him that
this was his opportunity. He went
hastily to the stock exchange, taking
with him the few hundreds which he
possessed.
Men were frantically unloading ev-
erywhere. With keen vision and a
sharpened Judgment that amazed him
self, Charles invested his little all, and
awaited the result. Before the next "a
hours had passed, stocks took an up
ward bound, regained their old place,
and were steadily climbing higher, leav-
ing Charles Hendricks several thou
sand dollars richer.
These he reinvested. In ten days he
became the central figure on change
Whatever he went into prospered. Men
watching him said that he had only to
touch a thing and it turned to gold. He
became known by the name of Midas.
The two years passed, and he was
worth two millions. Millionaire An
derson greeted him graciously when
ever they met, but Charles, intent only
ON stocks and bonds, passed him coldly.
To be a multi-millionaire now became
his ambition, and he grew oblivious to
every human interest save that which
brought him nearer his goal. Visions
of untold wealth hoated through his
mind, and soon his name became syn
onymous with all that was keen, calcu-
lating, shrewd and hard. And so the
years passed.
Once he visited an insane asylum.
Among the inmates there was one who
raved, foaming ut the mouth, while he
struggled violently with his keeper. In
the distorted features he recognized
with a shudder the face of the budding
politician, who had blossomed into
successful one, having held the guber-
material chair of the state for two
terms, been senator also for two, and
had even been spoken of in connection
with the white house.
He left the building hurriedly, his
mind reverting shudderingly to the fate
of his other companions. In the hos
pital the poet lay, a physical wreck;
helpless for life. A little mound in the
cemetery was all that remained of the
novelist save four books which the
critics said were of lasting fame. Con-
graduating himself on his own good
fortune, he returned to his counting
room.
At last there came a day when
Charles Hendricks stood by the grave
of the woman whom he had once loved.
Untold wealth was at his command,
but standing there while "ashes were
returned to ashes, and dust to dust"
he knew that he had lost the best part
of life; that like Midas of old, he was
accursed.
Too late came the knowledge that
such power as was his was n curse to
Its possessor. He turned from the grave
of broken heart and crept back to his
gold, alone, accursed.-Boston Globe.