The suburban citizen., 1900-08-18
ADVENTURE WITH A MANIAC

DltlnOINs ntli0 ny hNAA
friend Parker, as, one
evening not long since, he sat, the
centre Of a pleasant circle at Orange,
=;ew Jersey. Poor Justin Harring-
ton! How l loved that boy! For
months l had seen that insanity-the
dreadful disease that had wrought so
much trouble in the Harrington fam
ily-was showing itself in Justin.
There seemed to be actually nothing
that friend or relative could do to ar.
rest the fatal disease. To have spoken
one word Of warning, or proposed any
precautionary measures, would only
have driven the poor fellow at once
to desperation; so we were compelled
to watch him drift out into the sea
of hopeless insanity. He had been
giving a succession of concerts in
several cities and towns Of New Eng
land, and had made a very successful
tour, both professionally and pecunl-
arlly.
That Justin was a natural musician,
no one could doubt who had ever
heard him sing or play the violin.
As the insidious disease progressed
he seemed to become more and more
attached to the little instrument, and
1t would have made your heart ache
to have listened to the walls which,
in his moments of sadness, he brought
forth from the strings. Every emo
tion the soul is capable Of enjoying,
suffering, or enduring, he was able to
portray. Di tanti paipite was his fa-
vOrite instrumental piece, and some
times l have been compelled to leave
the room to hide the tears which this
faithful delineation of the performers
spiritualized conception of the theme
would bring to my eyes.
One evening, after having delivered
a lecture in Worcester, Mass, on my
way to the hotel Of the place, was
Informed that Justin was stopping at
the same house-that he was as wild
as a hawk, and had been calling for
me.
went Immediately to his room,
never for moment supposing but
L
Two of his brothers were below, but
he persistently refused to see them.
/ tried the door and found it locked.
Justin" said l; Justin, my dear
fellow, let me in. 1t is Parker"
heard the key placed in the lock
and in a second more the madman
seized my hand, and drew me quickly
into the apartment, and, to my hor-
ror, Immediately locked the door, re-
moved the key and placed it in his
pocket.
1t would not do to betray the least
/ symptom Of fear. His eyes shone with
q light which was almost demonlacal;
and realized that had very fool,
ishly thrust myself into a scrape
which might furnish a very exciting
! item for the morning newspapers.
well, Justin, how have you been
since l saw you lastP l remarked in
the usual offhand manner which had
always marked our previous inter
course.
Parker" said he, without deigning
to notice my remark, what do you
keep looking at that door so wistfully
for2 You are not afraid of your friend
Justin-of course not" and then fol.
lowed a succession Of tantalizing
laughs, so Internally fraught that ]
could not help asking myself If devils
do not help overthrow the reason in
order to take possession Of the empty
head, and perform their cruel and vim
dictive acts.
"Why, old fellow" 1 replied, taking
care to look him steadily in the eye
did you ever see the man was
afraid o6? l think not. And why
you should use that word In reference
to me, am at a loss to understand.
"Tut, tut, man!-nonsense! Who
said anything? 1t wasn't JUSTIN oh
no! 1t was that ugly devil that steps
into my shoes once in a while and gets
the best of me-"
"All right" said I. "Now, let's have
some music"
And l passed him his violin, hoping
1t would, as often had known it t
before, soothe and comfort him.
Shall /? Shall I?' he asked, isOk
Ing up, while the demOn-like expires
sion of his face changed to one Of in
eXpressible sadness. "Shall play fol
Parkerp
"oh, yes" replied. "Everybod!
up there is fond Of melody. Why
heaven, my dear boy, is all one granC
harmony"
But we are not there yet" was hi
practical reply; consequently dom
know much about It,"
He took the violin, petted 1t a mo
ment, as a mother might a slum berini
infant, then turned II carefully and
with another upturnee, imploring look
commenced, to move his bow, but moi
once, through the long half-hOur thai
followed, did he allow the bow to