The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-15
DC00o3oo0Ocs3e' cs3e't5sJe's'S1e't'tJt'<'S
ADVENTURE With A MANIAC !

centre Of a pleasant circle at Orange,
New Jersey. Poor Justin HarrlnG-
ton! How I loved that boy! For
months 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 haye spoken
one word of warning, or proposed any
precautionary measures. would only
have driven the poor fellow at once
to desperation; 80 we were compelled
to watch him drift out into the sea
of hopeless insanity. He had been
giving succession Of concerts In
several cities and towns 6ffNew Eng
land, and had made a veEySsuccessful
tour. both professionally and pecuni-
arily. ST.
That Justin was a natural musician,
no one could doubt who had ever
heard him sing or play the violin.
AS the !nsidious disease progressed
he seemed to become more and more
attached to the little instrument, and
it 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
ton 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 I 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, 1 was
informed that Justin was stopping at
the same house-that he was as wild
as a hawk, and had been calling for
me.
e 1 went Immediately to his room,
never for moment supposing but
what 1 could soothe and control him.
Two of his brothers were below, but
he persistently refused to see them.
I tried the door and found it locked.
Justin" said 1; Justin, my dear
fellow. let me in. 1t is Parker
1 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-
Tor. Immediately locked the door, re-
moved the key and placed it in his
pocket.
1t would not do to bctray the least
symptom of fear. His eyes shone with
a light which was almost dcmoniacal;
and 7 realized that 1 had very fool
ishly thrust myself into scrape
which might furnish very exciting
item for the morning newspapers.
"Well, Justin. how have YOU been
since 1 saw you last | remarked in
the usual offhand manner which had
always marked our previous inter
course.
Parker" said he, without dcigning
to notice my remark, Swhat do you
keep looking at that door so wistfully
for? You are not afraid of your friend
JuStin-of course not and then fol-
lowed a succession Of tan;alizinS
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" I replied, taking
care to look him steadily in the eye
'did you ever See the man was
afraid Of? I think not. -1nd why
you should use that word in reference
to me, I am at loss to understand
Tut tut, man.-aonScIse! Who
said anything? 1t wasn't Justin:-oh
no! 1t was that ugly devil that steps
into my shoes once in while and get.
the best of me-"
"All right" said I. "Now, let's have
some music
And I passed him his violin, hoping
1t would, as 1 often had known it t.
before, soothc and comfort him.
"Shall 1? Shall l." he asked. look
ing up, while the lcmon-likc expires
sion of his face chang rd To one of in
eXpressiblc sadness. Shall play fo
Parker?'
"Oh, yes" I replied "Evcrybod!
up there is fond of melody. Why
heaven, my dear boy, is all one CRANE
harmony"
But we are not there yet" was hi
practical reply; consequently don
know much about it,.
He took the violin. prtIcd it q mo
ment. as mother m%ht Slunbern:
infant. then turned it carefully and
with another upturno'.. imploring look
commenced to mov" his how. but no
once. through the long half-hour tha
followed, did he allow thu bow t
touch the strings. lie waS just as ear
nest. lust as impaSsioncd. just as ful
of his subject rs l lad ever seen him
but not one sound came forth.
There" said he. rs he ''nishcd, 6
played them"-(ThiS in Il Sppulchra
whispery. They asked me, Parker
You"can't sing here. but the momen
your foot touches the green grass owe
yonder you will sing like bird. Pal
ker-a bird uncaged--a bird set free
and everybody will listen. Parker" h
continued, and l wish could describ
that instantaneous change of expires
sion from sadness, almost hopeless
ness, to defiance and madness. "Pal