The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-12-19

the manager were chosen by chance
out Of the directory.
1t appeared that my friend had pre-
pared her for this reply. He had told
her that was q bit the worse for past
anxiety and unwisely worried about
my health. but that there was really
nothing the matter. All needed was
a little encouragement.
Accepting this view, Miss Glendon
proceeded to encourage me. She told
me how well was looking. and. as q
matter of fact. | actually did look as
rugged as an OK. In earlier years
was very strong. and the muscular
shell still stood. as the bark of 6 tree
will sometimes stand when the heart
of it is dust Fifty times while she
was talking to me had to shake my
wits together and with a spaSmodic ef-
fort remember where was and what
had happened. yet talked Us straight
as a tight string, as my friend inform,
ed me afterward. except" be added,
'for that fooliShfess about your health
The upShot Of it was that | became
the manager Of that institution. and
my act was crime. ! was no more ht
for it than a deaf man to lead All or
chestra However. the novelty OF 1t
buoyed me up for few days. so that
none of my subordinates knew that |
was out Of my wits
The work was really extremely at
tractive to one who had come out de-
feated from the selfish strife Of money
winning. and if had been only little
less battered and worn | would have
been fairly efficient person. Even as
was. the force within me might have
proved sufficient but for the increasing
rush OF work incident to the coming
holidays.
Miss Glendon had high ideas Of the
Christmas time. and her plans for max
ing it memorable In the home were
we'll considered, but exceedingly COM
prehensive. Moreover, she looked to
me for suggestions. and was becom-
ing increasingly eager to serve her
we'll
But when mans mind IS in such
condition that be can't depend upon re-
membering his own name If asked for
! it in a hurry there is little use in ex-
pecting him to lay plans or even to car
~ out those of another person. ] be-
gan to worry about the matter, to
dream Of it and to talk aloud about it,
to my own great shame.
Then | resigned and was laughed at
by Miss Glendon, who assured me that
my success had passed her utmost ex-
pectations. So Iothing remained but
to go on. q wooden automaton that
must run its course and then drop
where it stood.
And it didn't want to break down!
Let me assure you that | had no appe-
tite for such q performance | strove
hard against it and wore out in striv-
ing the very strength needed.
On Christmas day was at my very
worst. wandered from room to room,
giving orders that others seemed to
think were rational, though | had little
understanding Of them myself We
had many visitors. and greeted them.
and they said pleasant conventional
things. as if they noticed nothing amiss
in me.
And then, as it seemed to me sud-
denly. we were in the long dining
room The children were taking their
places: the visitors lined the walls. en-
joying the sight of so much happiness.
There were GO children. and they
looked to me like 600. The room
seemed to stretch away mile at least
to where Miss Glendon sat at the far
end of the table with her eyes upon
me.
had risen to speak. but why ! did
not know. Every one was waiting.
could no: remember what had
meant to say nor why had decided to
speak at all. | merely knew that this
was the end Of me. and the tears came
into my eyes
Then in the stiffness heard a
strange cracking sound. felt slight
jar. There was faint cry from among
the densest crowd Of visitors One OF
the children near me screamed in q
shriIl voice, THE floors sinkin DOWN.