The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-16

the loathing with which the life of |
civilization of modern cities fill me,
and has always filled me since | came |
TO years of maturity. l suppose I have |
the soul of recluse-a hermit. though |
not, as you see, OF q celibate My vine
and children are the greatest joys of |
my present life, but in order TO gain
this haven of peace | was obliged to
cut myself adrift from the world .and
all my earlier associations.
Il mad made Finette's acQuains:ucc
some time before you met me il italy
aIi was convinced that my only
cnance of happiness lay in marrying
her. Unfortunately I mad a relative. an
uncle, who was q severe. uncomprcmis.
lug man, with a Calvinistic turn and
conviction that man would be eter-
naily lost If he die not apply him
self to business. l hated him. but at
the same time acknowledged that he
had complete mastery over me when
ever l was in mis- presence. He even
contrived that should engage myself
to his daughter, a woman ten years
cider than myself, as hard and dry as
her father, end quite capable of suing
me for breach Of fromise of marriage
If l cared to terminate the engage
ment. Under these circumstances |
took refuge in fight. But fight was
useless. ] received letters from time to
time showing that my Whereabouts
was known, and finally was told that
my uncle and his daughter had re-
solved to follow me to Italy. and insist
that the marriage should take place
Immediately. | was forced upon desPer
ate courses. and you yourself know
what l did"
Upon my word 7 don't" l inter
pclated hastily. 4 suppose You mean
you gave them the slip. But how did
you leave the train?"
MY dear sir" said Edmund Justi-
can, don't you remember the snairs
pace at which the train was crawling
up the hill? l simply opened the door
and stepped out | made my way from
the railway line to place where l was
not known, concealed myself for some
Gays among the peasants, ana adopted
az AtiA Is NOulA l.lC4l OltGS anu IdDltS.
Finally | made ny way to Finett's ma
tive village and persuaded her to cast
in her lot with mine You may have
observed chat | took nay handbag with
me which coutaineS very fair pro-
portion Of my fortune in a portable
form. We married, bought this little
homestead and here we live with our
children, our garden and chr animals.
as happy as the day IS long. Thank
God, shall never see a city again!'
stared at the man, for such an ex-
preston CT feeling seemed to me ex-
traodinarily bizarre. But could detect
no sign of insanity N Edmund Justi-
cans tone.
And do you never regret your
iriends?' said. Surely the relatives
OF whom you speak must have suffered
some anxiety on your account"
Il took a very simple procaution."
said Edmund Justican, smiling, with
the air Of man who had triumpAed
over fate. Il wrcgo to them beforehand
telling them of nv intention to commit
suicide. That is probably why they
made no search for ne, and concluded
that had carried out my threat.
They had no affection for me. but
they envied me my money, and I had
no computation for the deception
pr9cticed. All that ] ask is that you
will not let them knew"
II will most certainly not let them
Know ! answered But ! am glad
that have met you and solved mys-
terry which often tormented me"
Il am sorry foi the trouble | may
have given, said Edmund Justican
with a glimmer Of emile in his
dreamy eyes But | nave achieved
my end. VIII you not come back 10 my
cottage and let my wife offer you her
simple hospitality? She is quite
child Of nature, and sweet and low
ing as an ANGLE"
Il should be charmed ! answered
with real regret. But | am afraid
my time is too short shall have to
run~to the station # ! Y1can to catch
my train. ! hope we may meet aeain."
"Au revoir. then, and not goodty,"
said my old acquaintance with smile.
We shook hands and ! saw him turn
back with an eager face to the wife
and children whom it was evident he
SO tenderly loved. ] hoped that l might
one day return and make their ac-
quaintance Bat fate has not led me to
southern France again. and that is the
last ! ever saw OF Edmund Justican,
the story of whose strange disappear
a1ce am now. after a lapse of twenty
years, at liberty to.give 10 the world.
! can only hope that he has never tired /
of his paradise.-KansaS City hide
pendent =. h
Cheap Watches in .Taran
After years absence, John Kelly I