The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-05
AN ADJUSTABLE LUNATIC.
aY IAMEa WHlTooMe RILEY.


 upon an open stairway In an old un- painted brick building, where my strange companion seemed to pause mechanical ly.
 DO you live hereT' I asked.
 T stay here" he replied flor T don't call 1t living to be fastened up in this old seEulehre. I like 1t well enough at night for then feast and fatten on the gloom and glover that infest 1t; but i in the normal atmosphere of day my own room looks repellent, and l only visit it., as now out of sheer desperation"
 If had at first been mystified with this curious being, I was by this time thoroughly bewildered. The more studied him the more at a loss I was to fathom him: and as I stood staring blankly in his face, he exclaimed almost derisively: You give 1t up don't your I nodded.
 Well" he continued. that's a good sign and I've concluded to 'unbosom' :- I'm an adjustable lunatc."
 "An adjustable lunatic'l" I repeated, blanizly. And after the remarkable pro- position that ushers in the story, he continued smilingly:
 Don't be alarmed, now, for I'm glad to assure you of the fact that Pm as harmless as a baby butterfly. Nobody knows I'm crazy. nobody ever dreams of such a thing-and why 7-Because the faculty Is adjustable, don't you see. and self-controlling. I never allow 1t to in- terfere with business matters, and only let 1t on at leisure intervals for the i amusement 1t affords me in the pleasur- able break 1t makes in the monotony of a matter of fact existence. I'm off duty today-in fact, I've been off duty for a week. or, to be franker still, lost my situation ten days ago. and I've been hu- moring this propensity in the meanwhile; and now if you're inclined to go up to my room with me-the windows are Both raised, you see, and you can call for help should occasion require; people are con- stantly passing--if you feel inclined, say, to go up with me. I'll do my best to 1 entertain you I like you, as l said be- fore, and you can trust me. l assure you. Come
 If I were to attempt description of the feelings that possessed me as I fol- lowed my strange acquaintance up the stairway. I should fall as utterly as one who would attempt to portray the exper fence of lying in nine-days' trance, so I leave the readers fancy to befriend mo and hasten on to more tangible matters | We paused at the first landing, my ] companion unlocking a door on the right and handing me the key with the re- mark: You may feel safer with it. And don't be frightened he continued, when I open the door, for it always whines like somebody had stepped on it's knobs" and I laughed at the odd figure as he threw the door open and motioned me to enter
 It was queer apartment, filled with . 1 jumbled array of old chairs and stands; old trunks, a lounge and a stack of odd 1 shaped packages A frowzy carpet thrown over the floor like @ blanket, and a candle-box spittoon with broken lamp chimney in 1t. A little swinging shelf of dusty books, with a railroad map past ed just above it. A narrow table with a ft,u aataf off wires like ivy-Vines running all about the walls; and scattered around the in- strument was an endless array Of zinc and copper scraps, and bits of brass, spiral springs. and queer-shaped little tools A flute propped up one window and near 1t, on another stand, cornet and an old guitar; a pencil sketch half finished, and a stuffed glove with a pen- ci in it's fingers lying on 1t; a spirit-lamp, a lamp of beeswax and a hundred other odds and ends. betokening the presence of some mechanical musical, scientific genius
 Its bachelors room," said the host, noting my inquisitive air-'Its a bach elor's room, so you'll expect no apologies Sit down when you're through with the industrial. and turn your attention to the art department"
 l I followed the direction of his hand and my eyes fell upon a painted face of such ineffable sweetness and beauty was fairly dazed. It was not an earthly form, at least in coloring. for the fea- lures seemed to glow with peatific light l The eyes were large, dark, and dewy, thrown upward with longing look, and l filled with such intensity of tenderness one could but sigh to see them. The hair swept negligently back, fell down the gleaming shoulders like a silken robe and nestled in it's glossy waves the earr peeped shyiy out like lily blooms. The lips were parted with an utterance that one could almost hear, and weep because the blessed voice was mute. The hands were folded on a crumpled letter and pressed close against the heart and curl of golden hair was coiled around the fingers.
 "Is 1t a creation of the fancy?" I asked. | Well, yes.' he answered, with a | dreamy drawl. 'I call 1t fancy. when in a normal state; but now he continued. in fainter tone, 'T will designate it as portrait" And oh, so sad, so hopeless and despairing was the urterance, it seemed to well up from the fountain of his heart like spray of purest sorrow.
 'sWho painted itg' I asked
 Who painted it? '" he repeated, drowsily-" who painted it? Oh. no; mustn't tell you that; for if I answered you with Raphael you'd sa, 'Ah, no! the paints too fresh for that, and he's been dead for ages. Who painted it?' | No, no, l mustn't tell you that! | But are you not an artist?-I see an easel in the corner there and here's maulstick lying on the mantel."
 q an artist? Why, man, what ails you? 1 I told you not ten minutes since that I was an adjustable lunatic; and don't you see I am?-You can't mislead me nor throw me off my guard. When it comes to reason or solid logic. don't you find me there? And here again. to show the clearness of my Judgment, I remove the cause of our little dissensfon and our friendly equanimity Is restored-" and he turned the picture 10 the wall | could but smile at the gravity and adroitness of his language and demeanor.
 "There.'' said he, smiling in return; | ''your face is brighter than the day out side; let's change the topic. Do you like music?"
 "Passonately," responded. twill you play?"
 'No I will sing"
 He took the guitar from the t~5le. and with prelude wilder than the Witches | Dance. he sang a song ne called "The Dream of Death" a grievously sad song | so full of minor tones and wailing words 1 the burden of it still fingers in my ears: 70 gentle death. bow down and sip | The soul that fingers on my lip o gentle death, bow down and keep Eternal vigil OCT my sleep;
 For I am weary and would rest Forever on your loving breast.''
 His voice, as plaintive as a doves went trailing through the rondel like