The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-08-06
TRAGEDY OF WELB7.

When | left England in 1876 my school
fellow and most intimate friend. Richard
Nelby, saw me into the boat at Tilbury,
md his was the last hand ] shook. Left
an orphan at Is. was bound for Australia,
with capital Of 1850. a sound constitution.
and cheerful disposition. Welby had at
one time thought OF accompanying me; but
good degree at his university, followed
up by the offer OF position ON the staff OF
one of the leading London weekly reviews,
caused him to decide on remaining at home,
The investment Of my money in wet
Australian sheep farm, followed up by al.
most unceasing toll, enabled me to prosper
beyond all my anticipations; with the re
suit that in ten years ! had acquired suiii
Gent TO enable me, had | 50 wished. to
return 10 England and live there for tie re
'nalnder OF my days in comfort, The uneN
pected discovery, however. OF rich gold
deposits on part Of me land greatly increased
my wealth; and at last 70 yeaEs having
elapsed sine" ! babe the old country adieu
found myself once more in London. on the
sunny side OF 10, AMI with an assured il
come Of f1.o00 year
During my first year or two in Australia
H"h H'h'h IHtiNl frequently from w tltN /.
and had written to him regularly A. time
wore on, however. his letters reached me
at everlncreasing intervals. and finally
ceased altogether.
| had not. however been ~ hours in Lon.
don before ] discovered that under the
name he had assumed, he had become one
of the best known writers Of the day. and
that at that very time two of his plays were
being acted simultaneously in the metrcpo.
lis. at once addressed letter TO him at
each thcater, informing him OF my return,
congratulating him on HE success, and ak
ing him to come at the earliest possible op.
pJrtunity to crack a bottle and talk over
old times. ] received his answer on the
following day in the form of telegram to
the effect that he would be with me at 7
that night, the time had given as my din.
ner hour; and punctual to the moment he
vas announced, and we seized each Others
hands IN long and afieetiOnate grip.
When, however. the flush OF excitement
had faded from his cheek and the light of
greeting from his eye, perceived that he
was grievously altered. In reality only a
year or two older than myself. he had all
the appearance Of man Of so His cheeks
ilahby. and his hair ,hckly .prinkltd with
silver. also perceived that h- long hands
were thln-almost to the point of tran, par
ency. and that as be raised hi. glass il 81 COX
painfully. ! presently, however. forgot all
these disquieting symptoms in the Joy OF
.rciug him again and the delight Of listening
to his conversation, and finally carried away
no less With admiration and gratitude Tor an
intellectual treat than with personal aiTec
ton for himself, ! raised my gNs,, and
cried:
"A double health. Old friend! Yours and
mine, The gods have been good to ~. Here
an ] rich beyond nv uecds. and you a, ia.
mons a. the prime minister himself! And
both of Us happy! So. here, to our
'calths!" And drained my glass to its
last DROP Nelhy's only response, how.
ever. was sudden silence.
MY dear fellow" he said at lat. 81
,'rlnk your health with pleasure God bless
Nou'' With these words he too emptied
his glass "I'ut don't congratulate me on
ny fame until YOU know the cost at which
It has been bought, And pause before you
call the wretchedest man in all London
appy!"
Thee words, spoken with great solcm.
rity, DISTRESSED me beyond measure. ! had
not. however. time to speak before he re
,umed AS follows;
For three years after ron left shaved
Is few have done. Consumed with ambition
20 achieve ,0mcthinr higher than journal
site hack work | wrote stories, cs.ays,
sketches, traycst.es, plays-giving every
hour of my leisure TO the work. always writ.
ing far into the night. denying mysclf every
plcasures and bending all my energies TO the
me la.k II making name. In those year,
failure logged me steadily, but IN the fourth
zane recognition.
But the cost you spoke Of. and the un.
happiness; What Of them"
''Whcn ,ucre.. came the fcnd came with
1t. The self denals had found necessary
N my struggle to get my head above the
mob beng NC longer required, | let myself
90. Only little at tirst-a dalying with
drink, toying with di., patton But soon
found both not only pleasant but helpful
YES, that was the curse OF it, that wa where
the D'vll him.cii stepped into the business!
helpful ! gradually found that a. my
mind cleared after n bout Of intemperancc
ur sensuality my spirit. rose. my pin steal
energy became Titanic. my Imagination he.
came creative a. it bad never been before,
lnd toll became JOY. rapture! What was
the result; You eau guess The two sins
got hold OF me and increased their grin
with every seizure; until now am utterly
At their mercy"
listened TO all this with growing horror
but worse was TO come. Wclby paused for
= little while. with knitted brows and com.
pressed lips; then drawing from his breast
Iocket a roll Of manuscript tied with rib
bon, he Land it with trembling hand on the
table before me.
Il want you to take charge of that" he
said, with shaking voice and tears in hi,
eyes. at may not he for long. but | shall
know it will be .afc with you. II is the first
act OF play ! am commissioned to write
for -." And he mentioned the name OF
,ne Of the leading actor managers of the
day, The I'll !, coming on, and in day
or two shall he lost TO everyone"
Good heavens, man! What ON earth do
YOU mean" cried
"Only that from time to tine the Devil
calls me, and have to follow. Tomorrow,
II the day after, ! shall GO into .omo Eltiv
place in the East End-tht hlthiel g., bat.
ter-aud live the life Of sol anG a beast H..
I'll the fever Is burned out of me again then
I shall return to you, clothed in my right
mind, aud ask You to give me back my man
uscript. Now YOU know the cost at which
my fame has been bought aud the happines,
enjoy"
reasoned with him. and he shock ii,
head hop,lessly ! r,viled his weakness.
but he merely shrugged his shoulders and
laughed.
That was the last time ] was to see nv
poor friend alive. SIX weeks later. after
having sought him vBinly in every part OF
London, | read in the newspaper that hi,
body had been washed up by the Thame,
ju,t below one of the bridges, where it had
evidently lain in the slime for several hour.
before being discovered,
The tragedy WAS the mystery Of the hour
,nd for a fortnight all London discussed
ii; then il was barred quietly in the gray,
nf the unfortunate man and an. man