Charlevoix county herald., 1908-01-11

' donic laughter, queer and erratic
ways always fascinated and held me
entranced. Being a physician, and
well-known at the institution, my pres
ence was always welcome, and ample
time was given me to cater to my pc
culiar whims.
One day in room As I encountered
new subject. He stood at the grated
door while l was talking with one of
the attendants in the corridor, and
when l had finished, motioned me to
approach. | did so, at the same time
noticing his shapely form. well-chis-
eled face. its deathly pallor, and the
uneasy shifting of his coal-black eyes.
Il like your looks" he said, re-
garding me critically. 1T is my de-
sire to trust you with secret. May
I be allowed"
Certainly" / replied.
< Il am glad of that" he answered
That | am not insane, and entered
this institution Of my own volition,
does not matter My confession re-
lates 10 the cause-my willingness to
be incarcerated without the protest
usually advanced by subjects who are
insane"
Il understand I replied. wishing
to humor him. Then, as he paused
and glanced uneasily into the open
space behind me, | added: Il am pre-
pared to listen"
Il fancied I heard a STEP" he re-
Joined, again turning his attention to
me as if relieved. MY nerves are at
so high tension of late that psyche
logical illusionments are quite fire.
Quent. / imagine sights and sounds
that do not exist only in the environ
ment OF the brain; but-never mind"
he added, brushing the black curls
away from his forehead as if to brush
away the incident.
After another prolonged pause, dur
ing which he glanced up and down
the corridor with all the alertness
of q cat watching for a mouse, he
continued: You will notice | am
not old in years, and possibly not i'll
favored in contour of face. If lines
OF dissipation are at all apparent it is
not the result of intoxicants, remem-
Der that; and yet, l have been dis
sipated to some extent. A fortune
which has furnished me a life of lux
ury and ease is partially responsible
for this. 1t has led me to dissipate-
not in liquors, which l naturally alb
hor, but in love of woman, which is
not holy love such as you might
expect. Woman has been my folly
my disgrace-my ruin. To the fruits
of this unholy love attribute my pres
ent position"
Many have followed in your foot
steps, | said, by way of continuing
thu subject.
SToo true" he muttered, sadly and
r9miniscently. "only by different
routes. Some lead downward more
weirdly and anonymously than others,
and mine is one. But-listen. AIDE
lade Lamphere was beautiful in form
and feature-and well-modeled form
and feature l always admired. l did
- love her, for pure love is .out of
question with roqe which, how
ar humiliating, I protested to be;
/ was fascinated, and this fascina-
y llOH DldCSu lCl dL Iut ncdu VI tHc ISl
of those / admired. If innocence is
a fault, and trust folly, then she was
guilty of both, and took advantage of
each. She became my abject slave,
trusted me implicitly. A trust which
was depicted in her large blue eyes
eyes that were calm and soft and
trustful.
But this rainbow-tinted happiness
could not last. There were other
sylph-like maidens l adored-others
whose charms purloined portion of
my time And so the awakening came.
1t was in the forth of rival with
temperamental moods, voluptuous
form and dashing ways. This infidel-
fly on my part thrilled ADELAIDE like
AZ, electric shock. She was stunned at
fist and gazed at me with eyes in
which were depicted wonderment and
doubt. Then, as the truth dawned
upon her, she Observation-Disclosures
and begged me to desist. only
laughed at her tears and Knocked at
her despair. Perceiving this double
duplicity on my part, my falsity of
heart, the inward rottenness of my
soul, the magic spell was broken, and
her whole nature revolted and under
went a change. She drew back with
sealed lips, gave me one despairing
look, and then left me to pursue my
own course.
But she did not forget-O heaven!
she did not forget. Sealed lips set in
a determination for revenge are more
dangerous than paroxysms of rage,
or over-abundance of speech. could
have withstood both better than the
unnrecedented method she took to
sA.lfy her unrequited love. Pervert-
ed her nature became - metamor-
phosed-turned into Unsuitable hate.
No outward sign was indicative of
this--no word to that effect once
dropped from her lips; but the cold