Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-10
THE HAUNTING
EYE


MY object IN visiting the asylum I
was one OF curiosity, The chickering's /
or the insane, their Authorizations. sar-
donic laughter, queer and erratic
ways always fascinated and held me
entranced. Being q 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 4s encountered
a new subject. He stood at the grated
door while / was talking with one Of
the attendants in the corridor. and
when had finished, motioned me to
approach. l did so. at the same time
noticing his shapeiy form. well-chis-
eled face, it's deathly pallor. and the
uneasy shifting OF his coal-black eyes.
Il ike your looks" he said, re-
garding me critically. 1T is my de-
sire to trust you with a secret. May
be allowedg"
Certainly" / replied
4 am glad OF that" ne answered.
THAT I am not insane, and entered
this institution OF my own volition,
does not matter. My confession re-
lates to the cause-my willingness to
be incarcerated without the protest
usually advanced by subjects who are
insane"
Il understand 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 / heard a STEP" he re-
Joined, again turning his attention to
me as If relieved. MY nerves are az
so high tension OF late that psyche
logical ilIusionments are quite fro
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 curis
away from his forehead as II 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 q mouse. he
continued: You win notice am
not old in years. and possibly not H.
favored In contour Of face. II lines
Of dissipation are at all apparent It Is
not the result Of intoxicants, remem.
Der that: and yet. / have been dis
sipated to some extent A fortune
! which has furnished me 4 life Of lux
ury and ease is partially responsible
! for this. II has led me to dissipate-
not in liquors, which / naturally alb
hor, but in love OF woman, which Il
} not a 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
:. the subject
! TOO true" he muttered, sadly ans
reminiscently. only by differen
routes. Some lead downward NOR
{. weirdly and incongruously than others
and mine is one. But-listen. AIDE
{ lade Lamphere was beautiful in form
and feature-and weIl-modeled form
= and feature I always admired. I di
not love her, for pure love Is out 0
the question with a roue which, how
. ever humiliating, / professed to be
= but was fascinated. and this fascins
ton placed her at the head Of the lis
u Of those l admired. II innocence
n a fault. and trust folly. then she wa
9 guilty Of both. and l took advantage {
y each. She became my abject slavl
o trusted me implicitly. A trust whic
was depicted In her large blue eye
n eyes that were calm and soft an
n trustful, and that could look steal
n lastly into mine without a suspicio
OF doubt. In her sight was almoI
IN perfect-divine. became her Adon
n and she worshiped at my feet Tai
IN ing advantage Of this soulful trust,
reveled in her charms and robbed Il
a. tender flower of all that was innocel
and pure.
But this rainbow-tinted happinei
~ could not last There were 9TH
Nv sylph-like maidens / adored-othe
u whose charms purloined portion
my time. And so the awakening cam
IT It was in the form Of a rival wi
temperamental moods, voluptuoi
ny form and dashing ways. This infld'
is ity on my part thrilled ADELAIDE III
ro an electric shock. She was stunned
e first and gazed at me with eyes
IN which were depicted wonderment al
lat doubt Then, as the truth dawn
ne upon her. she chided-wept-implor
ng and begged me to desist. / on
laughed at her tears and Knocked
We her despair. Perceiving this dout
Use dupIicity on my part, my falsity
heart, the inward rottenness of 7
IN soul. the magic spell was broken, a
ne her whole nature revolted and und
'ps went a change. She drew back wi
an. sealed lips. gave me one despair
are look. and then left me to pursue I
olu own course.
But she did not forget-O heave
iae she did not forget. Sealed lips set
~ a determination for revenge are me-
lne dangerous than paroxysms Of RAJ
az or over-abundance Of speech. cor
have withstood both better than /
unprecedented method she took