The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-03-27

This lake is said to have no bot
tom; it has never been sounded. No
bodies can be washed up by these
waves. Nirvana lies beneath. But
first say your prayers"
At last he took seat under bal
sam fir, which seemed to invite him
: to repose under its shade. The air
! was delicious with the notes and
balmy odors of spring. Over the wall
were stately trees snd the heavy foil
age of the forest.
, mo one would think to look at 1t
that"
/ He left the sentence unfinished and
, sat there trying to think. to fix his
! mind upon some certain definite fact
; which seemed to have escaped hin
, forever, but the power OF concentrar
, ton had left him.
? 81 don't even know why wanted 10
kill myself" he reflected.
5 You don't want to remember that"
e said voice at his elbow. He turned.
; and saw an old man sitting beside
q him. Hugh could have sworn that he
: had not spoken his thoughts aloud A
e second glance showed that the man
4 was not SO old as his long white beard
made him appear. His eyes were
. bright and sparkling.
Il haven't the pleasure of your &C
+ quaintance." said Hugh. though 1t
9 seems to me / have seen you be-
y fore My name is Hugh Stoker."
. Yes, l know. My name is Win
: field, Herman Winfield; ever heard
the name before?"
;, He seemed relieved when Hugh an
swered in the negative
is there anything can do for
:, your
i remember you now" cried Hugh.
you sat by me like this and you said
~ those same words-let me sect
~ might have been year ago. or it
might have been yesterday. 1t was in
| Central park
1t was yesterday morning"
n Il had made up my mind to die and
did kill myself last night. or !
thought / did. Were you brought here
4 for trying to kill yourself?" he asked
q at last.
4 mo. suicide is a coward. / am
81 not coward.
4 Hugh flushed and an angry reply
n rose to his lips. but he checked him
q self; it wouldn't do to get into Z
Il brawl with the first fellow patient h
ri met.
% Thank you." he said with curling
M lip.
Il admit that the act of suicide re
quires a certain physical courage o.
81 rather a reckless state of mind, wher,
p one feels as though he may dare tn,
devil himself. But that Is not bravery
Il a suicide 10 morally q coward. Lo0l
\ at the paper almost any day and ynv
n win see how some man has lost cOur
" age and given up the fight and blow
\ out his brains. That would be all tn
better, perhaps. for the world had b
y left no one behind him; but that SAM
man has left a wife and some hall
dozen children to fight the BATH
Irk alone. Is there any bravery in desert
of ing your post under fre and leavinl
ain your companions to do the fighting
he All the world would brand such actor
as that of a coward. 1t is my Opinion
n
nd way. That is why / have built thi
led temple of Nirvana. That is why
,ss have filled it with cowards-just 70
he the pleasure Of seeing them kin them
"a selves-just for the pleasure of Ia,
ing their worthless bodies to exper
ment upon when they are dead"
he When he opened his eyes, Hug
rst found himself in his own bed. He 81
up and stared about him to make sur
that it was his own room. Everythin
" was the same except that upon the I,
BILE beside him lay the red bound vo
nus ume with the strange title which b
'ar had seen the morning before, but ha
,'s not opened. Beside it lay a lette
ar. which he seized and opened. 1t ran
in Dear Stoker: AS you seem tho
ne oughiy cured l discharge you from m
pom institution-take you away in III
"as same manner that brought you her
l.el You will receive letter this mornin
.ne from an old friend of your fathers Q
nc fering you an opening in his bank
our hope you will make good. Your mer
DRY VIII return In "a hours, and whe
vi 1t does, do not forget how you "a
ins from the death chair and the leth
Jul cup. neither. of which could possib
rus have done you any harm. You won
om not have seen the grotto had you n
"~s already been tested. A sound sle'
and a hearty meal is the surest ",
0e' to cure the disease from which "
were suffering.
van Think kindly Of the Temple
loo' Nirvana and your friend.
'Vus HERMAN WINFIELD"
y. Hugh reached for the book a
.vel found that small part was printed
- English. 1t was an eloquent descr