The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-04-27

Psychological
Wonder
. Or Was Ii Matter Of Contagious
. Disease
. By GEORGE L. BYINGTON
. Copyright. 1910. by American Press
BY GEORGE L. BYINGTON

y > '
l arrived at N. late at night on a
visit to my uncle and on arising the
next morning, as was natural, went to
the window to have look at my sur.
roundings. There was hill not far
distant. on the top of which was a
house built In the form Of hexagon.
There were other things to see, but
somehow the hexagonal house drew
my attention from all of them. 1t
stood out alone. | saw no one moving
in or about it, but In some of the win
dows there were evidences that 1t was
inhabited.
The first thing said to my uncle Mt
breakfast was. "Who lives in the hex.
agonal house on the hill2"
What made you ask that?" said my
uncle
Il don't know" | replied.
There's just one thing wish to
warn you about while you are here.
Let that house alone"
After breakfast walked up TO the
heNagonal house and rang the bell.
~ have to stay In town for few
days. said 10 the man who opened
the door. and am looking for a place
TO sleep nights"
Ii took me an hour and cost half Il
dozen lies TO induce him to rent me a
room for just one night. He said no
one lived IN the house except himself
and wife In the rear basement as care
takers. That evening at dinner ! told
my uncle that 1t was too lonely for me.
and | intended to take the night train
for home. Instead of going to the sta
ton, went to the hexagonal house,
was admitted and shown to my room,
the second story front. east.
You won't feel creepy sleeping all
alone up here, will youY asked the
caretaker before withdrawing.
mo. Why do you ask that? Any
thing peculiar about the roomf"
"oh, no: nothing especial. Least
aways'-
"Weil?'
''I'll tell you IN the morning" And
he went down the stairs, his footsteps
echoing loudly through the house.
had been slumbering for perhaps
an hour when ! awoke with start.
For moment could not locate my.
self. Then remembered | was Napo-
Icon the Great. waa al ST. Helena.
| was lying In my bedroom III the
house at Longwood. ! was very I'M
comfortable. ! was Ill. My stomach
was on fire. All, remembered. | had
been i'll for some time. and that infer
nal English doctor was poisoning me.
All these points came to me In quick
succession. Why did get myself into
this trap? Why did | surrender to
peridlous Albion? should have
known that they would risk no second
escape. as from Elba All, If ! had
had at Waterloo my old guard that
had ut Jena. Wagram. Austeritz! But
they had starved or frozen In Russia
l opposed Wellington with troops Off
eered by men they did not trust. and
the officers no longer had faith In me.
My star had set. Besides. | was Ill
This Internal trouble or something like
1t was on me then.
Why am | left alone by my attend
ants? Where is my valet? Where Is
MontholoD. Las Casas? Where are
they all? | would call the doctor TO
relieve me of this Internal pain II
did not know he would give me more
of his poison. | wish | had now some
real poison that would let me out of
this-the bag | gave Constant to keep
for me- fresh MS when | first received
1t from the chemist. found II on
that dreadful night Mt Foniainebleu.
Had 1t been its original strength
would have been spared that humiliat-
Ing abdicatien.
Some one Is coming. II Is man
| can hear his footsteps in the CORR
dor. The door is opening slowly; oh.
so slowly. What suspense,
What, you, ID 'Enghien. Go back to
your grave! Go, go, say! 1t was not
my fault. They carried out an order
that l would have countermanded had
/ known in time. They were always
In hurry to obey me when l wished
them to be slow Go back. ] say, or
II you must haunt your slayer turn to
him who Numbered. | hate him. as
you do. In shooting you he concen
trated Europe and cost me my throne
1t put me here on this desolate island
to die lingering death.
Gone? | can't stand this. must
end 1t. How? My razor? My valet
has It, A rope? | have none. With
a penknife ! can open vein. The
knife have. Shall get 1t? Twice
tried when about to fall from the top
Of my self built pyramid, and twice !
failed. Fate has never deceived me.
Fate has worked In my case on con-
verging lines. Fate will not let me
take my own life. Nevertheless can
try.
Constant will get the knife for me.
Constant.
No one answered
/ lay celebrating whether I should
end 1t all or let my disease finish me
till fell asleep.
Then ! dreamed that 1t was all over
was In casket perched upon an I'M
iutuSc luHclsii uOWu tHc
Champs d'Elysee. The sidewalks. the
windows. the housetops. were all
crowded with vast throngs Of people
who as ! passed uncovered. some Of
them waving. some crossing them
selves. all excitedly lamenting. All.
my French people, without your ma
tive enthusiasm ! could not have hum
bled Europe!
But this Bourbon king. Fool. How
dare he reawaken that spirit which
has been slowly dying? Let him look
out for his throne. 1t Is more totter-
ing than this casket away up where
1t sways with every rut In the street.
Well, my body is at the Invalides
Now ! may rest.
was awakened by slight noise
and opened my eyes, 1t was morning
The caretaker had come into my room
and was setting down pitcher Of hot