The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-06-10

Many suicides result from brooding.
One of the best antidotes for such a
condition of mind is good thrashing.
Take a man who is down on his luck.
He is the same man with the same
strength, health and ability as at other
times, but his mind needs shifting
Let somebody throw him out of win
dow with something beneath to break
the fall he expects and very likely the
shock will bring him to himself.
Evelyn Hawthorne one day received
telegram from her brother-in-law, Hen
ry Fitch, to come at once-her sister
was dying. Evelyn took the next train
and arrived only in time to bid her
sister goodby. The dying words were,
Il wish you to marry Henry and bring
up my children"
The husband was Frustrated. he
was good, strong, manly fellow, but
prone to look upon the dark side OF
things. There were four little children
left him, with no mother to take care
Of them. Instead of attempting to
drive his bereavement out of his mind,
he permitted it to take complete pos.
session Of him. He moped and brood
ed and brooded and moped, and thar
was all he did day in and day out.
Consequently the load all fell upon
Evelyn. She did all she could to en-
courage Henry, but In vain. He sank
lower and lower into the slough OF
despond till she discovered one day
that he was meditating suicide. Some
thing must be done She was a coura-
geous girl, but the only scheme she
could devise required a man to exc
cute. She telegraphed her brother
Ethan to come to her at once. He ar
rived by the next train, and Evelyn
told him what she feared for Henry.
That same evening Henry went ont
alone. There was an awful look in his
eye-a look to indicate that he was
bent on taking his life. Ethan Haw-
thorne armed himself with revolver
and an ak. Evelyn tied a strip OF
cut for his eyes. Then he turned his
coat inside out, pulled SLOUGH hat
over his forehead and sailed forth
after Henry. He overlook his man
making direct for the river No one
could have had any object in going to
a river at that time Of night except 10
Jump in and end his troubles.
"Hellor cried Ethan.
The figure ahead turned and asked
what was wanted.
81 want you" replied Ethan.
what for|
I'm going to kill you"
"Go ahead"
Ethan raised his revolver, and there
was an ominous click.
"Who are you" said Henry, land
what are you going to kill me for?'
mo matter who I am. I'm going to
kill you because l have been sent by
the Lord to make sacrifice Of you"
As a preliminary to this pious work
Ethan fred a shot, which sang VI
cious song in Henry's ear. Henry
lodged
Hold on there" he said. eff you're
going to kill me I'd like to go home
and say goodby to my family"
Ethan smiled. 1t was evident that
Henry's suicidal intention had been
| arrested.
There's no time for that. I hear
voices continually saying, XIII him.
kill him, kill him."
Another shot passing close to Hen
RVS other ear warned him that he was
in terrible danger Of being murdered
| by q lunatic. His brain, naturally
quick and resourceful, began to call
up expedients for outwitting the mad
man. His mind was as sound and as
keen as ever.
Don't shoot any more" he said, It'll
I've told you something. I'm the father
of four motherless children. Don't you
think the Lord would like to have me
live to provide for them instead Of
sending you to kill mef'
81 never thought Of that" said Hen
ry, lowering his pistol and raising his
az to his shoulder, where it would be
| better seen.
81 have a sister-in-law. She would
have all the care Of the little ones be-
sides working for them. If she didn't
they would starve."
"Are you the head Of the house"
Eyes. They are all dependent on
me-"
What are you doing out here"
AZ was-well, I'm taking walk"
There's another voice. 1t says, XIII
him."
A bullet whistled this time a short
distance over Henry's head. Then
Ethan put away his pistol, took his ak
In both hands and gave wild shout.
Henry took to his heels. Ethan now
had no fear that he would jump into
the river, so instead Of following him
he returned to the house and assumed
his own rational habiliments. Present
" there was a step without, and Hen
~ came in. He went up to Evelyn,
put his arms about her neck and
kissed her.
Forgive me, Evelyn" he said. 1--WE
come to my senses. have been well
nigh capsized by grief But Pm all
right now"
That was the end Of Henry Fitch's
mental alteration. 1t was months be-
fore he was told Of the ruse to bring
him to a sound mental condition de-
vised by Evelyn and executed by her
brother. Evelyn continued to care for
the children and make the household
happy till Henry opened her eyes te
the fact that she was necessary to
them and to him. They were married,
and Evelyn, understanding Henry bet
ter than her sister had understood him,