The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1920-12-24
A Broken Spell
By T. B. ANDERSON
40. 1920, Western Newspaper unjou1

/ business complication until he was
fairly at the verge of nervous prostra-
1 ton. Figure it as he would, he could
ind. no assurance that he could avoid
a loss that threatened the integrity of
his capital and credit. Confronted also
with the sacrifice Of health, he ar
ranged his office affairs to the BEST adj
vantage possible and went down to the
quiet little country town of Beilevlew.
Root was told that family named
Bartlett took transient or permanent
summer boarders on occasions, and
found their home pleasant and uomfor-
table. If he had felt normal he would
have been duly impressed with the
aaughter of the house, Elsinore, who
took charge Of the house during the i'll
ness of her mother. AS it was, worn
out with anxiety and the loss Of sleep
for many nights, he In dull listless
way completed his arrangements for
becoming guest, and impressed the
fair Elslnore as being a rather mel
ancholy young man.
give me as quiet and secluded an
apartment as possible" he suggested.
"The truth is, am having bad spell
of insomnia, and am easily disturbed"
Miss Bartlett led the way upstairs
and into wing away from the main
house structure and the street.
'sThis first room is occupied by my
Aunt Ophelia, who is aged, infrm and
nervous, but very quiet in her ways"
| explained Elsinore. This next room,
still further remote from disturbing
| noises, will be yours"
81 hope lack of city turmoil will
bring me slumber," half sighed Root.
u think | would give a thousand dol
lars to have one night of normal rest.
am getting frightened that my wake
! fulness will become chronic"
"A week or two here will certainly
do you good" predicted EIsinore.
Poor young mani" she remarked to
her mother later. HE seems so nice
and courteous, but you can notice that
his nerves are all broken down"
The young man wandered miles up
| and down the shaded country road the
rest of the afternoon, seeking to tire
himself out and hoping thereby to
WOO slumber. He looked detected as
he ate his supper and early In the
evening announced that he would re-
ire. At eight O'clock he went up
t,i, p,lI n,NLA
ing upstairs too, came down In "a
f.utter.
ooh, Elsinore," she exclaimed, "just
come and listen"
ITO what, aunty?" queried Elsinore.
"ToDsome one snoring in my room,
Elsinore. | do believe that the new
boarder has mistaken my apartment
| for his own and is asleep in my bed"
"rhen you must use his for tonight"
at once declared thoughtful Elsinore.
"Oh couldn't do that"
But he is sleeping, if he is snoring,
and sleep is the greatest boon be
Graves. Now be accommodating, dear.
We mustn't disturb hinis'
Aunt Ophelia grumbled a good deal,
but .fually gave way. "The bother of
it is I've left my sleeping .draught in
glass of water in my roon" she COM
planned
Walden Root was sound asleep. He
had undressed, and, as Vas his Gus
tom, looked around for the'usual glass
of water. 1t was all ready at hand on
a stand-Aunt Ophelia's night draught,
but in his Indifference he drained it
and got in between the sheets.
All! that delicious sopnolent sem
Saton. Morning, the sunsshining, the
clock downstairs Ginning nine. He
had broken the pest of sfeepessness.
SO eated was Walden Root that he
dressed hurrjsdy and ftfirly dashed
from the house. He roamed the woods,
drinking in the fresh, balmy air in a
kind of ecstacy Of delight and re-
nabilitati0n.
Had the ogre Of sleeplessness been
bafied? How clear his brain was
how insignificant the exaggerated trou-
bles of the past week "Why, here is
a way out!" he openly shouted as
suggestion that had never appealed to
him before occurred to his mind--ap-
plcation for help to an old friend.
Breakfastless he hurried to the tele-
graph station. Within an hour he
knew that he could count upon sub
/. stantial cooperation.
How he babbled forth all his cares, re-
lief and hopefulness to Elsinore Bart
lett later that day. 1t seemed that
he must have a c0nfdant, and she
proved a charming one. His very re-
lief of mind made the second night Of
his stay also a night of restfulness. In
a week he was new man. In two
he had overcome all his business trou-
bles.
And then his thoughts were turned
to love,s for no one young and senti-
mental could resist rosy checked
bright-eyed Esinore. Another week
and they were engaged and the rO-
nance of the occasion was complete.
"Oh. my dear~ exclaimed Aunt
Ophelia raptly, as Elsinore presented
her with new dress month later.
cit is from Walden, as well as l." ex-
planned Elsinore. 81 told him secret
and he blessed yen as his good genius"
It. "a.