-
Articles/Ads
Article Jasper's Folly. ← Page 10 of 11 Article Jasper's Folly. Page 10 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Jasper's Folly.
bad reputation that he declined to live in it . He tried to sell or to lease it , but in vain . ***** ** It happened onc Christmastidc that Mr . Courtley , tho reader ' s old acquaintance , had a large gathering at his place . Ho was still
vigorous , and boro the weight and cares of his seventy years well . Among those present at the festivities were Doctor Daley and Mr . Aldborough . Old Squire Broxton had long sine'e joined his ancestors in their Eternal sleep .
The house-party were seated at breakfast when the mail-bag arrived . The contents werc duly sorted out , and the respective recip ients settled down to a quiet perusal of their letters . "Light at lust ! " exclaimed the host , who had been reading a somewhat lengthy epistle . "Daley , old friend , and yon . too , Aldborough , I am g lad that you are hero You were both firm
believers in the innocence of Jonson , aud you were right . These communications clear thc atmosphere of mystery that has so long shrouded our locality , and the suspicion thafc has rested in the minds of some on au innocent man will be removed when these documents become coramon property . I will iivst road the letter enclosing the confession of the culprit . Ifc is dated from a station among the hills on the frontier eif Afghanistan .
"DEAR SIR , —I send you the enclosed confession . Your name being mentioned therein , I , on reference to the County Directory , was pleased to learn that yon were still alive and in the Commission of the Peace for the district whero the horrible crimes took place .
" The confession was taken down in the presence of a local Commissioner , his clerk and myself . I may tell you that the wretched man was brought here some time ago , and placed under my care . He appeared to be suffering from some subtle brain disease . He frequently had fits ar . d on recovery would occasionall y lose all consciousness , and remain in a trance-tike condition feir elays . His was a most curious and complicated case .
"Several friends of mine who were on the Medical Staff came and saw him , and were a . s much mystified as'I was . Afterwards he could talk most rationally and eloquently . Hc was fche wreck of a once great personality , both physical and mental .
" On other occasions and particularly towards the end he would pretend that he saw visions , and would hold conversation with them , sometimes in English , but more frequently in Hindustani . 1 may also tell you that in addition to the brain mischief , I found , on examination , that there was a cardiac affection of long standing , and one likely to prove mortal at any moment .
" Under careful nursing and medical treatment his mind became more composed , and his general condition of health improved . One sultry night , when the air wns almost stifling , I was seated by his bedside . He was asleep ; his swarth y face was rendered still durkerby the massof black hair that surmounted it . His features in repose were strikingl y handsome , notwithstanding the ravages of ill-health . His lips wore
a defiant expression , and being partly open showed fecth of ivory whiteness . As I gazed upon his face f was struck with its fascinating , though saturnine expression . It was the countenance of a man of evil passions , such a onc as Dante must have had in mind when he fancifully wrote of those who peopled the regions of the damned .
"As I watched the face of thc sleeping stranger , an affri ghted expression gradually shadowed it like a mask . Beads of perspiration stood on the prominent temples , and his lips convulsively moved . " I have stated that the night was oppressive , and my head told me the air was charged with an electrical current . Presentl y low
muttering thunder was heard and a soughing wind stirred the trees . ' •' There is a storm brewing , ' I said as I . arose and closed the shutters . I again resumed my vigil . Presently my patient sprang up in a sitting position , and his gleaming eyes were fixed on vacancy . Slowly ho spoke in the Hindu language .
" ' Great Mother Kali ! I am here ! What is your will ? Do you call upon me io sacrifice another victim to thy altar Y No , I will sin no more ! ' I placed my arms around him and tried to force him to a recumbent position . 1 knew that I held in my grasp a madman , one who was not responsible for his actions , but strong man as I
was , a nervousness came over me when 1 gleaned by his wanderings that I had to deal with a Thug . He fancied that he was confronted by the fabled goddess Kali , to whom in the wild jungles and fastnesses , altars of sacrifice are raised . To add to the horror of the scene , the siorm increased in violence . The man for a moment became-calm , and muttered :
'" Great Spirit of the Sacred Altars . I have angered you ! Forgive your son . ' You . still frown n pan me I Why is this ? Hark . ' how the storm fiends shriek and howl ! Siva , the Destroyer , has more power to-night than Vishnu the Preserver ! Ye are pointing to the accursed Feringhee ! Must he die ? Yc smile in assent .
Great Goddess thou shalt be , ohe-yeel ! Siva strengthen my fingers !' A fearful paroxysm then took possession of him , and his strong muscular fingers tried to clutch my throat . I exerted my utmost strength to keep him on thc bed , but iu vain . A fearful struggle ensued , but his strength gradually left him and he relapsed into a death-like faint .
" 1 lifted him into bed , applied ice to his temples , and forced some snl rtilatile down his throat . After a time the action of his heart grew stronger , his eyes opened , and in them shone the li ght of returning reason . I gave him aeoutposing draught , spoke soothingly to him , and , fo niy great relief , hc shortly after slept as placidly as a
Jasper's Folly.
child . I made up my mind , however , that in future he should bo under the care of two persons , both night and day . " The native male nurse , who spoke English well , had been most assiduous in his attention to the sick man . On thc night in question I had sent . him to bed . He came again on dnty at sunrise . I told him what had taken lilace . and warned him to be alert . and on the ,
least alarm to summon me . I promised him that in tho course of the day I wemld send him a companion to share his duties . If in my absence on official dut y thc fits of homicidal phrensy should again bo manifest , that he and ' his colleague should firmly " restrain the man , bufc were not to use violence .
' * At noon I looked in , and was pleased to see that the patient was in one of his lucid moods . The attendants told me that , the sick man had partaken freely of nourishment , and had been conversing with them most coherently . "He asked me to accord him a few minutes' private conversation . When thc nurses had left , he said to mc :
" ' Doctor , I am not long for this world ! Am I nofc right ? I wish to make a confession . It is useless to fence with me . My hold on life in held but b y a thread . The mischief lies here , ' and he placed his hand in the region of his heart . ' I have been and still am in pain . A feeling takes possession of mc occasionally as of suffocation , then a deathly faintness follows . Please examine me . '
"I applied the stethoscope , and the result was ominous . Angina pectoris had him in its grip . I told him that he was in a serious condition , and it was necessary that he should at once settle all worldly matters , as a mortal syncope might overtake him at any moment .
" ' Will yon be good enough , ' he said in quiet tones , ' to send for the Resident Commissioner , as the communication I have to make is in the nature of a dying deposition . I wish to clear the character of one who , though acquitted by the law , has for years rested under the suspicion of many in his native village as a murderer . '
"When the functionary , who was accompanied b y his clerk , arrived the d ying man asked me to give him a strong stimulant . Having partaken of this , his voice , which before the draught had been painfull y weak , grew strong ; and in slow bufc measured accents he dictated to the clerk the confession which J have the honour to forward for yonr perusal . " Yours obediently .
"EIWAR RAI [ . , M . R . C . S . ( England ) , " To Ambrose Courtley , Esq ., J . P . " P . S . —I have to add that , shortly after he had signed the document , with a band apparentl y so feeble as to require guidance , he was seized with a wild paroxysm , and his muscular power was
such that it , took our united strength to restrain him from doino- an injury . His homicidal mania returned , and he strove fo strangle one of us . He foamed at the mouth like a wild beast , struggled fiercely , shrieked out , ' Father Siva the Destroyer , I am thine ! Great Goddess Kali , receive your son , ' and fell hack lifeless .
Tun CONFESSION ' . "I , Michael Travers , being on my bed of death , have to confess to the perpetration of two murders committed at Mortimer , ' iii Staffordshire , England , in the year 1822 . Before giving the details , I have
to state that 1 am not a native of thc British Isles . I was born amidst the Indian mountains . Al y father was a native priest , a Brahmin , and my mother was his mistress . She was of English parentage , but born in Bengal . I bear her name .
"My father was held in hi gh veneration b y his people , » as deeply versed in Sanscrit and many other ancient languages . Hc was the head of a powerful secret society , whoso titular goddess was Kali . " I was brought up under his personal care , and became , as I
advanced in years , au enthusiast in the doctrines that he preached , und a firm believer in the sacrifieal observances which he practised . What , they werc it forms no part of my intention to disclose . "I was moulded to my father ' s will , and for purposes of his own ifc became necessary that I should receive an English education and afterwards sojourn in the British Islands . I accordingly studied for some years afc Bombay and left thafc cit y in possession of hi gh
credentials . In my 21 th year I came to England and became the tutor of a youth , tho only son of a Mr . Ranul ph Mortimer , a Staffordshire magnate . The boy was naturall y clever . 1 became attached to him , found him an apt pupil , and iu seven years few youths of his age were possessed of so much ancient and modern knowledge .
" One evening before the outbreak of a great storm there were assembled a number of guests afc Mortimer Hall . Among those present it , is onl y necessary that I should mention the naiiies ° of two , namely . Air . Ambrose Courtley , a Justice of the Peace , and Doctor
Simeon Daley . Thc lirst mentioned I liked , but the latter 1 disliked . At certain times , especially when the elements are about to bo violently disturbed , J become morose and melancholy . I was asked on that night to contribute some musical selections by my pupil , but not feeling well 1 at first declined , but subsequently consented .
" Then followed the storm , and my dark fit came on . To avoid a scene I hurriedly left the apai tniciit . When the tempest ceased my calmness returned , and feeling ashamed of my conduct I made my way to the room where the Squire and his male guests were . 1 was about to enter when I heard my name mentioned . Something urged mo to play the caves-dropper . 1 heard that in consequence of my conduct . — " Inci pient madness , " Daley called it . Imbecile that hc
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Jasper's Folly.
bad reputation that he declined to live in it . He tried to sell or to lease it , but in vain . ***** ** It happened onc Christmastidc that Mr . Courtley , tho reader ' s old acquaintance , had a large gathering at his place . Ho was still
vigorous , and boro the weight and cares of his seventy years well . Among those present at the festivities were Doctor Daley and Mr . Aldborough . Old Squire Broxton had long sine'e joined his ancestors in their Eternal sleep .
The house-party were seated at breakfast when the mail-bag arrived . The contents werc duly sorted out , and the respective recip ients settled down to a quiet perusal of their letters . "Light at lust ! " exclaimed the host , who had been reading a somewhat lengthy epistle . "Daley , old friend , and yon . too , Aldborough , I am g lad that you are hero You were both firm
believers in the innocence of Jonson , aud you were right . These communications clear thc atmosphere of mystery that has so long shrouded our locality , and the suspicion thafc has rested in the minds of some on au innocent man will be removed when these documents become coramon property . I will iivst road the letter enclosing the confession of the culprit . Ifc is dated from a station among the hills on the frontier eif Afghanistan .
"DEAR SIR , —I send you the enclosed confession . Your name being mentioned therein , I , on reference to the County Directory , was pleased to learn that yon were still alive and in the Commission of the Peace for the district whero the horrible crimes took place .
" The confession was taken down in the presence of a local Commissioner , his clerk and myself . I may tell you that the wretched man was brought here some time ago , and placed under my care . He appeared to be suffering from some subtle brain disease . He frequently had fits ar . d on recovery would occasionall y lose all consciousness , and remain in a trance-tike condition feir elays . His was a most curious and complicated case .
"Several friends of mine who were on the Medical Staff came and saw him , and were a . s much mystified as'I was . Afterwards he could talk most rationally and eloquently . Hc was fche wreck of a once great personality , both physical and mental .
" On other occasions and particularly towards the end he would pretend that he saw visions , and would hold conversation with them , sometimes in English , but more frequently in Hindustani . 1 may also tell you that in addition to the brain mischief , I found , on examination , that there was a cardiac affection of long standing , and one likely to prove mortal at any moment .
" Under careful nursing and medical treatment his mind became more composed , and his general condition of health improved . One sultry night , when the air wns almost stifling , I was seated by his bedside . He was asleep ; his swarth y face was rendered still durkerby the massof black hair that surmounted it . His features in repose were strikingl y handsome , notwithstanding the ravages of ill-health . His lips wore
a defiant expression , and being partly open showed fecth of ivory whiteness . As I gazed upon his face f was struck with its fascinating , though saturnine expression . It was the countenance of a man of evil passions , such a onc as Dante must have had in mind when he fancifully wrote of those who peopled the regions of the damned .
"As I watched the face of thc sleeping stranger , an affri ghted expression gradually shadowed it like a mask . Beads of perspiration stood on the prominent temples , and his lips convulsively moved . " I have stated that the night was oppressive , and my head told me the air was charged with an electrical current . Presentl y low
muttering thunder was heard and a soughing wind stirred the trees . ' •' There is a storm brewing , ' I said as I . arose and closed the shutters . I again resumed my vigil . Presently my patient sprang up in a sitting position , and his gleaming eyes were fixed on vacancy . Slowly ho spoke in the Hindu language .
" ' Great Mother Kali ! I am here ! What is your will ? Do you call upon me io sacrifice another victim to thy altar Y No , I will sin no more ! ' I placed my arms around him and tried to force him to a recumbent position . 1 knew that I held in my grasp a madman , one who was not responsible for his actions , but strong man as I
was , a nervousness came over me when 1 gleaned by his wanderings that I had to deal with a Thug . He fancied that he was confronted by the fabled goddess Kali , to whom in the wild jungles and fastnesses , altars of sacrifice are raised . To add to the horror of the scene , the siorm increased in violence . The man for a moment became-calm , and muttered :
'" Great Spirit of the Sacred Altars . I have angered you ! Forgive your son . ' You . still frown n pan me I Why is this ? Hark . ' how the storm fiends shriek and howl ! Siva , the Destroyer , has more power to-night than Vishnu the Preserver ! Ye are pointing to the accursed Feringhee ! Must he die ? Yc smile in assent .
Great Goddess thou shalt be , ohe-yeel ! Siva strengthen my fingers !' A fearful paroxysm then took possession of him , and his strong muscular fingers tried to clutch my throat . I exerted my utmost strength to keep him on thc bed , but iu vain . A fearful struggle ensued , but his strength gradually left him and he relapsed into a death-like faint .
" 1 lifted him into bed , applied ice to his temples , and forced some snl rtilatile down his throat . After a time the action of his heart grew stronger , his eyes opened , and in them shone the li ght of returning reason . I gave him aeoutposing draught , spoke soothingly to him , and , fo niy great relief , hc shortly after slept as placidly as a
Jasper's Folly.
child . I made up my mind , however , that in future he should bo under the care of two persons , both night and day . " The native male nurse , who spoke English well , had been most assiduous in his attention to the sick man . On thc night in question I had sent . him to bed . He came again on dnty at sunrise . I told him what had taken lilace . and warned him to be alert . and on the ,
least alarm to summon me . I promised him that in tho course of the day I wemld send him a companion to share his duties . If in my absence on official dut y thc fits of homicidal phrensy should again bo manifest , that he and ' his colleague should firmly " restrain the man , bufc were not to use violence .
' * At noon I looked in , and was pleased to see that the patient was in one of his lucid moods . The attendants told me that , the sick man had partaken freely of nourishment , and had been conversing with them most coherently . "He asked me to accord him a few minutes' private conversation . When thc nurses had left , he said to mc :
" ' Doctor , I am not long for this world ! Am I nofc right ? I wish to make a confession . It is useless to fence with me . My hold on life in held but b y a thread . The mischief lies here , ' and he placed his hand in the region of his heart . ' I have been and still am in pain . A feeling takes possession of mc occasionally as of suffocation , then a deathly faintness follows . Please examine me . '
"I applied the stethoscope , and the result was ominous . Angina pectoris had him in its grip . I told him that he was in a serious condition , and it was necessary that he should at once settle all worldly matters , as a mortal syncope might overtake him at any moment .
" ' Will yon be good enough , ' he said in quiet tones , ' to send for the Resident Commissioner , as the communication I have to make is in the nature of a dying deposition . I wish to clear the character of one who , though acquitted by the law , has for years rested under the suspicion of many in his native village as a murderer . '
"When the functionary , who was accompanied b y his clerk , arrived the d ying man asked me to give him a strong stimulant . Having partaken of this , his voice , which before the draught had been painfull y weak , grew strong ; and in slow bufc measured accents he dictated to the clerk the confession which J have the honour to forward for yonr perusal . " Yours obediently .
"EIWAR RAI [ . , M . R . C . S . ( England ) , " To Ambrose Courtley , Esq ., J . P . " P . S . —I have to add that , shortly after he had signed the document , with a band apparentl y so feeble as to require guidance , he was seized with a wild paroxysm , and his muscular power was
such that it , took our united strength to restrain him from doino- an injury . His homicidal mania returned , and he strove fo strangle one of us . He foamed at the mouth like a wild beast , struggled fiercely , shrieked out , ' Father Siva the Destroyer , I am thine ! Great Goddess Kali , receive your son , ' and fell hack lifeless .
Tun CONFESSION ' . "I , Michael Travers , being on my bed of death , have to confess to the perpetration of two murders committed at Mortimer , ' iii Staffordshire , England , in the year 1822 . Before giving the details , I have
to state that 1 am not a native of thc British Isles . I was born amidst the Indian mountains . Al y father was a native priest , a Brahmin , and my mother was his mistress . She was of English parentage , but born in Bengal . I bear her name .
"My father was held in hi gh veneration b y his people , » as deeply versed in Sanscrit and many other ancient languages . Hc was the head of a powerful secret society , whoso titular goddess was Kali . " I was brought up under his personal care , and became , as I
advanced in years , au enthusiast in the doctrines that he preached , und a firm believer in the sacrifieal observances which he practised . What , they werc it forms no part of my intention to disclose . "I was moulded to my father ' s will , and for purposes of his own ifc became necessary that I should receive an English education and afterwards sojourn in the British Islands . I accordingly studied for some years afc Bombay and left thafc cit y in possession of hi gh
credentials . In my 21 th year I came to England and became the tutor of a youth , tho only son of a Mr . Ranul ph Mortimer , a Staffordshire magnate . The boy was naturall y clever . 1 became attached to him , found him an apt pupil , and iu seven years few youths of his age were possessed of so much ancient and modern knowledge .
" One evening before the outbreak of a great storm there were assembled a number of guests afc Mortimer Hall . Among those present it , is onl y necessary that I should mention the naiiies ° of two , namely . Air . Ambrose Courtley , a Justice of the Peace , and Doctor
Simeon Daley . Thc lirst mentioned I liked , but the latter 1 disliked . At certain times , especially when the elements are about to bo violently disturbed , J become morose and melancholy . I was asked on that night to contribute some musical selections by my pupil , but not feeling well 1 at first declined , but subsequently consented .
" Then followed the storm , and my dark fit came on . To avoid a scene I hurriedly left the apai tniciit . When the tempest ceased my calmness returned , and feeling ashamed of my conduct I made my way to the room where the Squire and his male guests were . 1 was about to enter when I heard my name mentioned . Something urged mo to play the caves-dropper . 1 heard that in consequence of my conduct . — " Inci pient madness , " Daley called it . Imbecile that hc