The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-16

|
l advanced, I was again the intruder on
a scene not prepared for my inspection.
In an agony of hesitation l fell to brush
ing my hat with my elbow; but not
finding the expected relief in the occu-
patton, I was about to desist, when my
hat decided that my head could not, by
falling with crack on the floor. The
effect was electrical. Without one glance
at the intruder, the philosopher made q
grab at the nearest bookshelf, dragged
out volume which had not been
touched for half century. and hunted
for nothing in its pages with frantic
eagerness. He was still at it. when ]
stood over him and noted without won.
der that he held the book upside down
then with the poorest imitation of sur
prise which l have ever seen, he rose
and grasped my hand. "You found me
on the track of something" he said, 81
was looking it out in-in-"
Here it occurred to him that he did
not know the name of the venerable
tome which he had so rudely disturbed
and with heightened color and a sud
den change of manner he turned quickly
to me and said, "My child is ill.," l felt
positively guilty. I had been angry with
the baby for making my wise friend
foolish, for not being boy, for being
called noble woman. Was it not
shameful that a great hulking brute
should sneer at weak thing that could
not even answer with taunt? Were not
my clumsy sarcasms enough to crush SC
delicate plant? The poor little "noblt
woman" was in danger, and could dc
nothing to help her. There were tears
in the eyes which were looking int
mine for comfort, but l had nothing
ready to say.
81 could not stand being alone" he
muttered, after short silence; "the doc
tor is with her now, and in moment
must hear that my little daughter must
in fact may hear the worst"
While he was speaking, I seemed tc
have fifty consoling remarks to offer; but
when he stopped, no one sentence would
disengage Itself from the rest. What
blurted out at last seems almost ridicu
lous as I look back upon it.
"You must hope for the BEST" | said
"you know she has youth ON her side."
The words were scarcely out of my
mouth when heard measured steF
upon the stairs, presently the door was
opened by the noiseless footman, and the
most famous of London doctors entered
the room. My friend leaned heavily on
my arm, but looked at the man o.
science with seeming calm.
81 am happy to say" said the physi
clan cheerfulIy, "that our little friend is
going on as well as possible.
"And she is out of dangerY'
"She never was in it."
"Never in danger? cried I, almos1
disappointed.
"She has nothing the matter with
her." he replied, 'but slight feverisl
cold. l have seldom seen finer or more
healthy child. Good morning"
never was more annoyed. Here was
a waste of my finest feelings. Here was
| stirred to the depth, weli-nigh moved
TO tears, by the baby's feverish cold. Oh
course, | was very glad that it was nc
worse; but my friend was too absurd
and | would not spare him.
"Won't you resume your studiesT'
asked, sarcastically, pointing to the dis.
turbed book which was lying on the
ground at our feet. His humanity might
have disarmed me; 'I'm afraid I've been
fool" he said; "but if you had seen her
all flushed and breathing hard; and then
she is so small and fragile"
eyes, for noble woman" remarked
he received the dart meekly. "Philoso
pher," said / suddenly, determined u
rouse him at any cost, "shen entered
this room, you were engaged in prayer
His color certainly deepened. "May
ask" | inquired with an appearance o.
Difference, "whether you were addressing
yourself to the Personal First Cause, or tt
the Unknowable-but perhaps you were
merely bowing to the rational order o
the Universew
He made gesture of impatience, bu
answered still with studied moderation
81 was alone and in trouble"
"And the efficacy of prayer% I asked
"For heavens sake" cried he, burst
ing into excitement, "stop your jargon
Nothing shows such ignorance of sub
ject as having all its cant phrases on tn
tip of your tongue. Can't l speak to Got
without expecting to be paid for it?"
This was turning the tables. If he wa
going to take to questions, I knev
l should end by admitting mysel
a fool. So to avoid a Socratic dialogu
| put my hand on my friends shoulder
and said: "You are good man, philosc
pher; may you and the noble woman
live thousand years"
"Thank you," he said simply; "an
now you must let me 60 and sing paa
with the nobler woman, my patient Per
elope, my sweet wife,"
So he went with long strides over tn
asphodel meadow, and l betook mysel
to my tent full of pleasant thoughts
Blackwood's Magazine.
Some Of the residents of Fort Edwar
have been trifing with the mysteries Q
II g. l.