Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-04-21

melancholy footman, who, walking be-
fore me with the delicacy of an Agag,
noiselessly ushered me into the study.
It was my lot to be again rooted to the
spot with amazement. By the bookcase,
in a shaded corner of the room, with his
head bowed low on his hands, knelt the
philosopher. Here was long stretch
from the siege of Troy, from the simple
wrath of the childlike hero to the most
complex embarrassment of an heir of all
the ages. What should [ do? The dis
NAL mental had fed to the shades with
out word, without even a glance into
the room. If. l retreated, | left my
friend unaided, and remained ignorant
of the cause of his strange conduct IF
[ advanced, l will again be the intruder
on a scene not prepared for my inspec-
ton. In an agony of hesitation / fell to
brushing my hat with my elbow; but not
finding the expected relief In the occupa-
ton, was about to des1st, when my hat
decided that my head could not, by fall
ing with crack on the floor. The effect
was electrical. Without one glance at
the intruder, the philosopher made o
grab at the nearest bookshelf, dragged
out volume which had not been touch
ed for half century, hand hunted for
nothing in its pages III frantic eagerness.
He was still at it, when [ stood over him
and noted without wonder that he held
the book upside down; then, with the
poorest attempt at surprise which had
ever seen, he rose and grasped my hand.
" You found me on the track of some
thing" 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 a heightened color and sud-
den change of manner, he turned quick
~ to me and said, "My child is ILL.," L
felt positively guilty. I had been angry
with that baby for making my wise
friend foolish, for not being boy, for
being called ga noble woman" Was it
not shameful that a great hulking
brute should sheer at weak thing that
could not even answer with a taunt
Were not my clumsy sarcasms enough
to crush SO delicate plant? The poor
little "noble woman " was in dangerand
1 could do nothing to help her.
There were tears in the eyes which were
looking into mine for comfort, but I had
nothing ready to say.
&C could not stand being Alone" he
muttered, after a short silence; "the
doctor is with her now, and in moment
may hear that my little daughter must
in fact may hear the worst"
While he was speaking, / seemed to
have fifty consoling remarks to offer;
bat when he stopped, no one sentence
would disengage itself from the rest.
What I blurted out at last seems almost
ridiculous as look back on it,
"1ou 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 step
upon the stairs; presently the door was
opened by the noiseless footman, and the
most fomous of London doctors entered
the room. My friend leaned heavily on
my arm, but looked at the man of sci
ence with seeming calm.
g am happy to say" said the ply
stefan cheerily, "that our little friend is
going on as well as possible"
"And she is out of danger?"
"She never was in it.
Never in danger cried [, most dis
appointed.
"She has nothing the matter with
her." he replied, "but a slight fever
ish cold. / 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, wel-nigh moved
to tears, by a baby's feverish cold. Of
course [ was very glad that it was no
worse; but my friend was too absurd,
and | would not spare him.
Won't you resume your studies?" I
asked sarcastically, pointing to the dis
turbed book, which was lying on the
ground at our feet. His humility might
have disalmed me. CT am afraid I've
been fool, he said; "but if you had
seen her all flush and breathing hard;
and then she is so small and fragile"
eyes, for noble woman" I re-
marked. He received the dart meekly.
Philosopher" said [, suddenly, deter
mined to rouse him at any cost, "when [
entered this room you were engaged in
prayer" His color certainly deepened.
" May ask, " I inquired with an appear
huCC VI OCIC1SuCO, W1COuSI you were
addressing yourself to the Personal First
Cause, or to the Unknowable- per-
haps you were merely bowling to the
rational order of the Universe ?''
He made gesture of impatience, but
answered still with studied admiration.
&C was alone and in trouble"
"And the efficacy of prayer?" I asked.
''For heavens sake" cried he, burst
ing into excitement, fstop your jargon
Nothing shows such ignorance of sub
iect as having all it's can't phrases on the
tip of your tongue. Can't I speak to
God without expecting to be paid for
it?"
This was turning the tables. IF he
was going to take to questions, / knew I
should end by admitting myself fool.
So to avoid Socratic dialogue I put my
hand on my friends shoulder and said:
you are good man, philosopher; may
you and the noble woman live thou
sand years.
"Thank you,'' he said simply; "and
now you must let me go and sing p@an
with the nobler woman. my patient Pen