St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-29

plalneu ana perhaps never will bt
books on the brain and nerves. Thes
two old college chums never failed t
meet once week in the young lawyer
study to spend an evening in thei
favorite way.
Standing near the open fire, Thoma
Crane said: Il must maintain that Their
is not merely possible, but probable
connection between any two person
you may name. Trace back your life
and somewhere it crosses the life of tn
beggar you pass in the street. But TO
me. the man who makes my clothes an
the woman who cooks my food woul'
have different lives from what they do
YoG grant it? Well, then, trace it on
and what happens9 But for them
what? / tell you, Fenton, your life o
mine sways that of human beings be
yond the seas.' What grew out of thi
took about the hour which Fentol
had felt from experience would b,
spent standing in the cheerful freight
In the hall the conversation hat
drifted to another phase of the facina
ting subject, and as Crane took down hi:
overcoat he was saying: ''Of course
there is such a thing as indirect, unin-
territorial responsibility. The man who
does good deed may rob some one be
hind him of deserved praise when he al
lows the deed to be counted to his own
credit; and the man whose life set in
motion the train of events which re-
suited in the good may never, even
dream of it. And, on the other hand,
we meet men every day who are really
responsible for the crimes for which
other men endure punishment. Not
knowingly, not purposely, not with
malice, but. in truth, responsible for all
that" From this the discussion went
on for half-hour or more, and then
Crane opened the door to go. The
bitter cold rushed in in fierce blast, as
he said in answer to his friend last re-
mark: IAN oath should be sacred. I
can conceive of no circumstances which
would warrant its being broken.'
''Well.' said Fenton, II think we
have pretty completely covered the
whole ground tonight. You have
brought up the theories of connection
between all human beings, and of far
fetched kind of responsibility in which /
don't believe, and l will take pleasure
in conflict with you on these points
next week. And now, do you know it's
confounded cold? am half inclined to
drive you away, old friend; can YOU de-
duce anything mathematical or psyche
logical from that?''
''Both," said Crane, ''two straight
ines intersect in only one point. Five
minutes might make man too late for
he inevitable. certainly ought not to
De too early for my fate.'' and with
hese laughing words on his lips he, in
deed, went straight to his fate.
Crossing the little park which seemed
LOUDLY desolate from night and storm,
Is though to balance its summer beauty,
here was a sudden cry little ahead.
\ quarter minute two men seemed en-
ragged in terrible struggle, but before
lie could reach them one had rushed
way among the trees, and the other
lad fallen to the earth. Cranes first
impulse was to follow the runaway; his
econd, and the one he acted upon, was
o assist the other. Crane had studied |
1edicine before his father had prevailed |
pom him to be banker. so as to per-
etuate the business in which the family |
ad grown rich for three generations.
scarcely needed more than the
limpse he could get of the wounded
lan's face in the darkness and the
ound of his falling voice to prove to
i'm that all that the poor fellow had to
ay must be said at once. The knife in
ne other mans hand had done it's work
My too well.
'.How long will I ive?" said the
ranger, in a wonderfully calm and
ven voice. There was perfect SINGER
y in the tones he used; he evidently
1t that xviii | live??' would have
cen wasted question. -.'
Crane answered with equal frankness:
Not five minutesn' i"
" Are you rich?" in a weaker tone.
Eyes" r-/ |
"Charitable?' .a ~
Thomas Crane felt doubt, but he
id yes again.
"Will, you give stranger-a dying
year of your time?'' .0l
!" VIII give" began Crane. Il
Listen,n with sudden energy. "I I
ldn't an enemy in the world. am
ing by the hand of murderer. Will
u give one year to, find the man who
responsible for this? And will YOU
axe it cost him his life?''
Crane hesitated, but looked into the
es turned towards his face and said !
Yes again. {
''Swear it?'' s
A longer pause, and then Crane said ,
emnly: Il do swear itr' /
wilder blast swept across the park,
d when it had past, Crane was look a
: down on the dead face of the man /
lose path had crossed his that fearful h
mt, and to whom he had pledged t
ar of his life.
III.