The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-02-04

cDhnSc Will EoVedl AiStAI IuOIo edCu 1et-
ter; but he will hang on and grind
away. And then, at last-' -.
He stopped and made a light, rather
graceful gesture with his fingers.
"What then 90 demanded Treden-
mis-, with manifest Impotence.
"There will be new administration,
and if he struggles through, it will be
worse for him than If he were dropped,
as in that case he throws away another
four years of his life and all the chances
for a future they might hold if he were
free to avail himself of Them"
Tredennis stood up, looking very
large under the influence of the feeling
! which disturbed him. Arbuthnot him
self was not entirely unimpressed by
his quick movement and the energy it
expressed.
| "You treat the matter coolly,v he
exclaimed as he rose.
! ArbuthnOt turned his attention to
his cigar. .s..s. E..g.,.a.s z
"Yes," he replied. Ell treat it coolly.
If treated it warmly or holly, the
effect produced would be about the
same. My influence upon civil service
is just what it might be expected to be;
and no more. Its weight is easily car
ried.'' a..
81 beg your partlon,'' said Tredennis,
feeling the business and adroitness of
the speech. no "
s'Not at all,'' Arbuthnot answered.
cit is not necessary. It makes you lose
your hold on yourself to be brought
face to face with the thing. It is quite
natural. 1t has had the same effect on
me, and I am cold-blooded fellow,
and frivolous fellow into the bargain.'
81 have never thought of the matter
before ~ said Trpf0nnic ;,4s
81 feel as if my Indifference is some
! thing to be ashamed off,
elf you give your attention as duty
70 such Subjects" was Arbuthnot's
response, t'you will be kept actively
employed. If you take my advice,
you will let them alone"
sThe trouble is" said Tredeunis
"that every one seems to let them
alone"
Richard regarded him, from his place
on the sofa-cushions delightedly. .'
"Here's an example for you, Larry, ,,
he said. "Protit by him. Everything
is worth while. He is an example to
us all. Let us all profit by him.
ooh, he began right" laughed Ar
buthnot. ff
"He began where you began,'' re.
turned Richard. @
| nI? '' was the airy answer-"I never
began at all. That is my little diff
! Guilty. i am the other one. told you
there was another one. I represent
him."
| Tredennis regarded him steadily.
For the first time in the course of their
acquaintance, he began to suspect him
His manner was too light altogether,
and the old shade which had fallen
upon his eyes before during the even
ing showed itself again.
uI.ct us hear about the other one,''
he said. ... =.
ale is easily disposed off, was the
answer. "There was nothing of him
ut the outset. He came to this place
without an object. He liked the idea OF
living in Washington, and of spending
his salary. We will say he was rather
a weli-iooking young fellow, and could
dance and sing q little, and talk decently
well. He had no responsibilities, and
never thought of the future. His sal
airy clothed him, and allowed him lit
tie luXuries and ordinary pleasures.
He spent it when he had it, and made
debts when it was gone. Being pre-
seatable, he was invited out, and made
himself useful and entertaining in a
small way.
"When he thought of the possibilities
VA AAS >t>ASSA OSlAS oAoussuV SuNuchAy W
n close, he was uncomfortable, so he
preferred to think of it. 1t is not a
pleasant thing to reflect that man has
about ten years in which to begin life,
and that after that he is ending it but
it is true. What he does from twenty
to thirty he will be likely to find he
must abide by from thirty to seventy,
if he lives that long. This man, like
the better one, has thrown away the
years in which he might have been pre-.
pairing himself TO end decently. When
they are gone he has nothing to show
for them, aud less than nothing. He is
the feather upon the current, and when
all is over for him, he is whirled out
of sight aud forgotten with the rest.
And, perhaps, if he had felt there was
anything to be gained by his being a
steady, respectable fellow, he might
have settled down into one"
Ephraim Alstou, Il colured man in
North Carolina, while splitting up the
butt of q tree into rails, found twenty