Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-12-19
(oRIorNAL.1
QUIRC HY. =
A NUMIsMATIsT's STORY.
BY RYE ROssE.

BY RYE RossE.
II was years ago In my boy hood that
I first became acquainted with Keith
MAXWELL. and 1t that time We were
both students of the same college at
Heidelburg, and wilder, jollier pair
OF young aspirantH to know ledge It
would be hard TO find In any Of our in.
Ut buttons today. The bold manper In
which We hoodwinked our grave Ger
man Professors, and eluded their stolid
vigilance, could not have been accom-.
plished BY any ltss expert than reck-
less students like ourselves. OF course
We lad our Desdemonas, and I do not
think even the black visaRed Moor
could have poured In their pretty pink
ears more "hair.breadth 'scapesi' than
could we, had we been NO disposed.
As for Keith, he and l were sworn
chums. We occupied the same room,
and at night 1t was the rendezvous Of
the widest spirits Of the university.
Our petite soupers" given within
the privacy of its walls, rendered us
quite popular, rs every one who had
been university boy" will under
stand. flour instructors could only
have known how the time was spent
they imagined devoted to Euclid and
German verbs, am afraid they
would have been ssdder," II not
" wiser" men.
1t WAS at these petite soupers"
Keith especially distinguished him.
self. He had fund of Inc X haustable
Wit and repartee. and his rich, vivid
imagination made him invaluable al q
story.teller indeed it was almost i'm.
possible to tell when Keith invented or
related from experience. He was q
deep reader, and had studied tine my this
and legends of many countries he
could relate German ghost stories and
| weird roinances of the Fatherland with
far more impressiveness than the ma
tive students themselves. Indeed, l
have often thought that the reason his
stories impressed us so deeply was be.
cause he more than half believed them
himself. He was without doubt
(slightly) superstitious a trait inheri.
ted probably from some of his ancestors
who originally came from the mystic
region OF the Broken.
After our college days were ended
Keith and did theRhine together, Their
wandered through France and sunny
Italy, and there our paths divided. HI
pursued his way through the classic
lands of Greece, and from thence int
the far lands of the Orient, while / 70
traced my steps, and sped. as fast q,
steam could carry me, across the blu'
Atlantic to waiting friends at home.
After our separation, Keith and
quite naturally drifted apart He WA
an Unsuitable traveller, and much of hi
time was spent in rambling from plac'
10 place, 30 that we never even though
1t worth while to keep up correspOn
dence. Nevertheless,I always retainet
the kindli6st remembrance of GU
Heidelberg days, and often longed L
see my old. time chum. It was not
however, until some twenty years hal
elapsed from the time of our separation
that again had the pleasure at seeinl
him.
was crossing from New York Il
Jersey City on the ferry boat when ,
hand was laid forcibly on my shoulder
A voice some what changed but still re
cognizable uttered my name and Of
turRing round, TO my great joy and sur
prise. l beheld-Keith
In the name Of all that Ia wonderful
from whence did you come 2" l OK
claimed. You must be an apparit'on
for Keith Maxwell, In propria personae
| gave over to Royal Bengal tigers ) ear
ago"
:" am very sorry TO disapoint sucl
sanguine expectations, but the tiger
have not made way with me yet,
laughed the rich mellow voice, witt
the old time ring knew 80 we'll "Doe
this feel like an apparition-eh " an,
D. - n ND
made me vince
| hastily assured him desired N
further proof OF his genuiness aud the
Having repeated for the dozeneth tim
my delight at our unexpected meeting
we fell into q train OF "Reminiscences
i that was broken only by our arrival a
Jersey City, where Keith was oblige,
to hasten h departure in order to cate
a sOuth-bound train.
i Before bidding me adieu, however
he pleaded that l would accOmpan.
him home. Nothing but pressing
business engagement prevented my dc
ling so but l gave him my promise 3
visit him the following week, and hav
ing obtained that he departed wei
satisfied.
Three days sufficed for the completion
OF all my affairs in Jersey City. and
then returned home to Philadel phia
from which city on the following Mon
day | took the train for Keith's resi-
deace in a neighboring State. At dusl
of the Somewhat sultry summer da,
the train stopped at a pretty little way
side station where found Keith await
ling me- The drive was but short, an
ere long we drew up in front OF
spacious old house built after no pal
lticular style of architecture but rattle
a compound of several models throw
together at random Here Keith live
alone, with the exception of an exec
llent farmer and his family who rente
the estate and occupied part CT tn
house.
After a hearty supper Keith conduct
ed me to what he termed his snug
gerry" an apartment not unlike minis
ture museum. Strewn around wit
careless grace were souvenirs OF al
lands he had visited ; rich rugs an
hangings from the looms of Persia
cases of sandal wood filled. with curios
ties ivory and silken fans tin
cabinet of ebony and gold, containin