Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-19
A SOCIAL PRESCRIPTION.


sessed him, namely, passion. 1t was moi
a passion that led him into any folly, IN
less overwork becountcd as dissipation. i
was not the passion that controls or Mods
nine-tenths Of the human race. The Object
of his alteration had its origin in the most
intense heat imaginable; but its radiance
was cold and impersonal. He cared more
for the sharp, quick, selfish sparkles from
a dynamo machine than for the light Of
wit or tenderness in q woman's eye. TIE
passion that possessed him was for elec.
tricity.
" I cant understand this at all, said his
friend Reed, picking up in Brenton's rooms
one day pamphle. filled with long math-
ematical formula and strange designs oi
instruments. Can't understand it any
more than l can your absorption in this
pursuit. How can you go on with such
horribly dry reading?"
Brenton replied The dryness Of the
reading, my boy, only increases my thirst
for knowledge"
"Of course" said Reed. After an instant
he laughed, aud added: Oh, l understand
that! It's joke. But don't you ever gel
tired out2'
Eyes" Brenton admitted 1.-THE fact is
I'm tired now for almost the first time
Somehow, I'm losing interest in my stud
les. My head doesn't work we'll, and l do
not know what the trouble isl
Better see q doctor" Reed advised.
And Brenton went to his physician that
very evening. A few days later Reed was
surprised 10 meet him az dinner party, foI
his friend was man who seldom wen;
out. Brenton was extremely gay. and
seemed to throw his whole heart into the
affair. What he was throwing into the
conversation with his neighbor, pretty Miss
Paret, Reed could not tell bat she was evil
IDENTIFY pleased.
well, old fellow" Reed said to him
when they were smoking, You seem in
good trim ; / take it you are all right"
There's nothing in the world the matter
with me-" Brenton answered, buoyantlv
Doctor said so. Let US live and be
happy"
This rollicking manner was so unusual
in him that Reed began to think there was
something the matter. He worried himseli
about bis friends brain. Reed was never
troubled about his own brain, although he
frequently rollicked and went much into
society. But his concern for Brenton
deepened as he met him day after day and
night after night at receptions, dinners and
even at balls. The worst shock was yet tC
come. One remarkable midnight he found
himself sitting opposite to Brenton at a Sc
lect little poker game in the house of a
friend; and they parted at e o'clock in the
morning, Brenton having bet freely and
lost couple of hundred.
= Look here, Arthur" said Reed, on the
doorstep, feeling it his duty to speak, this
isn't the sort OF thing for you at all. You
don know how to play poker. and YOU
can't afford to pay for your ignorance"
Steady now, Reed, answered Brenton
who had drunk nothing but setter during
the night g | am all the richer for having
lost two hundred and odd dollars"
Well, but your work" Reed insisted
with the fatherly benevolence inspired by
his wonted draughts OF champagne at the
card table. - How can you go along in
this drive and attend. to your work %
g don't do any" said Brenton.
Bnt-but your electricity, mean" said
Reed.
Brenton looked severe. Don't mention
that word to me, said lie. " know moth
ing about electricity"
OF course, after that, there was but one
conclusion for Reed 10 draw. His frienC
was insane. 1t was perfectly natural that
Reed should devote his time TO society
that he should frequent clubs, duck sup
pers and poker parties; that he should
know nothing about electricity, and very
little about anything else. All this, fol
him, was healthy and reasonable but fol
Brenton to be in the same condition, anC
DO the same things. was pure insanity LIE
Us be just TO Reed. He felt very sorry fol
the fact; but he decided that his duty a
present was to keep the mournful secret t
himself.
Other people did net seem to suspect il
at all. Brenton had large circle OF non
conducting or unelectrical friends, who has
long been trying to draw him into theil
gayeties, and were only TOO glad that ht
had at last hearkened to their persuasions
They knew he was not bright They were
reioiced TO see him take his proper place
and rapidly become favorite. The Paret:
especially were pleased. They, as every
one knows, were immensely rich. Ole
Miss Sarah Paret, who, with no need O
money, had become sort of receiving reser
voir of the family wealth, was looked upor
with interest by all the branches which
acted as distributing reservoirs; and old
Miss Sarah had long ago taken a grea
fancy to Brenton. l suspect her of having
for some time planned a match between
him and her niece Lily Paret-the one hC
had sat next to at the dinner l have men
toned. Miss Sarah was too proud, toe
rich and too maidenly to divulge thi;
amatory plan but ] suspect her all thj
same. 1t gave her great delight to see the
interest in the young man which Lily
showed. And, as Brenton paid q great
deal Of attention TO Lily Paret, nearly
every one began to agree that he had for
saken science for society, and that, instead
of deyoting himself 20 units of electrical
measurement, he would doubtless very
soon begin an experiment with two live.
made a unit by marriage.
Lily had always been Indifferent to The
admirers who had presented themselve.
during the two or three seasons since she
had made her social debut And finally hel
parents and old Miss Sarah grew anxious a
her lack of ZeSt for the good things of tht
life to which she was born. But wheI
Brenton appeared on the scene and gave
himself up TO the pleasures of the worlC
his example seemed TO do her good. anC
she became quite herself again. Or was i
herself with little something added? Ger
tainly, no one before had seen her eve:
sparkle so brightly or her cheeks blusi
with so happy glow as now.
And you really think you will give W
permanently your secluded life ?'' she asked
IA4AA NAANNf NAASi- AAN1 NCl Ctl.itA44i- alOltt
in the corner, after one OF old Miss Sarah.
solemnly elegant Sunday teas. You have
been so welded to science don you know
! doubt whether you could ever break YOU
heart into the traces
Without letting her finish, be said POS
sibly l might break nay heart out of til,
traces And he looked at her in such
way that she could hardly doubt his wisl
10 convey the idea that she would be tht
cause Of the catastrophe.
"Oh, you know what ! meant, she said
quite lightly and laughing
Brenton was perhaps more earnest ant
engaging than he knew, as lie replied
The question is, do you know what
mean p
Lily was equal 10 the situation still.
don't believe you know yourself, said she
cheerfully.
All, well if you have so little faith il
my knowledge as that" he began. Jus
then they were interrupted by Julian Reed
who approached, casting a glance of solici
frrIa Rra,for, and o4 or,ao cot f,,1f n ta III