Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-17
CHAPTER vi.

AiDciHhIit rtfteL, was HTOWluI Vultt "
connoisEeur in breakfasts by now. 1t Is
all very well TO talk about the country,
but my experience is that you can get
newer milk, richer cream, fresher eggs,
nicer butter, and altogether more palat-
able things In the West End OF London
than anywhere else-if you like TO pay
for them. The best OF everything goes 10
the metropolis, and the relish With which
you eat the boosted productions OF the
country Is due more to the fresh air than
to their own inherent virtues. am GER
tainiy country-bred, so have right to
speak on the subject.
/ was lingering over my breakfast, sip
ping my cup of tea, and thinking of a
cigarette--but now and again looking at
letter which lay before me-a letter
which had filed me with unqualified
amazement. To understand my feelings
you must read IL with me.
"MY DEAR pHILip-Ailments are so
unusual with me that you will be sur
prised to hear have been far from well
iately-indeed, ] was Obliged to see the
doctor. But you will not be surprised OF
hearing his opinion that change of scene
end mode Of life was the only treatment
he could advise, for my ailments have
been mental. He must have been right,
for began at once TO long for sight OF
other lands again. Perhaps ! am begin
ming 10 feel eomewhat like you felt before
you went to school. Perhaps am grow
ing wiser; anyway, have resolved to
follow the DOCTORS course and travel for
a while. | think shall 90 round the
world. | shall start for New York on
Wednesday next viii you meet me in
Liverpool to say good.byef shall be at
the Adelphl hotel on Monday. Yours at.
fectionately, NoRRIsn
think the FIRST thing did when clear
ly understood the wonderful intelligence
conveyed IN the letter was TO laugh aloud.
The absurdity OF the situation struck me
with Irresistible force. A man who, for
nearly twenty years, had not been more
than ten miles from his secluded home,
all at once taking II into his head To cir
cumnavigatc the globe. To say the least
OF IL, IL was running from one extreme TO
the other. | WAS both glad and sorry.
was glad that he nj last thought III to
emerge from his retirement, but sorry
and even alarmed that mental ailments
should have necessitatcd such course
For some time past | had dread.
cd whether such q melancholy existence
as my fathers must not, sooner or later,
show its effect upon his mind Still, II
evil was to be apprehendcd felt the step
he was going 20 take was the right one To
escape IT, was sorry 10 think OF such a
long separation, for ] read between the
lines OF his letter and knew he had not
the slightest intention OF asking me to ac-
company him. determined TO suggest
1t, although ieit the suggestion would
not he entertained. Had ne wished for
my COMPROMISING he would have given
nae mora time than a few days 20 prepare
for journey OF such duration. No, II
was clear he meant to 20 alone, and per.
haps Il would be two years before saw
him agaIn.s thought e was well 70 con-
suit Mr.. Grace ON the subject of such q
surprising communication; so, after
breakfast, | walked across 20 Bedford
row.
HGood morning, Mr. Philip said the
old gentleman as ! entered his office
lyon are the very man was just think
ing about
'srhen you heard from my father Mr.
Grace2u
~ have heard from your father, as yo,
say
''rIe talks OF taking long journey, h,
tells me-
'sYes, long journey indeed pro
tactcd Journey am glad to hear II.
hope he may return cured In more ways
than one
"Does he say whether he wishes me tC
90 with him?'
lie does not say so, but | should b'
inclined to think, or rather gather from
his letter he does not. There IL a certain
paragraph referring 10 you which | cal
only read In one way -
she Is going quite aloney"
tQuitc alone" said Mr. Grace in hi
most persplcAcious manner
.But 10 saying alone, do not meal
that he VIII be The only passenger Il
steamboats, or railway trains. | meai
he win be unaccompaned by friend o
relatiyc.n
,'Has he any friend or relative excep
mefn asked sadly.
81 think not, or none he cares for, Bu
you will 30 TO Liverpool tomorrow,
supposegn
ayes, OF course, shal?"
went 10 Liverpool az arranged an,
met my father. He was looking thin an,
worn so III indeed that begged earnest
Is 20 be allowed to accompany him. ii,
refused me kindly but firmly
al shall be away nearly two years. h,
said. "Years YOU might always lool
back upon as wasted II you left London
and your future career now. Besides,
wish 10 90 alone. am trying physlca
and psychological experiment, Philip. |
1t succeeds, shall upon my return lly
once more IN the world. Then we shal
be more together, and perhaps bette
frlends.N
Ills manner had never been so affection
.ite since that evening when | found IN
solitude Of my younger days greater thai
/ could bear | felt my eyes grow dim
son, that II may be soln cried. "rha
you will come back and take your tru
place among men see so few 10 com
pare with YOU, father"
spoke the truth. My father woul'
have been man u mark In any circle
was learaed enough 70 appreciate his grea
Knowledge ana scholarly requirements
to measul \ them by my own standard ant
know how they cxcAiled. could see, a
mono could fall To see, the well-brcd, IL
Aned gentleman ID every feature, line an,
movement. He was young yet, aud
honed that the rest OF his life might no
Be wastcd. felt the sinfqlness 81 a maj
81 his stamp buryiug bis talents as he ha'
hitherto done
Ho smiled At tho hoyish warmth Of m.
compliment
ilWeii, we shall soc, Philip, what tim
aud change VIII DO. Old dreams and am
xitiops may be reyiyed--old sorrows a
iast forgotten old shame even live,
down old love and old hate vanished.
not, there Is always Torwood % refur
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