St. Landry democrat., 1886-07-10

| telling Phil, In an easy, unaSSumlng
sort of way, and as if he were not
bursting with pride about the matter at
| all, that he had encountered the author
| of this charming work night or two
! ago at the house of their mutual friend
Brown, and now, on the authors uneX-
pected appearance, he had nudged and
whispered Phil, so that the poet had
| had time to become conscious of slim
youth with fine eyes, who took sly
| looks at him with an expression of de-
| votion.
"This, Mr. Marsh" said Calhem,
sis Mr.. Maurice, the young gentleman
of whom I spoke on Sunday evening.
This, Mr.. Maurice, is Mr.. Ronald
Marsh, the author of the lovely comedy
| we have just had the pleasure OF wit
nessing.'
Phil accepted the poets hand with q
| sense of worship. He had never seen
live poet before; he was very young,
and he had laughed aloud and wept in
wardly over the comedy, so that to
meet the author of it was coming into
| holy place. He said something in a
hot shyness about the beauty of the
| work, and the poet was pleased to have
touched youth so keenly, and took
great fancy to the ingenious eyes and
handsome face of the boy.
The proper thing-if one wanted to
look like man of the world who knew
London-seemed to the tutor to 60 to
EVANS after the play and sup. He
proposed this; and the poet, who had
known the house in his youth, after
little hesitation, consented to make one
of the party. Calhem, mighty proud
of his distinguished guest, led the way;
and having secured a place, ordered
oysters, and would, but for the pro-
tecting influence of the poet, have
coupled champagne with them.
Phil, under the genial influences of
the theater, the society of a poet and
supper at a place so novel to his. ex-
periences, began to lose the chief part
of his shyness and to talk. He was
full of Miss Churchill, and rather more
than half in love with her, and the
poet was pleased by his raptures.
II have not been in London long
said the boy, land | never saw
theater until I came here, so that I
can't pretend to be Judge; but |
should think she is the finest actress in
the world
"She stands admittedly at the head
of her own school,, said Calhem. eat
least" deferring to the poet, II believe
So"
why" cried Phil, flushing with
shyness and enthusiasm, 'when she
spoke that line
To me regret and memory are the same
it wasn't like acting. 1t was like see
ing slow heart-break. And how
beautiful she is!''
"A fine woman said Calhem, land
fine actress! Beyond doubt. Mr.
Maurice he added, with that manner
of allowance which more than anything
else in the world makes man abomin-
able in boys eyes, sis at the age OF
enthusiasm.
"And so am l." said Marsh, cover
ing Phil from the fire of patronage,
s'happily for myself. Not to admire is
an art for a yokel."
"Yet there was great poet, SIR"
said the tutor, ''who confessed it all
the art he knew"
ITO make men happy" returned
Marsh. ''And that is a creed for a
cynic. Of all melancholy spectacles in
the world, Mr.. Maurice, gray heart
in a green body is the most lamenta-
BILE. We are all cyclists, and we like
to coddle ourselves with warm and
pleasant fancies; and so, when we have
lost our youth, we say it was giddy,
irresponsible, foolish time; as if gate
post should deride tree, or the dried
rose-leaves in Dresden saucer rustic
themselves with laughter at rose"
Phil, already charmed with the poets
drama, was delighted at this. THAT"
said he to himself, sis how poet
ought to talk! What would life be
worth if one were never to be young?"
..Your simile carries you little too
far, SIR" said Calhem, who was some
what nettled. A schoolmaster is gen
orally more used to reproving than to
reproof. 'The perfect adjunct would
be-a dead man thinking poorly of
live one. Though, to my mind, the
responsible gravity of mature life is a
good exchange for the irresponsible
enthusiasm of youth. -
''And what does Mr.. Maurice say to
thisp" asked Marsh.
"Why, sir" said Phil, nobody thinks
worse of the Oldest apple tree because
it blossoms now and then" Marsh
laughed, but Calhem looked puzzled |
and offended.
"Shall we goP'' said the poet. 'Do
you walk home, Mr.. Calhemp My road
lies past your house."
They walked to Golden Square to-
gether, and, to the tutors chagrin, the
eminent person addressed himself |
chiefly to Phil, and at parting it was
the youngster and not his tutor to whom
he nrasanfnd his card