The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-01-27
a PERMANENT CURE.
Ioeorss rasons LA.hroal

utth VI hUllllys but something eitat
Ia turn, possessed him, namely, a pas.
sion. II was not the passion that led
him into any folly. unless oyerWork 10
counted IS dissipation. II was not the
passion that controls OF molds nlnB-
tenths Of the human race. The object
Of bis alteration had its origin In the
most intense heat imaginable; bnt IT'S
radiance was cold and impersonal. He
cared moro for the sharp, quick, selfish
sparkles from a dynamo machine than
for the light Of wit or tenderness in q
wonan's eye. The passion that pos,
seSsed him was for electricity.
u can Z understand this al all, |" said
his friend Reed, picking up in lIrentons 8
rooms one day a pamphlet tilleI with
long mathematical iormul and strange
designs Of instruments. Cant unders
stand II any more than ] can your alb
sorption in this pursuit.. How can you
go on With such horrible dry readiIgi'
Brenton replied: ''The dryness otthe
reading, my hoy, only increases my
thirst +for knowledge. 2
'tfeourse, said Reed. After m N.
STINT he Laughed ard addcai '0h. iuhs
,defstand that itsa oke But don ! You
ever get tired ontip
Yes, /" trenton admitted. "The fact
Is, I'm tired now for almost the first
time Somehow I'm losing interest in
my studies. Ny head doesn't work
well, and ! don't know what the
trouble 4"
Better see a doctor, " Reed advised.
And Brentou went TO his physician
that very evening. A few days later
Iced was surprised to meet him at q
dinner party, for his friend was q man
who seldom went out. Brenton wascx.
tremely gay, and seemedto throw his
whole heart into the affair What he
was throwing into the conversation
with his noighbor, pretty Miss Parot,
Feed could not tell, but she was evi-
IDENTIFY pleased,
well, old fellow" Reed said to him
when they were smoking, ''you seem
in such good trim, / take 1t your arc
all right
There's nothing iu the world the
matter with me-" Brentou answered
buoyHntly. "Dortor said so. let US
live and le happy
This rolliCsing manner was so un.
usual in him that Reed begun to think
that there was something the matter
He worried hi self about his friend s
brain, Iced was never troubled atont
his own Lrain. although he fro ,uantly
rollicSed and went much into society.
But his concern for BreHton decpened.
as he met him day after day and night
after night at receptions, dinners and
even Mt balls, Tho worst shock was
still to come. One remarkable midnight
he found'himself sitting opposite Bren.
ton at a select little poker party in the
house OF friend; and they parted at
8 clock in the morning, Bronton hay.
Ing bet freely aud lost couple Of hun
dred.
Look hore, Arthur" said Reed, on
the doorstep, feeling II his duty to
speak, "tliS isn't the sort OF thing for
you at all. You don't know how to
play poker and you can't afford to pay
for yonr ignorance.
".teady, now, Iced, answered Bren.
ton, who had drunk nothing but seltzer
during the night; 81 am al the richer
for having lost two hundred and odd
dollars. .
We'll, but your work, /" Reed Insisted,
With the fatherly Lenoyolence inspired
by his wOnted draughls Of champagne
at the card table. "lIow can syou 60
along in this drive and attend to your
work"
y don't do any," said Bronton.
"hut- but your electricity, | mean,
said eed,
Bronton looked severe. "pon't mon.
tion that word 10 me-" said he. 81
know nothing about electricity"
OF course, attor that, there was hut
one conclusion for Reed TO draw. His
friend was insane. It was perfectly
natural that Reed should devote his
time to society, that he should frequent
clubs, duck snppCrs and poker parties;
that he shopll know nothing about
electricity, and very little about any.
thing else, All this for him, was
healthy and reasonable; but for Bronton
to 10 in tho same condition, and do the
Nmo things was pure insanity. Lot
ue he Just 10 Reed, !ie felt very sorry
for tho fact; but no decided that his
duty at tho present was to keep the
mournful secret 10 himself.
other people did not seem to suspect
It at all. Trenton had u large circle OF
non'conducting or-unelCCtriCal friends,
who had long bCon trying to draw him
into their gayGtics, and were only too
glad that ho had at last harSeuel to
their perSuNsions. They knew he was
bright. They were reiOiced to SEQ him
take his proper place and rapidly lie.
come n favorite. The Parcts especially
wero pleased. They, @ every one
knows, were immensely rich Old Mrs.
Sarah Paret, who, with no need for
money, had become q sort Of receiving
reservoir Of the family wealth,
was looked upon with great interest
by all tho branches which acted as
distributing reservoirs; and old Miss
Sorah had long ago taken great fancy
to Brenton, | suspect her OF having
for some time planned a match between
him and her niece, Lilly Paret-th one
he had set next 10 at tho dinner have
mentioned. Miss sarah was too proud,
too rich and too maidonly to diyulge
this amatory plan; but | suspect her all
tho sama IL gave her great delight to
see the interest In the young man which
LILY showed. And, as Brenton paid a
great deal Of attention TO Lily Paret,
nearly every ono began to agreo that be
had forsaken science for society, aud
that, instead Of deYoting himself to
units Of electrical measurement, he
would doubtless very soon begin an ex-
pertinent with two lives made a unit by
marriage.
Lily had always been indifferent to
tho admirers who had presented them.
selves during the two or three seasons
since she had made her social debut
And finally her parents and old Miss
Sarah grew anxious at her lack Of zeSt
for the good things Of tho life to which
she was born. But when Brcnton ap.
peared on the scene aud gave himself
up TO the pleasures Of the world, his
example seemed to do her good, and
she became quito hvrsclI again. Or
was II herself with q little something
nhhnhl rnrininlv M nm hnfnra hnh