St. Landry democrat., 1886-07-24

sWered Iregarthen's questions. an
wondered all the while what the ma
speech OF an hour ago had meant
There was no trace of madness now
The youngster knew well enough tina
nc had made foolish move in ATTEMPT
ing to Influence Tregarthen bv mer
impression of his own, and vet he wa
as certain as he could be of anvthin.
that MS impression was the true one
but Arthur seemed frozen into indiffer
ence, and Phil had no evidence to offer
even mad his benefactor been eager t.
demand 1t: The lad was anything bu
1901, and yet it had seemed to him
quite natural to suppose that he should
come down here, hot as he was with
sympathy, and by mere touch tl,av
the heart which had been frost-bound
all these years. He had miscounted
his relative forces. The frost had con.
quered the fire, and his own heart for
the moment was almost as cold and
dark as Tregarthen's.
1fegarthen ceased to question, and
the two walked side by side in silence.
Ihl Degan to muse, and while he
unused the fire began to burn again.
arthur, " he said, suddenly, .there
are things we can't prove that we are
sure OF all the same. I am sure-I
knoW-that she is innocent of anv
greater fault than that deceit. I
know l give you pain, Arthur, but l
should deserve nothing You have done
for me if didn't speak. Let me brine
you together. If you could see her. f
you could hear her, you would believe
her." ~
Tregarthen looked at him, and saw
that there were tears in his eyes.
1T is well to have a good heart.
Phil, he said, gently, base as the
world is. Keep your beliefs in GOOD
ness. You are happier, and will be
happier for them, till the bitter day
when you must lose them. Virtue and
honor are fine things to believe in
He laughed there, and went on.
Hopes toothsome dish when One
and-twenty serves it tipping hot. Hope
served hot - Hope gone cold-coid
Hope in the pot-nine DAYS old. A
nauseous mess. Phil. No relisbinp it.
Take it away
There was a tone in this bitter
6adlnage which was more affecting to
Phll than even the tenderness which
had preceded it. Tregarthen had
given him right to love him and he
vas young and enthusiastic, and sure
With the certainty of enthusiastic youth.
you are wrong, Arthur he cried,
almost with passion. Virtue and |
lonor live after one and twenty. You
prove it yourself. You are virtuous |
md man of honor, and do You think
hat you are q rarity in naturep I
'aven t seen much of the world, but
now It's better world than YOU
hink 1t. You have had cruel expert
nee, Arthur. You have eaten worm
rood, and everything tastes of worm
Very well, Phil" said Treearthen.
uletly. 1.-The flavor will last me nv
feline. The coffin worm will scour
ell if he scours it all away and gives
lie leave to rise for Judgment with a
lean tongue Phil sighed, and Of
red no reply. II have had some
mes half mind of late said Ire
arthen, speaking suddenly, and with
new vlFacity, 'to put this pretty
GRID to the test, as l could do, but / |
rink from debauching altogether
en- who may not yet be wholly given
7er to the devil. Who is your honest
It man in the world, Phil-your one
corruptible, unpurchasable?'
Here was the craze again, thought
Ill, miserably. He would at least be '
re of that
How would you test the world, Ar
ur?'' t
THAT is my news, Phil, if 1 choose ,
tell it, )" Tregarthen answered. "Tell ,
e your honest man, and I will buy J
m and turn him to whatever creed
u like /
Buy Thomas Carlyle" said Phil. v
ironically. Even madness-if Ar II
ar were really mad, and had some Fl
'st curious meaning yet unfathomed
served no courtesy on theme like b
S. How do you propose to do it?'' h
egarthen laughed allowingly, as a a
IN might laugh at childish puzzle Il
cred by a child. .What should it k
ofit him, of all men in the world" tt
led Phil, ito gain the whole world fl
d lose his own soul? What could W
4 offer him?'' e.
F.. My pulse as yours doth temper n
ly keep time, and makes health al
music, y said Tregarthen, stretch SC
his hand, as If to invite Phil to test W
4. look me in the face. Am I 81
d-disorderedP Is there any sign bl
mental arrangement in me? Do / IN
ak in cool blood and in possession kt
my faculties? And do you know sis
for man of honor, who never lied dt
lis lifee Well. I tell you there is he
virtue that would not sell itself, and tn
e that could not buy dc
IL this was painful, but, much as he
cred in the DrOcess. Phil deternined w: