The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20


AS descended the staircase the noise of
quarrelsome voices sounded from below. On
| reaching the vestibule discovered that brace
of young men in mask were administering
violent scolding to a very harmless old gentle
man in plain evening dress.
The old gentleman bowed and scraped in the
most conciatory manner, but the wrath of
| the young fellows was not thus TO be appeased.
| What is more, | recognized them in spite of
their masks as couple of my own acquaint
ances So had no conjunction about inter
ferine
Whats the row." demanded.
Damon and Pythias favored me with tumult-
uous explanation, which was entirely incomps
tent to understand.
you, sir, said, turning to their victim, 'why
were they abusing youl"
ITO tell you the truth" he replied, II don't
| know l was standing here waiting for my
| daughter who is in the parlor getting ready
to come away, when these two gentlemen stun
bled up against me- and then, instead of apollo
giving. began to storm have done my best
| to pacify them, but" lowering his tone, sus-
pect they have been drinking rather too much
| wine"
''Now boys look sharp" l said, you are
| making fools of yourselves in public place. and
to morrow you will regret it. This gentleman
is a friend of mine, and l want you to treat him
| with proper respect. If you don't beg his par
don, shall tell him your names, and l am sure
you would be ashamed to have him know them"
| ''Oh, If he was fren' of mine ali right. Very
sorry to have annoyed him. G-glad to make his
| acquaintance See him later" and the young
| men moved off at a sheepish pace
The old gentleman, on the contrary, seized my
| hand, and gave vent to torrent of thanks.
was his benefactor, his protector; he could never
adequately express his gratitude. Would | ac-
cept his card and believe that he was my de-
voted servitor2
| was not surprised to see that the name on
his card foreign one-an American would
never have been so demonstrative. The name
was DR.. David Pexias.
AS the winter dragged on I plunged into the
thick of social gayety, and my condition steadily
| improved Though did net cease to think of
the fair face of the Stetto it's unhealthful effect
| upon me had somehow been neutraliZed With
| the advent of spring concluded that was alto
| gether my old self again. Now and then, also,
my mind reverted to the black eyed lady of the
| Peacock ball, and her eyes. that had been very
| black and sparkling that sometimes, l confess.
| could not help wishing for second opportunity
| to admire them. But on the whole was pretty
| we'll contented with my actual lot and should
have deserved worse if had coveted better
Toward sunset one tender May afternoon,
CHANGED to be strolling through Central Park.
| The air sweet with the scent of bursting TO-
liage, and clamorous with the cries ofIchildren at
sport At certain point rod or so in advance
| of me, fully score of little folks gathered
| around bench AS drew nearer noticed that
| their cynosure was an old gentleman, from whose
| animated gestures ] inferred that he was deliv-
ering an harangue. Before ] had proceeded
half dozen steps further, their ranks split sud-
denly apart and the old gentleman, darling forth,
greeted me with an mpetuous salutation.
1.-THE powers be thanked" he exclaimed. Eat
| last meet again"
He was DIR. David Pexias.
"Ah," responded, rather embarrassed by his
enthusiasm, chow do you dol'
My dear, dear friend" he went on, not heed
| ing my question, IF you could but divine how
| eagerly have awaited this occasion. I have
| not been able to forget your kindness I have
been borne down by the obligation under which
you placed me- L have prayed for an oppor-
| tunty to discharge 1t. | have looked for you
| high and low Now that the fates have at
length brought US together, let me tell you that
I am your servant, to do your bidding in what
| ever wise you DESIRE"
81 assure you, sir" stammered ''that you
vastly overrate a most trifing service-one that
| common decency compelled me to render. I am
delighted, Notwithstanding, to have metyou; and
| beg you to believe that do not esteem myself
| in the least your creditor
| 'That is a matter for my own conscience" he
| said, shut now do me the honor to nscribe my
name upon the list of your devoted allies You.
! are young-be one of my children. / have
| multitude. These curly heads romping here
| abouts, all regard me as their godfather. I come
| here every pleasant afternoon and tell them
| stories. Perhaps there are other ways in which
l can make myself equally agreeable to YOU"
The Doctor had pinioned my arm and was trot-
| ting along at my side. | was puzzled and some
| what discounted. l did not know what to say.
| Are you pressedp he demanded "Have you
an objective pointl If you are merely saunter-
ing for pleasure, pray that you will accompany
me home to supper. l think can show you
| some interesting things"
| i was on the brink of declining what struck me
as a premature invitation. Without allowing mo
| time to get out word, however, the Doctor
| calculated, striking half tragic attitude, do
not say no! If you say no shall be disconsolate.'
| The tone of his utterance, despite his fervor,
was extremely comcal. / could not repress a
smile. Thereat tears started to his eyes
| tsMonsieur moque de MOI" he said in French.
| My heart melted. was sincerely sorry to
have caused him pain. The path of atonement
| lay straight before me.
My dear sir" said, II consider that you
honor me too highly. But shall venture to
cept your hospitality, nevertheless; let CO."
| His good spirits returned on the instant. He
| poured out an unfatering stream of talk until
we had arrived at his dwelling. 1t was lofty
apartment house on Fifty-ninth street. We
| mounted In the elevator to the topmost story.
| He opened door with his key; and plotting
through crooked passage declared at length,
with an inclusive flourish of his hand. 'this is
nay sanctum."
The room in which we stood was quite dark,
except for the light of single candle. Ny eyes
| required leisure to accustom themselves to the
| obscurity. Then as they took in their surround
ings, was heartily glad that had come
1t was mixture of drawing room. library and
curiosity shop, the divers elements merging har-
! noniousiy together in the soft glamour of can
| die An armored knight, with battleax aloft,
| guarded the entrance. The walls were hung
with tapestries and bannerets Great quarto
volumes, in plackened leather bindings, were
piled pell-mell upon the floor. "St down." said
| the Doctor, pointing to an ebony settle, inlaid
| with Arabic characters in ivory. He lighted two
other candles, and found seat for himself upon
a chest of carved Italian oak. His finely chiseled
head chimed in excelently with the environ
ment. He looked like an idealized Wandering
| Jew.
.This is my Workshop" he continued. SIS it
worth the trouble Of ysitP
ut is like slice ofthe Arabian Nights" re-
piled II can scarcely believe that am still in
matter fact New York"
Eyes, this is my Workshop he repeated, and
| what, guess you. is my trader
mot prosaic one, surely"
"No, not exactly. Do you like perfumes?' he
| inquired abruptly. Without waiting for an an
swer, he approached bronze vase, suspended