The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-19
mad-disorderedp is there any sign

mad-disurderedp Is there any sign,
of mental arrangement in ME? Dol
speak in cool blood and in possession
OF nv facultiesP And do you know
me for a man of honor, who never lied
in his life9 Well. / tell you there is
no virtue that would not sell ITSELF and
none that l could not buy"
All this was painful, but, much as nc
suffered in the process, Phil determined
to examine Tregarthen's mind more
closely.
you mean," he asked, "that you
| yourself-you personally-might buy all
the virtue in the world3' Tregarthen
inclined his head gravely.
81 mean nothing else and nothing
less than that" he answered.; 'but, as
I told you just now, power and re-
sponsibility are inseparable. l dare
not put even the meanest wretch in
the world to the test, for though he is
waiting to be debauched, and was born
for no better destiny, and desires no
better, dare not have it on my soul
that he can point to me at the great
assize and say: There is the man who
first bought my conscience" Ho
walked away little farther, and then,
turning, said: This power has been
wisely hidden from mankind, and when-
ever a man has found it he has seen
the harm of his discovery, and has left
no record of the fatal gift his studies
have brought him. l shall do as my
predecessors have done. l have not
even limited until to-day my possession
of the powerI hold. 1t will die with
me. 1t is better that it should. shall
not even make use of it to prolong my
own days, for suffering is the chief gilt
of many years, and | have borne enough
already =. ?
Phil saw no way of escape from the
dreadful truth. He was willing to be-
lieve in many marvels, but the fancies
| which had taken possession OF Ire"
garthen were the birth of mere mad
ness. Except that he spoke hopelessly
and like q cynic upon all themes he
touched in the course of that after
moons walk, Arthur's mind seemed
sound enough apart from this one
astounding alteration. What with
affection and pity Pills heart was like
! to break, and when at last Tregarthen
took him back to the house, and showed
him that trumpery bit of ereenish crys-
tai, as the talisman which could give
riches and power and eternal youth to
it's possessor, the lad could hold in his
grief no longer, but fairly sat down,
with his face in his hands. and cried.
The owner of the precious talisman
took no notice of this outburst, but,
sitting in the attitude in which Phil
had discovered him few hours before,
he stared at the treasure with an ABB
sorbed and dreamy gaze. TWAS nope
less to speak to him, useless to argue,
absurd to demand test. Phil watched
him Internationally for Il while and
then stole away. There seemed to
his disturbed heart threatening
shadow on the house, and in the chill
twilight of the lonely rooms he found
fear he had never known before.
The housekceper summoned him to
dinner, but he excused himself at first,
until the poor woman broke out and
declared that there was a blight upon
the place.
'.No luncheon, sir, and now no din.
ner, and Mr.. Arthur going about like q
ghost, eating nothing for days to-
gether, and wearing himself into his
grave! For PHYS sake, Mr.. Philip.
do eat something, strand a healthy
young gentleman like you, sir, ought
to have an appetite, I'm sure for if
You don't shall make up my mind
there's something dreadful in the house.
I'm half afraid to live in it already"
At this appeal he consented; but
when he went to induce TregartIcn to
join him lie found the door locked
against HIM, and there was no answer
to his summons.
CHAPTER XIII.
Phil left the island two days later.
and Trcgarlhen was just as sane and
Just as insane as he. found him on az.
rival. .-,..
"You are provided for, Phil said
Tregarthen, as he shook hands at part
ing. my will was made long sincn,
and there is nobody but you to whom |
care to leave a penny. LIDO not wish
you i'll enough to leave you my secret.
It's type of life at large" he added,
with mournful smile. II have spent
the best years of my life in hunting for
it, and now have found it is worth
less, and worse than worthless. l do
not know if I shall see you again, for
to outlive hope is to almost outlive
everything, and have nothing left to
care for. If these are the last words
you hear of mine you will value them.
There is one possession in the world
worth coveting, and that is honor,
though it is so little valued that men sell
it for a mess of pottagc. Cherish Writ.
tie, Phil. She will not make you hap.
ply. That is foolish fable. If you
wish 10 be happy, be fool, and have
no care for the. morrow; be hog With
the rest, and keep your feet in the
trough. But if only one man in the
world should turn his back on the
worlds shameful joys, let that man be
yourself. Goodbye"
He drew Phil towards him and
kissed him on tie cheek, and then
walked indoors. Phil went away we'll.
nigh rt-broken, and this was the
first great grief of his manhood.
He told Marsh that his intercession
had been useless, but he had not the
heart to say more about his journey,
and he loved Arthur too well to spread
the story of the talisman. He came tc
know more of Mrs. Tregarthen, and
to have better ground than he had al
first for his good opinion of her. The
world is never of one complexion only