The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-19
CHAPTER XII.-CoSTINuED.

HeHs ioi 9ou'
Tregarthen glanced up, with a singu-
lar smile, and then looked back at his
bit of crystal. Phil noticed great
changes III him. His hair was long,
and looked neglected, and he had
grown full beard and mustache. He
had become so thin that his cheek-bones
took great prominence. His forehead
was deeply lined, and his eyes were
old.
you think your news strange,
PHILIP" he said, dreamily staring at the
object in his palm.
Every strange" said Phil, upon
whom the first feeling of dismay was
growing fast
There is nothing strange under the
sun, Or new" said Tregarthen, in an
inward way, Things 60 their round
seed, stalk, bud, flower, fruit decay.
There is nothing new, nothing uneX-
pected. All things are inevitable and
in order. The smallest is the type of
She greatest You know the Maelstrom,
if you have studied an eddy in gut
ter"
81 have news, though" said Phil,
trying to dispel the. comfortless feeling
this singular welcome gave him,
(which will interest you deeply, Ar
thur
II have news, if cared to tell it, "
returned Tregarthen, (which would
transform the world" He laughed,
and arose from his seat. "How oddly"
he said, "thc inaccuracies of speech
cling to us! have been telling you in
effect that there is no transformation
possible for the world, and moment
later profess to be able to transform
it. l could resolve human nature into
its simple elements of greed and hate,
no doubt-such greed, Phil, that if l
told my news men would gnaw Mont
Blanc with their teeth from its highest
peak to its lowest foundations to get at
me-such hate that even hypocrisy
should vanish in it's fire. So that my
news would scarcely be good news to
the world, Phil, and may as well be
kept secret"
He spoke lightly, and with every APP
pearance of sincerity, and, wild as his
words were, his manner was calm and
usual.
Il don't know what to think of this
said Phil to himself. As a matter of
fact he knew well enough what to think
of it, but he did not dare to father his
own fears.
II won't be so discourteous, Phil,
said Tregarthen, "as to refuse to hear
your news. You shall amaze me if you
can. will lock up this valucless bit
of deviltry," he continued, with the
greenish crystal between his finger and
thumb, "lest any fool should find it
and do himself a mischief. " He
crossed the room, unlocked safe which
stood in one corner, and tossed the OBJ
ject carelessly into small box. II
was always inclined to be harmless,
Phil, but never so much inclined that
way as now. Which shows l fancy"
he said, as he slammed the door of the
safe, "a certain sweetness of DISPOSE
ton, for which | deserve some credit.
owe the world nothing but hatred,
and I could pay the debt a million
times over" He crossed the room
again, and, laying both hands on Pills
shoulders, looked into his eyes with a
profound and mournful earnestness.
Power and responsibility are INSOFAR
able" he said. 1.-THE world suffers Al
ready. Men are bitten by their own
desires, and gratified desire is despair.
And | am one of the dirty crowd my
self, Phil, though l scarcely care to
think it, and have not the heart to give
them what they cry for.
Phil could only look back at his ben
enfactor and friend with grief and won
der.
"You are hungry after your ourney, "
said Tregarthen, returning to his light
er manner. "Get something to eat,
and in the meantime l will dress. You
shall tell me your news out of doors,
when you have had luncheon. Let me
look at you again. You are honest
you are not changeda The little bit of
leayen has not leavened the whole
lump YETI Not yet. Pure hands and
a clean heart are great gifts. They arc
greater than any one l could give you,
though l made Emperors despair to
think of you. Don't throw them away,
Phil; don't barter the immediate jewel
of your soul for the husks which the
swine do eat. He had laid his hands
again upon Pills shoulders, and his
voice was full of entreaty and affection,
but he broke off abruptly and began to
pace the room. "You will do what
you must do. Fire will not drown,
nor water burn because Of my beseech-
ings. Go your way, Phil. Eat and
drink and be merry-if you may"
Phil opened the door, passed through
it, came upon the corridor and stood
there amazed and desolate. He could
find but one solution to the problem
Tregarthen's speech presented. That
there was much melancholy wisdom in
it, and the revelation of heart by nat
ure noble, made it none the less the
speech of mailman.
The housekeeper had already pre-
pared 4 meal for him, but Phil had no
desire for it, and sent it away untasted.
BY and by Tregarthen appeared.
"Are you ready?" he said. Have
you lnn"hed2 Come into the open air,
then, and let me hear your news. My
work is over" Phil rose obediently,
but he asked himself what good end he
could serve by telling the news he had
travelled SO far to carry. II have of
late" said Tregarthen, as they came
upon the grass in the rear of the old
house, have of late, and wherefore
know very well, foregone all custom
of exercises; and indeed it goes SC
heavily with my disposition that this
most goodly frame, the earth, seems tc
me n sterile promontory: this most ex.