The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-02-17
BY THE GATE or THE SEA.
BY David Christie Murray,
AUTHOR or "a MODEL FATHER, "A LIFR's
AToYEMEST," ETC.
CHAPTER XII.-CoNrrNuEp

CHAPTER XII.-CoNTINUED.
"Arthur," said Phil, 81 have strange
news for you"
! Tregarthen glanced up, with a singu-
lar smile, and then looked back at his
bit of crystal. Phil noticed great
changes in 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.
VERY 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 90 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
the greatest. You know the Maelstrom,
II 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"
Il have news, If I cared to tell IL"
returned Tregarthen, (which would
transform the world" He laughed.
and arose from his seat. "How Oddly"
he said, "the 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
1t. could resolve human nature into
ats simple elements Of greed and hate
no doubt-such greed, Phil, that If
told my news men would gnaw Mon
Blanc with their teeth from its highest
peak TO its lowest foundations to get at
me-such hate that even hypocrisy
should vanish in its fire. So that my
news would scarcely be good news tc
the world, Phil, and may as well be
kept a secret"
He spoke lightly, and with every ap-
pearance Of sincerity, and, wild as his
words were, his manner was calm and
usual.
81 don't know what to think of this, "
said Phil TO himself. As n matter of
fact he knew well enough what to think
of it, but he did not dare TO father his
own fears.
"I won't be so discourteous, Phil, :"
said Tregarthen, "as TO refuse to hear
your news. You shall amaze me II you
can. Twill lock up this valucless bit
of deviltry," he continued, with the
ereenish crystal between his finger and
thumb, "lest any fool should find IL
and do himself q mischief" He
crossed the room, unlocked n 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 rs now. Which shows / fancy"
he said, as he slammed the door Of the
safe, "a certain sweetness OF DISPOSE
tion, for which deserve some credit
i owe the world nothing but hatred,
and | 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 q
profound and mournful earnestness.
Power and responsibility are INSOFAR
able" he said. "The world suffers al-
ready Men are bitten by their own
desires, and gratifed desire is despair.
land am one Of the dirty crowd my
belf, Phil, though l scarcely care to
thiDk and have not the heart to give
chem 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 journey,
said Tregarthen, returning to his light
er manner. "Get something 10 eat,
and in the meantime / will dress. You
shall tell me your news out Of doors,
when you have had luncheon. Let me