The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-04-18

even toward original research. lie had read
every poem worth reading In The English
language, aud knew half Of them by heart
but do not know that he ever wrote line
of poetry. lie would take up some branch
Of science, and devour every book ON II he
could find but that done, he made no indie
pendent ell ,rt toward fresh discovery-he
turned TO something else. Some spring that
moves TO practical action, some link common
between man aud life, was lacking In him
his soul dwet solitary and apart, thirsting,
drinking, Unsuitable only demanding inces-
sanity what no man ever yet had--no, nor
can have ever until the end Of time.
lie had few acquaintance at Oxford, and
no intimate friend but myself. Sometimes
he woul come to my rooms and sit silently
watching me as plodded on at my reading.
My vocation had early been fixed, and
never wavered in my choice l had never
any idea but that of entering the church.
Malet would set smoking aud Watching me
in silence. "Good old Frank" he would
presently say, with his good affectonate
smile, laying a hand on my shoulder as he
left the room. Not unfrequently we took
long walks together and by degrees, though
he spoke little of his affairs, learned some.
thing of his life. lie was a man Of small in
dependent fortune -some hundreds year,
paralyzed and childish old mother, with
whom he spent the whole Of his vacations,
in some remote country spot. He spoke little
of himself, and sometimes our walk would
begin and end in almost total silence. At
other times his flow of conversation was al
most unceasing and have not yet met the
man who can talk as Malet did when the
mood was upon him. would not, IL could +,
try TO reproduce those talks. What withered
and scentless weels are those that would
faiu represent the radiant flowers Of last
years garden He was sometimes gay, more
often serious. He was no orthodox believer;
his unorthodoxy shocked me at first ; he saw
It, and while never hiding his opinions, was
careful to avoid shocking me again. But all
his views of the conduct Of life were simple,
pure, and noble; have never met purer or
| nObler and can trace their effect OH my
own mind to this day. But he had planned
no future career the hopes and ambitions OF
other men seemed to have no meaning for
for him. Something, say, was wanting in
him. some link that reconciles common hu.
mainly TO life, that binds society together,
that helps the eternal duty Of man to man.
| A tender heart, an endless craving, a sOli-
tary soul such was Ambrose Malet.
remember his face raised one winter
night to the frozen starlit sky. "One day
we shall know" he said "yes, we shall
know-we shall know"
"You believe IN the Immortality of the
soul, Ambrose 2" said. GLOW do you rec
oncile that with your other opinions ?"
con no logical grounds" he answered
briefly, and changed the subject.
have said he had n tender heart that is
to say little. He had capacity for pro
found and passionate love. In the course oil
4 H., f,,Na
ordinary young mans adventurs-Ofa farm
er's daughter, a young girl who, not withou,
intention, as had afterwards reason to he
lieve, strongly attracted us both. l was IN
love ifnot for the first time in my life, as
much as had ever been before. But Lucy
Smiles was not girl could have made my
wife, aud must do myself the Justice to say
that, recognizing the fact early in oui
acquaintance, broke of, with some resolu
tion, even the semblance of filtration
With Malet 1t was different he fell deeply
and passionately in love with the girl. TIL,
difference in station aud education seemed
not to affect him 1t was impossible, indeed
that an intellect such as his could ever lool
for or expect the sympathy that springs
from equal minds, and on the one occasion,
on which he spoke to me on the subect-fol
a reserve had sprung up between us in tn
il in so many words, that he hoped to max
Lucy his wife Immediately on leaving Ok
ford. Shortly afterwards the girl disap
peared from her fathers home. Certain cir
cumstances threw suspicion on Malet; moth
ing was, nothing could be, proved agains
him but, to tell the story briefly, thought
had reason to believe the worst, and believe,
IL. All my incipient love for the girl hersel
blazed up in flame of passion and jealousy
and what held to be righteous Indignation
at the story of her disappearance and of he
parents despair. Malet said very little h
gave me his word that he had had nothing
to do in the matter; lie saw that did no
believe him, and he said no more. |, on IN.
side, broke with him. He had been my hes
friend on more than one occasion he hai
served me in way that should have VOL
my undying gratitude. But what gratitud
survives sense of wrongq And, indeed,
held myself not ungrateful, but Just.
broke with him; that little note that fel
under my hands tonight was the last eve
received in his writing it was the last
heard of him until that fatal evening when
learned that, under the same roof with my
self, he lay dying among strangers in
strange land.
What storm of memories, old affection, re
morse, swept over me matters little now
Where were doubts and past suspicious
Alas, that, living or dying, clearness c
vision should come to enlighten us at tn
supreme moment only. turned from til
, window to the doctor.
Scan | see him ?" | said she was til,
| best friend | had in the world"
Certainly you can see him." he al
swsred. 81 rejoice indeed that you or an
, one belonging to him should be here. vii
take you to him at once. He has it'll
fever, but is otherwise quite quiet; no acut
suffering, happily. Nothing can harm hin
now."
"DO you mean that as a certainly" | said
| "Forgive me. have no reason whatever
doubt your capacity or that you have don
everything that is right; OH the contrary
f; you inspire me with confidence. Still i
(. certain cases consultation"
He shook his head, smiling little.
lay no claim, he said "to infallibility, an
, could see the faintest hope in possibl
change of treatment should be the first
invite consultation. But your friend
case is hopeless; the merest tyro in our pr,
i. fession could not fail to see it at once. II
only an unusual strength of constitutio
h that has enabled him to live until nOw."
( He led the way as lie spoke, up fight aft,
flight of the shallow hotel stairs, and dow
long passage to remote and silent part
s the house. At the end of the passage
y door stood ajar. The doctor paused befol
v We reached it.. "YOu will no doubt wish I
q remain with your friend p lie said.
s "Undoubtedly," answered.
lie gave me one or two brief direction
!, then, signing me to wait for momen
s opened the door and went in. The room
d entered was SO small that, standing there
the doorway, l took 1t in at a glance. ltw,
y little wooden room, with brown walls, an
a brown uncarpeted floor, fresh and pleasir
r in its simplicity. One or two chairs, a tab
/. In the window, a smaller one with lighte
h candle, and some walls at the head of II
n bed where my friend was lying were, wit
d the bed itself, the principal furniture. i
J. was alone. A woman of the village WI
had attended him during the day was bl
= just gone, and the doctor had undertaken
!, watch him through the night; bu. not IL
'. less, the silence, the loneliness In which ]
is lay there dying, struck me painfully. /
- lay with closed eyes, his hands spread oil
r. on the counterpane, his head supported |
n pillows. The night was warm, and thong
IS the little easement stood wide open,
10 seemed oppressed by the heat and to breatl
a with difficulty. lie was not changed.
-, | IN rlv ynuth AVIAN his faatnrau had haan .,