The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-12

to Ronald Marsh. Helv se had been
magnanimously plying this lady's sor-
rows for dozen years, aad now it
turned ont that he was the cause of
| them. ........,... 49,. ...-.....-
s.Mrs Tregarthen," he said, trying
to face the truth. and to take all the
punishment he deserved, II was that
miserable impertinent. If | could have
guessed what my insolence would cost
yol-'-Well, what was to be said in
extenuation9 He could say nothing,
could undo nothing that had been
done. But surely the man who could
throw away such a pearl of woman
hood for such trivial cause must have
been afool past redemption. Nothing
can be mended by mere words" he
said, in voice so tremulous that he
was ashamed of it. She must hate the
sight of him, and it was best to go.
Phil caught his ashamed and miser-
able glance, and they were moving
away together, when Mrs. Tregarthen
arose.
"Do not let me lose my friend" she
said, almost piteously. "Will you
come tomorrow, Mr.. Maurice? want
to hear / shall be better able to lis
ten to you then. Will you Gomez"
"Yes." said Phil, simply; Il will
come if you wish it. go. ..
She shook hands with him and with
the poet, and they went away.
81 am on fire with shame" said The
wretched poet when they were out of
doors Il am grieved to the heart.
All this misery was of my making. l
have known her for twelve years, and
| there does not breathe better woman.
She is as pure as flower, as charitable
| as the day"
''She spoke the truth" said Phil,
! who was greatlymovcd. Il am sure
of it. know it. But there was moth
ing in what she told us to make Arthur
| part with her. There was something
else to poison his mind about her. He
could never have driven her away for
that alone"
Phil had to believe both in Ire
garthen and his wife, but the poet
found simple solution to the mystery.
| 1t was plain to him that Tregarthen
was fanatic and fool. But even
that view would not reconcile itself
with the old stories of Tregarthen-a
man so foul-mouthed that his brother
officers could not endure him. ''a
''Do you know the history of Mr..
Tregarthen's . expulsion from the
army?' he asked, not purposing to tell
it, but seeking any new light that
might be had. bod,
Phil did know the story, and told it
as he had it from Tregarthen's lips.
Possibly, thought the poet, the man
vas fanatic, and certainly he was a
fool. ..ar. .z. ~ ... ,...
The two friends parted, and each
went his own way. On the following
afternoon Phil called on Mrs. IRE
garthen, was admitted and answered
all her questions for an hour or two.
There was no comfort for the wife, who
had all these years been widowed in
anything he had to tell her; but wien
| he had taken his leave he turned new
idea over in his mind, and, after lock.
ing at it in many aspects, made ar.
rangements to put it into execution.
He astonished Mr.. Calhem that even.
ing by the announcement of his inten.
ton to 60 down to Tregarthen without
delay. In answer to the tutors ir.
quiries he could only say that he hail
lately possessed himself of information
of the utmost value to his protector,
and that it could not be conveyed by
| letter, but must by the very nature Of
it be delivered by word of mouth
| Phil was not the sort of young man
| who invents mendacious yarns on pnr
pose to get opportunity for clandestine
amusement; but the, tutor. was, yet a
| little scared by this arrangement, and
not easy in his mind cvenlwhen he had
accompanied his pupil to the, station.
and had seen him safely in the railway.
carriage, booked through to Gorbay{
The youngster knew well enough
| that he was going to wound the best
I friend he had ever had in his life. but
| he believed, (and lie .nerved himself in
that belief with a courage beyond his
+. years) that he might bring peace back
again to a mind which had not known
peace for many a day. Ii was Quix.
otto enterprise, perhaps. and there are
even peoplein the world who would
think itmeddlesome; but lie was moved
to it by gratitude and affec ton, and by
the beautiful ideals which have value
for the young. tsS4
: From London to Cornwall is along
ish railway journey, and he had plenty
OF time in which to look at his purpose.
There were many moments when fol
Arthur's sake he felt afraid of it, but
never really faltered in it. He haC
written, before starting, to announce
his arrival, and at Gorbay station he
found one of the Pollarths awaiting
| him. -
Grown a man now, Mister Philip
said the messenger, admiring him; 81
didn' hardly knaw ye."
He carried the travellers portman-
teau to the water-side, set it into the
boat, took the sc,llls leisurely in his
big, brown hands, and pulled across
the bay, with Phil at the rudder. The
old housekeepers stood on the sands at
the Sea-gate, and Phil, who had kissed
her when he went away, kissed her on
arrival. ~ 's' -
| Z" How is Mr.. 'fregarthen?n heasked.
"Ailing,' she 'ailing a bit,
badly, I'm afraid, Mr.. Philip. He's
had dreadful cold all winter, and he
looks wild-)ike, as if he was worried.
And 60 to bed he won't for nights to.
gether. Sits stewed up in that laber-.
try, and sometimes won't touch his
very meals. =" S.si.s 2H3 ",#
When they reached the house Phi.
marched straight to the laboratory
door, and would have knocked there