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

Deautl1ul she ISL
"a fine woman said Calhem, land
a fine actress! Beyond a doubt. Mr..
Maurice" he added, with that manner
of allowance which more than anything
else in the world makes man abomin-
able in boys eyes, sis at the age OF
enthusiasm"
"And so am l." said Marsh, cover
ing Phil from the fire of patronage,
"happily for myself. Not to admire is
an art for yokel.'
"Yet there was great poet, Sir, y
said the tutor, "who confessed it all
the art he knew"
"To make men happy" returned
Marsh. "And that is creed for
eynic.. Of all melancholy spectacles in
the world, Mr.. Maurice, gray heart
in green body is the most lamenta-
BILE. We are all cyclists, and we like
to coddle ourselves with warm and
pleasant fancies; and so, when we have
lost our youth, we say it was giddy,
irresponsible, foolish time; as if gate
post should deride tree, or the dried
rose.leaves in Dresden saucer rustic
themselves with laughter at rose"
Phil, already charmed with the poets
drama, was delighted at this. chat"
said he to himself, sis how poet
ought to talk! What would life be
worth il one were never to be young?'
"Your smile carries you little too
far, sir" said Calhcm, who was some
what nettled. A scho0lmaster is gen
orally more used to rerroving than to
reproof. THE perfect adjunct would
be--a dead man thinking poorly OF a
live one. Though, to my mind, the
responsible gravity Of mature life is a
good exchange for the irresponsible
enthusiasm OF youth. "
"And what does Mr. Maurice say to
this?" asked Marsh.
"Why, SIR said Phil, "nobcdy thinks
worse of the Oldest apple tree because
it blossoms now and then Marsh
laughed, but Calhem looked puzzled
and offended.
"Shall we go?' said the poet. ''Do
you walk home, Mr.. Calhem? My road
lies past your house"
They walked to Golden Square to-
gcthcr, and, to the tutors chagrin, the
eminent person addressed himself
chiefly to Phil, and at parting it was
the youngstcr and not his tutor to whom
he presented his card.
Come and see me. when you have
time" he said; Il am always at home
until two o'clock. Come up to-mor
row."
Phil went off gayly next morning,
and found Mr.. Marsh at home, and hat
bright talk with him. Ii Phil were
pleased with his host-and there was
little doubt of that-Marsh was yet the
more pleased of the two. The lads
bright face and hopeful converse die
him good. He felt rather wicked, how
ever, when he began TO draw his CUES
out about Tregarthen, and as if he were
doing an undcrhanded thing i'll listen
ing to him. Phil described the islan(
and the house, told him quaint thing
about the score of islanders. who wer
all oddities in their way, as they were
likely to be Though the historian hat
never thought them so until they grew
curious by contrast with the people o
the wider world in which he nov
moved, and even repeated one Or tw,
wonderful old ballads, which sparklet
for the philologist, but were, for any
body else, simply and merely droll.
"And what manner of man is Mr.
Tregarthcn?' asked Mr.. Marsh, q
length.
! "Oh, Arthur said Phil. 1.-The bes
man in the world l think. He is
great deal absorbed in scientific pursuits
chemistry, and all that, and the island
ers have made up their minds that h
holds correspondence with the devil
Now, shouldn't be surprised at find
ing him engaged in converse wit
spiritual agencies of another sort, 70
he's Il man without fault. Hes
gentleman, cried Phil enthusiastically
"from his soul to his skin!'
! This was hardly what the poet ha
expected to hear, though twas natura
that Tregarthen's ward should thin
well of his preserver.
ale saved your life, think?'
'.He did," said Phil, his cheek
flushing. "Ive heard old Reube
Pollarth tell the story many time
One of the men on board-we were o.
the Isle of Elba, from Bombay to Liy
erpool-ticd me to spar and thrcN
me overheard just before the smas
came. | can remember crying an
begging him not to do it, and lightin!
before | was tied, but | can't recall
anything after that. 1t was such
night, old Pollarth says, as no livin
man can remember I've known tn
west wind blowing there, and tn
waves coming in at the Sea-gate, bu
the old man says that what I've locke,
at is no more than boy could max
by stirring puddle with 2 stick il
comparison to what it was that night
I drifted up somchow, with the span
and Arthur saw me, and went in ate
me headlong. The next wave tire,
us up together, and the spar strucl
him on the head and stunned him; bu
old Pollarth had time to grip at tn
spar, and his son took hold of him, an
Bill Pollarth took hold of Ben, and tn
rest all held on and the wave wen
back without us. Arthur was mont
in bed after it, and was crazy half til
time or more.
Marsh felt something of the glo,
Pills heart experienced as this tai
was told.
The two not merely parted we
pleased with each other but held eac
other in mind, and met frequently, an,
in little while became intimates AM
friends. TWAS natural that Phil shoul
turn often, in his speech with Marsh, t
Tregarthen Island and its owner. An
there gradually grew up in the poet
mind the clearest image of the man
monrnful and tender hearted cYnie
with craze.