Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-17
HERR PAULUS,
ctis RISE, HIS GREATNESS AND HIS
FALL.
HY Walter Besant, Author of "All Sorts
and Conditions of Men, etc, etc.
BOOK THE THIRD.
CHATTER Iv.-TnE FIRST BLOW.

SucC essien Of cruel blows which one after
the other shattered Paul's self satisfaction.
They began the very day after that bliss
ful tslk with Hetty, part of which has
been preserved from oblivion. Each enc
WAS unexpected; each was more severe
chan its predecessor. They were blows
dealt by Nemesis, who is always uneXpect-
ed, always silent in her approach, and who
always chooses the moment when her vic
tim is at his happiest and his proudest,
prancing gaily along the way, believing
himself to be admired by everybody, eX-
ulting in his imaginary triumph.
Nothing, for instance, could exceed the
respect, admiration, gratitude and affec-
tion with which Paul was at this moment
regarded in this house. No one could
have been more conscious of this admira-
ton than himself. Yet all was taken from
him, in three days, us you shall hear
IL began in the study. Mr.. Brudenel
was going through his correspondence.
Paul sat in an arm chair with a cigarette
and the paper. Peace and serenity lay
upon their brows.
"I]ere is letter from Anna Petrovna-
YOU remember her, Paul p
Anna Petrovna OF course. She gave
me letter to you. l have never quite
understood whether Anna is more dupe
than knave-or the opposite You see the
two characters very often overlap. There
in Lavnia Medlock, for example. She be
lieves in everybody but herself; she envies
all other mediums ; and she despises her
self. Anna is like Lavnia, with less con.
science
Any one who took an interest in this
young man would have observed that a
= q
single week. Things external do not alter
the shape of mans features unless he
engages in a prize fight or goes welshing
to q racecourse. Formerly Paul's face
was thoughtful, retiCent, and authorita-
tive. There was always a watchful look
upon 1t. This watchfulness made some,
like Sibyl, suspicious. To others, as to
Hetty, it conveyed assurance of reserved
power. Now the watchfulness had gone
oEt of his face ard the reticence. His ex.
preston was frank and candid. He told
everybody, freely, that he had lost his
power. That explained the change com
pletely.
Anna Petrovna writes to me that they
have wonderful medium in ST. Peters
burg-one Olga something by name. She
wishes to send her over here" Mr.. Bru-
denel looked obviously at Paul, as if I'M
certain how he would take it.
y thought you We're not going to have
anything more to do with mediums"
mot with the common sort. But there
are mediums of the higher class. AS for
the common kind, you yourself cleared
the house of the lying spirits, Paul"
Eyes"
"And, of course, you would not wish us
TO become perfect unbelievers. After all
you have yourself done here, that would
be impossible"
II wish nothing, Mr.. Brudenel. AS you
know, am no longer qualified to give an
opinion or to advise. anybody. l know
very little, but should say that it will be
time 20 treat the subject seriously when
you get message worth having-which
tells US by means of the rappings some
thing we could not find out for ourselves.
As Tor me and my Message-you saw
what you saw
You found me in uncertainty, Paul.
houndering among quicksands. And you
placed me on the Solid Rock
"On the Solid Rock" Paul repeated,
but without enthusiasm.
I'VE have learned" Mr.. Brudenel went
on, that there are wise men to whom
space is nothing. have been myself trans
ported daily in the spirit, thousands of
miles in moment We know that life is
continuous, and that some have acquired
the power OF seeing AMI conversing with
the spirits-you yourself could do so.'
perhaps. But have lost my power"
I'VE have learned that the incidents of
unearthly life have no significance unless
they affect the March of the Soul. All
this We have learned from you and from
your friends. If the Russian medium
OlFa--is able to continue this teaching |
would keep her here as long as she would
consent to stay"
Paul." Mr., Brudenel went on, put
me i'll communication once more with
lzak Ibn Menelek, Try. Stand over me
as you used TO do Look me in the eyes
as you used to do. Try, Paul"
F8Nl threw away his cigarette
81 VIII try. But it is useless. | know it
beforehand"
1t was useless After ten minutes Paul
des!sted,
"You have lost the compelling look in
your eye," said Mr.. Brudenel. II thought
once that was going off but it was only
my right foot gone asleep. Do you think
he will ever resume his teaching, Paul
do you think shall ever remember what
he taught ?''
al do not know. My power has left me-
If call on LAX Ibn Menelek, he will not
reply. am forgetting who he is. | want
you to understand that if he has used me
he has now cast me aside. have been an
instrument, | cannot advise, help or
promise you anything in the matter. |
know not what is going to happen Prob
ably nothing. Yon have learned what it
was intended that you should learn
Perhaps you will be left entirely to your
self Perhaps not"
After ell, TO have learned so much as
Paul had taught was considerable boon
Ob ne parI OF person OF WnOm MI bru-
denes never heard. If all of us felt our
feet as firmly planted on the Solid Rock
what an age of Faith would be again
commenced Mr.. Brudenel would have
replied, but he was interrupted by a ser
want who brought in a card.
at . our friend, Athelstan Kilburn.
Show Mr. Kilburn here. You remember
Athelstan Kilburn, Paul. He was present
at two of your evenings"
Paul nodded.
Mr.. Atheistsn Kilburn was in general
person extremely well satisfied with
AiiEself. Men who are well satisfied with
Ghcmselves frequently have loud voices.
Nj z thelstan Kilburn had a loud voice
Alel Who are well satisfied with them
selves are frequently of a portly presence
Mr Ethelstan Kilburn was portly. But
Today ne was perceptihly smaller, and
his volume of voice was shrunken.
81 an not interrupting, | hope" he
goiJ t.unyu tbat arc at,,gvc 4,