Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-06
AT THE S0RB0NNE.


court of the Sorbonne, Bonnetheau, a stu
dent, and I, Hendrix, his coach. Bonnetheau
had scrawled off a note or two on the dis
course to which we had been listening, which
was engaged upon simplifying and copying
IN more methodical hand.
To conduct frivolous mind through a
course of serious study is no light task, and
sighed as I remarked: ''Marillac gave you
q magnificent lecture today, Hippolyte I
hope your head was not full of Mabille."
"Ah, but it was!' he cried from his seat in
q window, where he was winding his watch,
''and no 'calcul personnel about it, either;
on the contrary, sacrifice of knowledge in
behalf of Julie You do not perceive? At
tend, then. I have no right to the acquire
ments of science if the prettiest woman in
Paris must suffer for it, any more than
Comte# had to eat his own breakfast in adj
vance of his valet. I swear to Julie that |
shall continually cherish her image in my
thoughts. If, then, open the door of my
mind to the discussion of Marillac, helas!
confusion to the memory of Julie and a
greedy gain to myself Ours is not a philos
ophy of self, my friend; we live for Others :"
at which he laughed, with that awful mix
times startled me. ''You, too," he continued,
s'must share in a measure this phase of our
religion. The pleasure of your friends must
drain this bottle of Chambertin, which he
whisled from his pocket, land do my little
part again toward the highest good"
was divided between impulses to thrash
and embrace him, so wicked, yet beseeching
~ bod fhk,
edge of his glass.
II hate this talk of yours" I said, brusquely,
"and if you want to blind me to your lack of
industry you must try some other bandage
than Comtean rags. You don't believe that
trash; you never did, you never will. You're
lazy self indulgent dog. You're drinking
yourself into your grave, and you're going
down fast, Hippolyte. Did l not begin by
writing a quarter of your treatise last year
and of the next two thirds-and today, see, a
scratch about an ascending SERIES and the
rest, my work For Gods sake, rouse your
self! ORR for I remembered that he con-
fessed no God, 'for the sake of the beautiful
girl you profess to love, leave Mabille and
wine aloner'
But he curled his fine red lip in scorn.
'She! To concern herself with my damna-
ton or salvation! And yet" he drew his
forefinger on the edge of his glass with an
ambiguous smile, ''since l must SO inevita-
bly, go to the bad, have had a fancy, at
times, that I should like to take her along
with me. It's a tedious road, my friend, as
I've found already, and you know that place,
it is not recommended when one gets there.
The society, the climate, je ne sails quoi-one
forebodes being bored. But if she, now
"Silencer' / shouted, springing up.
:sAs you please" he said, carelessly, pick
ing up his students cap, and strolling to-
ward the door. He turned back with his
hand on the knob ''Thou sayest prayer
for myself now and thenF' he inquired.
.'And thou couldst. ask pardon for two when
thou art about it, Thou couldst say, Lord,
have mercy more especially upon Bonnie
theaus sins, Also Do that for me, Hendrix,
as thou lowest me, and I'll thank thee for it. y
''Why don't you say your own prayers? |
demanded 'Comte used to say prayers, and
to a sort of woman. You surely would not
object to the object"
He threw me one of his inimitable smiles
with brows arched and head slightly inclined.
s'Alasi am one of those unfortunates to
whom they pin the card, 'Parentage I'm
known Wife, as thou art aware, ! have
never had, and as for daughters-well, ii
thou vert to peep into all the cradles of Paris
thou mightest find my eyes under one OF the
little caps, and again thou mightest not I'm
not telling thee that There is Julie, to be
sure, but what is n man to do who has nc
emotion to pour OUTS
At this the door closed, and | could heal
him whistling an ecstasy from ''Le plable
Boiteaux'' as he passed into the court.
I was engaged upon book of morals, fol
which [ hoped to take prize at the nex1
sitting of the judges of the academy, and Oh
the evening following my reproef OF Hip
polvte took up my pen to resume an argu
mant In vain There was but one theme
possible to my reflections, and, thrustlng my
papers aside, | leaned my head upon my
hand and gave myself up to it, At the sam'
moment Hippolyte rose from his chair by TIL
fire. and. crossing the room, emptied de
canter on the buffet, Soon he would be going
ont for his absinthe and petit souper. | stol
a. look at his face in profles it was flushed
wasted, pathetically sad. and although thi
aspect was becoming daily more familiar t.
me. at each fresh recognition of it the irol
entered my soul anew. All, loved Hippelyt
with mans love, which is rough and pro
efNN~NNN>>S'
the stairs followed him.
"Hippolyte!"
He turned back impatiently.
ssYou're not offended by what said to yo1
yesterday!'
''And what then?" he replied. "Go to bed
| like the innocent thou art, and dream that
| forgave thee"
| did not quite understand the habit of tn
L L. 4, lofr
| for Bonnetheau was hand in glove with Il
man. Had he indeed more than a commo
regard for mo? blushed with pleasure, ill
| girl, at the thought.
| About month previous had made my wa
through regiments of lacqueys up the scarle
! stairs to the ballroom of the American minis
| ter I had received card, through heave
knows what intercession, and might hav
been found in the shadow of the orchestra, q
the further end of the room.
| Here l erected watch tower, from whic
I observed various things There wer
waltzes innumerable, and petty sham COZ
quest of rank and beauty. Hippolyte him
self had reaped no small share of laurel:
when stir in the main entrance announce
the arrival of the Baron de Choisy and hi
American ward, Miss Whipple Exquisltel
simple in bearing and dress, this young gin
moved down the long room on the arm c
Choisy, her face was pale and thin Tipped
with eyes glowing; the kind Of face that on
*August Comte was the founder of the Positiv
School of Philosophy, which did away with
faith in revealed religion
reads not ac first, nor indeed wnony are
many perusals. szks.ss...;
| oI1o ~
inquired of Choisy, SIS tn
together In Paris. m'slsi1