Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-06

FIVE minutes longer in the Camera Obscu-
ra, because she would have been reward
ed by the sight of Paul with her father
He entered the study, in fact, just as she
left that ingenious machine upon the roof
Mr. Brudenel was horribly nervous
The calculations he had been making con-
sidered the possible loss of all the money,
and were therefore, perhaps measure of
his Faith.
"Panl !" he cried. ooh, how glad | am
you are come. Bring me some comfort,
my dear friend. Have you no message for
me None at all Consider"
None Have you no faith :" Paul point
ed sternly to the calculations.
81 have perfect Faith, Paul, perfect"
Yet his anxious eyes might make one in
credulous as to the perfection. 81 am as
sured as to their good intentions. NY only
fear is that, considering the insigniicance
of the business and the worthlessness Of
money-mere money-and their natural
indifference whether we get it or not"
YES" Paul replied, gravely. There is
that danger. But on the other hand, re
member that the money stands in the
name of Three. They have been trans
ported from Bombay, from Abyssinia, and
from America on purpose to receive this
money and place it in the Bank after the
modern fashion. The venerable 1zak
suppose, never had any money before in
the whole of his long life. | think that the
mere fact of his receiving it will remind
him that it is not an Indifferent matter to
you-not because you, personally, value
money
II do not, Paul You-that is your
Friends-have taught me better things"
Nothing could be more humble than Mr..
Brudenel's attitude of mind, or even of
body. The very humility belied his words.
His forehead was lined with care and his
ewes were haggard. If be had been think
ing all day and all night about the money
he could not have looked more anxious nor
would he have valued it more.
"You do not care about the money"
Paul repeated. But your honor is en-
gagged"
the poor children's money--all. And the
Company-my Company bankrupt. My
honor is engaged. If they do not get back
their money / have resolved to sell my
house and all that it contains. Lady Au-
gusta has enough for us to live upon in
humble style and as for the land, 1t would
be thousand pities to sell 1T now. Will
give the rent to the children in my lifetime
and divide 1t among them at my death. |
act ed tor the bes. but if l have lost their
money must pay it back. If | could only
remember why I sold the shares, and why
| signed those cheques"
"You forget every day what has passed
between YOU and lZak Ibn Menelek. You
have forgotten daily for two months And
vet you wonder why you have forgotten
this single circumstance. Lay it all-for-
getfulness and everything-at the door of
Izak, and have Faith"
Mr.. Bruderel sighed heavily. By con
hQt M aH ha
had come to believe himself; yet. az has
been already stated, he trembled and tossed
at night, and he fidgeted by day, just for
all the world as if he had none. Yet he had
an example in his household. Lady Au-
pusta end Cicely, and with them Hetty,
had perfect Faith, and looked for the day
with joyful confidence. There would be,
they were persuaded, another manifesto
ton, and the exhibition of such power as
had never yet been vouchsafed to the i'm
perfect West.
But behold Strange and unexpected are
the ways of Sages.
While they talked thus together, these
two, the message. so eagerly desired,
came to Paul.
He suddenly stood up as if listening,
with respect and awe upon his face.
He has spoken" he said to Mr.. Bruden-
what does he say ~
"There are conditions. On certain con-
dtions-nay-one condition only, their in
heritance will be saved for the children"
"What is the condition :"
You have always desired that your
daughter should remain single, devoted to
the advance OF true Spiritualism, which
you have now learned to call the ancient
Way"
THAT is true. You have yourself taught
me that in the highest degrees there is no
marriage. | have desired for Sibyl the
condition of the greatest, happiness, in
which the mind is dstr acted by no passion
and suffers from no anxiety"
"You have. But you forget one thing
One human being cannot thus dispose of
another without her consent"
There is nothing which Sibyl will not
do to please me-"
DOUBTLESS she will obey, but not in the
spirit What is the good of being a cell
bate, if the heart is always yearning after
the lower, but the common lot. What do
YOU think of the man who cuts the tonsure
and takes the vows, yet all his life dreams
of the outer world and the joys he has
missed ?"
But Sibyl has no desire to change She
is happy at the prospect before her"
"She would be, perhaps, but for one rea-
son. You have forgotten that Slbyl's ma
ture is antipathetic to all your pursuits
and aims. Such man as myself has no
power over her, Cicely believes, and is re-
warded by visions, such as were never be-
fore vouchsated to a blind girl Hetty be-
lieves and is rewarded"-he blushed, re
memberng-"in other ways. Lady Au-
gusta believes But Sibyl cannot believe"
"She will believe when she learns more"
"She will never believe. You yourself
have been able to distinguish between the
tricks of the charlatans who surround the
Mystery, and the Mystery itself. Men like
Chick, women like Lavinia Medlock, who
have some humble share of power, and
supplement their deficiencies by tricks
and shams, have disgusted your daughter.
My dear sir, if she will not believe ME,
whom will she believe ?" Paul raised his
eyes; full of candor and pure sincerity,
free from any boastfulness, though with
any other man the words would have
sounded boastful. Whom will she ever
believe ?" he repeated.
"She must believe, The things you
have done"
"She will never believe, / assure you.
Resign yourself TO that fact. | have no
power over her. She is personally antipa-
thetic. She is actively hostile Ihave en- |
deavored, but in vain, to soften her. She |
belongs to that large part of humanity to