The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-15

aptitude for all kinds of study was re-
markable. There had been some. talk OF
sending him TO Columbia College. then
\ mere high school in King street, but
rs his intelligence gave wider proof of its
capacity, Harvard College was deter
mined upon.
Gerald studied under tutors for two
years longer in New York, and then en-
tered Harvard with flying colors His vac
cations were always the bringing home of
more than merely creditable reports. He
had gained the highest rank in all de-
partments OF study. He was head Of his
class, our American term has il, in
everything.
Lawrence took the deepest pleasure in
his sons collegiate Jriumphs. As for
Mrs. Lawrence, she was overjoyed past
expression Her boys brilliant promise
atOned for the disappointment wrought
by her husbands thwarted aspiration.
As a matter of course, Gerald became re-
quainted with his fathers absorbing pur-
suit. He WAS naturally reticent, and
those who were in his society often left
IL with the impression that he was not
oonversationally notable, while ut the
Eame time they some how admitted his
excellent endowments.
Social New York life in those days had
to-day When Gerald returned home
from Harvard he was not lurei into the
fashionable foilies of the assemblies, the
Patriarchs, or the F. c. ID. c. Dancing
Class. All these blooms of civilization
were yet in the bud. He went TO certain
Gecorous aud simple entertainments and
enjoyed them. But he showed no taste
for festive pleasures. Always no seemed
like one who feels the Sisitant presence
Of some continual broodinE preoccupa-
tion. Both his parents noticed this and
in the last year of his sojourn at college
both communicated their solicitude one
TO another. Was Gerald Ill, Had some
sentiment seized him with its delicate,
Rmorous grasp of there in Cambridge,
What was really the matter, Was any
thing really the matter, or was their pa
rental love merely ut faulti
They soon learned that something ser
iously was tho matter, though the anI-
ieiy which they suffered may have sprung
from a different origin. One day. scarcely
= week after Gerald had returned from
Boston with credentials that certified he
had been graduated from Harvard at the
head OF his class, he fell back upon a SOFA
in the drawing room OF his parents
Henry street house, while several guests
Were assembled for the purpose Of giving
him their congratulations, utterly Uacoa-
scious.
Before doctor had been summoned he
had rallied and recovered. He laughed
lightly at the attack, and declared it
simply result OF overwork during the
last examination at Harvard, and nothing
more. lie quieted the fears OF both his
parents by soon afterward appearing in
his usual health and spirits But the
4
after his swoon had spoken caadidly Mt
his own solicitation. Gerald, brave and
full of self-command, had insisted that
the physician should reveal nothing OF the
real truth TO his father or mother.
They both love me dearly, DR.. South
ton" he said, land If they knew l had =
mortal m2lady of the heart they would be
In a perpetual state of worriment You
will promise me, therefore, that you viii
tell them nothing;"
al PROMISE" DIR. SouthtOn had an
swered. =
1t il possible that Gerald's department
toward hi. fathsr changed from that time
thenceforward. They had always been on
the most intimate terms together. During
Gerald's early schooling in Geneva many
had been the loving voyages paid to him
from Paris by his father, absorbed in
C.
Gerald knew of the byzantine history rs
he knew of his boyish hoops and kite
He came, one morning. into his fathers
library, and after watching the usual work
at the long-meditated manuscript, he
said: - -
Father, you have never known n GER
tain fact about this boy Of yours, care
fully as you have watched and guarded
him"
"You have n secret from me, my SOD 80
Lawrence asked surprisedly.
Yes, father. IL secret. l have tried my
hand at verse"
AT versoT' The words OF Lawrence
rang with n certain scoffing bitterness.
Yes, father, at verse"
Let me see what you have DONE" said
Lawrence, and ~ he spoke the words n
cogent memory of his own defeat and
surrender swept through his soul.
Gerald sank into a chair near his side.
He drew forth n manuscript and quietly
began to read it. He had read for per
haps five minutes when his father sud
denly and harshly interrupted him. -,
Gerald. is this yours,'
"Yes, father" Gerald answered. ''Do
you like its''
Like it;' murmured Lawrence. why,
my dear boy, it is wonderfully fne!''
And it truly was. Youth spoke in the
verses, but genius spoke too. The imag-
cry, the feeling, the selection of epithet,
WAS more than merely remarkable; each
told of a nature endowed with capacity to
express in the sure, sweet phrase OF art,
sensibility, passion and careful reflection.
Lawrence had felt, as he read. the sense
of a new personality in literature. Ii had
rushed warmly, blandly upon him like
the breeze OF n summer dawn.
His son was a true poeti He had never
been one; he had only had the longing.
the scholarly equipment, the eager and
fervid intention. But Gerald, after no
apparent struggle, after what seemed TO
be solely the most natural and easy i'm
pulse, had attained something unique
and brilliant in poetic composition.
Lawrence put away his sons manu-
script, telling Gerald that he would retain
it for further consideration. The subject
OF the poem was Cortes, the Mexican con-
queror. It's material was evidently taken
from Prescott's immortal history. But
Gerald had woven about the whole tale Of
that memorable conquest glamour, an
enchantmcnt, which the real poet can
alone evoke.
An agony of jealousy now assailed Ger
AIDS father. He had always loved his
son, till now, in the most disinterested
and devoted way. But now he was wildly,
almost fiercely, jealous of him. He strove
TO conquer the new sensation, but in vain.
lie locked himself within his library for
hours AMI remained there, doggedly pac-
ing the floor, with bent head and COM
pressed lips. His wife wondered At his
altered moods, but he told her nothing
He would rather have died than reveal
the truth 70 her, or to any one on earth
iIe almost loathed himself for feeling as
nc did He hated to have Gerald ap-
proach him, though he still loved the boy
as fondly as ever And yet Gerald's very
existence ROW seemed u mockery, a sar-
casm upon his owni
Campbell his wife said to him one
day, ''you are ILL., You must see doctor.
Do not attempt to deceive me. You remain
closeted for hours, but it is not your his
tory which absorbs you. / suspect you