Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-19
THE THOUSANDTH SHAVE,


"Huml"
Haven't stood by you in spite of every
thing people said about you?"
Gan lesI" cried Jack, holly.
81 know it," said Adele. laying loving
hand on his coat collar. Il have always said
that you did love me, and were not careless
and idle and improvident and"-
Jack shook off her hand quite rudely.
"And yet when ask you to marry me you
/! say NO Do you call that loveg'
II call it common sense, Jack. Why, you
know you haven't anything but your salary
of 81, 500 year"
Love in a cottage with q crust" began
Jack
"You know" she cried, "you detest subur-
ban life and like champagne better than
crusts. Oh. Jack, do be reasonable! Papa is
not unreasonable, and he loves me dearly.
Mamma will come around In time and then
we can have decsnt wedding"
That's enough" said Jack, calmly, taking
his hat. 1--WE will not discuss this matter any
further"
"You are not going9'
eyes, am. And when you see me
egainn-
"Oh, JackI"
Jack Ashton passed out very haughtily.
There is no more exquisite pleasure that feel
ing that one has genuine grievance.
1t was 10 o'clock and Mr.. Ashton should
have been at his desk in the banking house a
full hour before, but he was not troubled with
scruples, and Kenyon & Co. knew his ways
He was very clever accountant, a man who
knew the market and could on a pinch do the
work of three men.
"a cunning chap" said old Kenyon to the
Co., ''and will make his fortune when he
buckles down to it, We will keep him until
he knows bis worth"
1t was also September and Jack was due
for a weeks vacation, SO his absence did not
cause comment
''There isn't much for fellow like mo to
do" he said to himself, celebrating this idea,
land suppose I'll have to enlist as soldier.
Still, that wouldn't do. Precious little sol
diering and plenty Of wood chopping and
road making. If there was only war"
By this time he was on the docks, and the
shipping Invested the current of his thoughts
He would be sailor and go away, never to
return. Perhaps when she read of his perish
ing in gale of Zanzibar or somewhere, or
knew that he had been tossing for days and
days in an open boat with daily ration of
a spoonful of water and an ounce of raw
pork
But these things rarely got into the papers,
and when they did they generally read,
Capt. Jones and four sean1en," and as he
would be one of the seamen, how would she
knowa
That he would do something desperate he
was, however, quite resolved. 1t was absurd
10 think that he could go on living.
1t was the afternoon of the third day. He
had been to the pss4 in the morning and had
walked back There was strange dizziness
in his head, his knees knocked together more
than once, and twice his eyesight seemed to
be leaving him. He was hungry; he had not
eaten for nearly three days, but he thought
he was dying
1t gave him certain sort OF grim satisfac-
ton. He would not have taken his own life,
but if death would come without his direct
aid -. And then he looked at his rehec-
ton in a plate glass shop window and shud-
dered
1t would never do to die in such plight.
His clothes were dusty, his boots grimy and
scuffed, and he had not been shaved for three
days. Come! he might as well die like a
gentleman. The bootblack fell to work at
once as he sank into the chair, and Jack was
dimly conscious that the boy was making q
good job.
A by street ran OF the thoroughfare, and
half way down a slender red and white
striped pole protruded from door. Jack
sauntered down to the shop and paused on
the sidewalk to make survey. Reckless as
he was, he had no notion of q fveesnt shave
or one at unclean hands The suivey was
eminently satisfactory. 1t was a very cabin
of place. so small and SO snug. Jack Thought
that the barber looked like a German pro-
fessor-not Of music; theology, perhaps, or
may be ethnology or physics. A well built,
brown bearded man, with his hair combed
smoothly back from high forehead, and
eyes of limpid blue, calm and reflective.
''Shaves Yes sir" said the barber, in a
voice quite in keeping with his looks.
"A pleasant day" said Jack drearily, as
the barber lathered him defay.
Exceedingly pleasant" said the barber.
''The weather is one of the few things we can
enjoy without price.
The idea struck Jack as original, and he
smiled for the first time in three days.
I'm this world" pursued the barber,
''where man has but one life, and that of
humble origin, he has to hght 70, what
others more favored can have for asking"
"a socialist, said Jack to himself, with
the natural contempt of bank clerk
Therefore" continued the barber, begin
ming on Jacks chin, lit is fortunate that this
life is but one of a cycle; that the Karnia OF
today is but preparation for another life;
or perhaps Nirvana, who knows"
by heavens! Buddhist" exclaimed Jack
to himself
The barber turned his limpid eyes full upon
him. Not exactly" be said gravely, Il am
theosophist."
Jack gave little start and then cry Of
pain.
Il have cut you, or rather said the barber
spologeticelly, you have cut yourself II is
nothing mere scratch No, sir, theosophy
l conceive TO be civilized Buddhism, with
none Of its faults snd all OF its virtues You
understand the doctrines OF BsSidhaf Ignor-
snce, according TO Buddha, is the cause Of
our existence; our existence is hopeiessly
Overwhelmingly s its very essence. To be
sure, there is another life, life upon life, but
wbocsn regulate the succssslonT
Who. inieedfn said Jack, closing his eyes.
he rss getting weary 0ccs lar1J
-Osr rasurs comb, 5onfs lete-rninsi br sse
bind end unconscious eorcetesation OF cscse.
and effect ct tie reincaraEs!on man
may become ei.hs- god CT the vflest In.
aginssle ooisct That canary IN rs cage
nav have once be syba-ise, t-taer."
Jack opened his eyes in amused contenpla-
hon. 40 you really believe suck rubbish7
ne asked with a smile CT bis face
Certainly" rerlied the barber gravsiy.
II have already Travelled part Of the vsv to
yi-xsra I hsra .vl~a achieved Dhvera