Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-03

proach but for that very reason less enduras
bic. 1t Is the truth of charge which gives y
lts Sung man VIII endure 20 say 20 1lnsS.- In. -
what he will not tolerate to be said to him Dy
another.
He went to his room, but not to bed. He sat
at the window, where Salome had sat- In me
same chair, thinking with dark brow and ser
lips. In one thing, his self-esteem was enco1r-
aged. His uncle would see and be forced %
acknowledge how thoroughly he had mastered
the technicalties OF the business and with
what order and prudence he had carried it on.
He need not shrink from the closest examina@
ton into his conduct Of the factory. Every
thing was in order. the books well kept, several
contracts in hand. His uncle might dismiss
him, but he could not say word against his
integrity and business habits. He had taken
to himself nothing but what Mrs. Sidebottom,
as Administrative, had passed over to him.
And as to his uncle's disappearance, he had
done nothing as to the Identification Of the
wrong body; he bad held himself neutral, as N.
acquaintance with his npcle. II blame was 70
be cast, it must fall heavily on Mrs. Sidebot-
tom, but none would rest on him.
But-how about the futuref Philip now re-
called the discontinue, the monotonies, the
irritations OF lodging-house life. Could he 60
back to that7 If his uncle offered to retain
him in his house. could he consent? His pride
counseled him to go, his love Of comfort %
remain.
Uncle Jeremiah had not invited him to re-
main, but Philip thought it likely that he
would be most painful to him to continue at
the factory, in which he had been q master,
heneeforth in subordinate position. Should
he return to the solicitors firm at Noting ham,
in which he had been before? That his serv-
ices there were valued he was well aware; that
his resignation Of a clerkship therein had
caused annoyance he was well aware; he
knew, however, that his place was filled. and
that If he returned to the office hewould be
obliged to take q lower desk. He might, and
probably would, be advanced, but that would
require patience, and he must wait till a va
cancy occurred. Besides, it would be humil-
iation to have to solicit readmisslon, after he
had left the office on Suits, as one who had
Then-what was to be done about his wifef
He could not maintain her and her child on q
junior clerks wage. Moreover he had sent
her away when he occupied lofty moral plat.
form, because connection with her suIIied the
fair name OF Pennycomequick, and might in
jure the firm; and now that he no longer be-
longed to the firm, but was poor clerk of no
consequence in the world, was he to write to
her letter of humble apology, and ask her to
return and share the beggary of clerks life
in furnished lodgings with him. to unite with
him in the long, doleful battle against land
ladies? He had little doubt that Uncle Jere-
miah would propose to make Salome an allow
ance, and that on this allowance together with
his salary they might be able to rub along. But
to accept such relief from Uncle Jeremiah,
granted through his wife-his wife whom he
had snubbed and thrust away-was not pleas
ant to contemplate.
Whatever way Philip considered the meal set
before him, he saw only humble pie, and hum
BILE pie is the least appetizing of dishes Philip
approached 1t as sulky child does morsel
which his nurse requires him to eat, without
consuming which he must expect no pudding.
He walked round it, he looked at it from near,
then he drew back and considered it at long
range, then he touched it, then Smelt 1t, then
turned his back on it. then-with a grumble-
began to pick a few crumbs of it and put them
between his lips.
He went to bed at last, unresolved, angry
with himself, angry with Salome, angry with
his uncle and angry with the baby who was
sobbing in the nursery.
Philips experiences had all been made in
spiral form, they were ever turning about him
self, and though each revolution attained a
higher level, it was still made about the same
center. There is family likeness in minds as
well as in noses and eyes and hair; and in this
Philip resembled his aunt, but with the differ.
ence that he was governed by a strong sense Of
rectitude, and that nothing would induce him
to deViate from what he believed to be just,
whereas his auDts principles were flexible, and
governed only by her own interests.
In these days in which we live socialism is in
the air, that is to say, it is talked Of and pro-
fessed, but whether by any is practlced am
inclined to question. For socialism take to
mean every one for every one else, and no one
for himself, and this is a condition contrary to
the nature Of man, for men are more or less
waterspouts, vortices, attracting to themselves
whatever comes within their reach, and to be
actuated by centrifugal not a eentripetal
force is the negative of individuality.
We stalk our way over the ocean, drawing up
bnIOuRQ our every uIOp u WALLET ofcNy
seaweed and crab and fish and mollusc that we
can touch, and whirl them round and round
ourselves, and only cast them away and dis
tribute them to others when they are OF no
more use to ourselves.
Every climatic zone through which Philip
had passed had served to feed and build up the
column Of his self-esteem; the rugged weather
in furnished lodgings, and the still seas into
which he had entered by his uncle,s deEh- anO
by his marriage. Nothing had Rrokefft down,
dissolved Its continuity dissipated Its force.
At sea, when vessel encounters water
spout, it discharges ordnance, and the vibration
of the atmosphere caused by the explosion
snaps the column and it goes to pieces. But
would the shock caused by the return Of Uncle
jeremiah, and the loss of position and wealth
that this entailed. suffice to break the pillar OF
self-esteem that constituted Philip Pennycome--
quick? Hardly; for though touched in many
ways, he could hold up his head conscious OF
his rectitude he had managed the mill admir-
ably, kept the accounts accurately, adapted
himself to the new requirements perfectly.
He could, when called upon, give up his place,
but he would march forth with all the honors
of war.
ITO be continued neIt Monddy)