Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-18
Langworthy's amused tolerant smile. He
stopped, and there was almost fcsh upon

Lsngworthy's amused tolerant smile. HI
stopped, and there was almost flesh upol
his cheek.
'You think am mmaudlin-doting, see,
he said. "Langworthy, I do hope the Lori
will kiudly let you die In the harness. Yor
haven't any taste for these innocent greer
pastures where We old fellows must dispor
ourselves, II We disport at al. Now, I wan
| to know II it would be-er-indelicate Il
attempt to find out who she ID, and to re-
store the stones to hefP''
Langworthy, who had preserved through
out his usual air of strict scientific atten.
tion, jumped up and began to pace the
room.
'sHis name2" he said.
Hayden gave it.
II Know the man." said Langworthy,
almost reluctantly. "Did any one who ev-
er saw him forget him9 He WAS on the
verge of melancholia, but what mind be
Glow did yon know him, Langworthy!"
asked Hayden, with pathetic eargerness.
''As patient. It's sad story. You
won't Ike it. You had better keep your
fancies without the addition Of any Of the
facts"
s'Go on" said Hayden, briefly.
"They live here, you know. BE was the
only son. BE unconscloisIy acquired the
morphine habit from taking quantities of
the stuff for neuralgia symptoms during q
ter, and found what had happened to him,
he came to me.
l had to tell him he would die il he
didn't break it off and would probbly die if
he did. oh, no matter he said. what
disgusts me is the idea that it has taken
such hold Of me- He did break it of,
directly and absolutely. never knew but
one other man who did that thing. But
between the pain and the shock from the
suddon cessation of the drug, his mind was
unbalanced for q while OF course the
girls parents broke off the engagement. I
knew they were travelling with him last
summer. It was q trying case, and the
way he accepted his own weakness touched
me. At his own request he carried no
money with him. It was q temptation
when he wanted the drug, you see. 1t
must have been at such moment when he
contemplated giving up the struggle, that
you met him in the pawn shop"
81 am glad knew enough to respect
him even there" murmured Hayden, IN his
beard.
"Oh, you may respect him, and love him
il you like. he died moral hero, II a
mental and physical wreck.
"And the woman?" asked the connois-
seur.
s'Keep the opals, Hayden; they and he
are more to you than to her. She-In fact
it is very soon-I believe that she is to mar
~ another man."
"Who is"
"A gilded cad. That's ALL"
Langworthy took out his watch and look
ed at it. I turned to the table. What had
happened to the dreaming stone? Did a
light flash across from one to the other, or
did my eyes deceive me? looked down,
not trusting what saw. One opal lay as
pale, as pure, as lifeless, as moon stone lie.
The other glowed with yet fierier spark;
instead of coming from within, the color
seemed to play overits surface IN unrestrict-
ed flame.
:'See hereP' said.
Lsngworthy looked, then turned his head
away sharply. The distaste of the scien-
tific man for the inexplicable and irrational
was very strong within.
But the old man bent forward, the lamp
light shining on his white hair, and with
womanish gesture caught the cleaning opal
to his lips. ga human soulp' he said. "a
human soulv'-Harper's Weekly.