The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-07-08


window. 1t made frame for th
figures of both men-van Ord
spare. emanciated, spiritualized. al
superduous flesh and all color worl
away by the discipline of thought
the life Of the thinker; Champion
larger, restless, with nervous, mas
terful hands and perspective in hi
eyes that defied sounding.
When she was quite opposite Var
Ord did a frank, spontaneous, {
characteristic thing. He took th.
slight feminine hand placed it in the
masculine palm hanging beside
him.
"You may not like each other,
be sand, but you must learn to-
You must. place you 10 each
others care while 1 am beyond the
sea" He gave me one of his rare,
sweet laughs. For moment he
looked like a boy. "of each 1 shall
ask, on my return, strict account OF
the other"
The locked palms fell apart, each
conscious of the other.
HuIda passed into the house.
One soundless word had formed
on her lips.
"Imbecilel'
y X y x
The door opened, stream of light
poured into the darkness. There
was a short parIey and then the
door closed again.
The stranger had been admitted.
He walked into the sitting-room
that was library at the same time.
1t struck him as smaller than when
he had last seen it, and was it not
shabbier? Van Ord was rich enough.
Great Powersl That man, having
such opportunities, should con-
tentedly live the life of a mole in a
village of 1000 Inhabitants, whose
dwellings, as he had drived in the
twilight from the station, had stared
out white and bare as chalk-pits
among the dry stems and boughs of
the winter trees. And all this
secrificial offering of self for the
sake of a scientific discovery that
the world might refuse to accept
when it was given itl''
"GuyI"
Van Ord entered, caught his
friends hands. He had thrown one
arm over Champions shoulder. He
smiled, he laughed, the tears stood
in his eyes.
"Guy2 You? Why did you not
let me know? How came your
When2 Hulda2" His grasp tight
ened like. aNot ill?"
The other had kept silence. Van
Ord, confused by joy, had not
noticed. Now he repeated the last
question, blanching.
Champion broke in.
81 came here for fixed purpose.
A certain question has arisen in
my-law practice. 1 came to tell
you the tale and ask your opinion. Z"
ga strange idea to come to mel
To me who has been living practi-
cally for years a thousand miles out
of the worldl'
Champions mouth twitched into
something like smile.
"For an opinion on this tale it is
not necessary to live thousand
miles inside of it. I'll make the
tale short. Are you giving me
your attention." He leaned
lightly with his shoulders against
the bare, high mantel. The lamp
light fell on Van Ord's face, raised
in the listening attitude.
"There are two men concerned
in this story. Strangely enough,
two men situated all their lives as
we have been. They were boys
at college-mates together. They
were Castor and Pollux, Damon and
Pythias. Such friendships some
times arise from the impact of two
diametrically opposed forces OF
character. The one was like you.
That is, chevalier without re.
proach. The other was-like me.
AS boys, the one was always falling
into some more or less heinous
offense, the other saving the culprit
from castigation. Later, the cul-
prit owed everything-everything
You understanding the other. He
had certain faeile gift of pleasing
women especially. He made his
way we'll enough. But the friend
was always at the back. And then
you see, there was the tremendous
fact of the friends love-the love
of Jonathan for David. He would