The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-07

vsrsation. Ills henri had been dancing all
the time, his thoughts had been far away
from these things, and in the visions of his
mild tlls sulnptuons appointments OF his
fathers castle had risen before him with
ont rebuke. Even the pushed fIunltey,
had not been unpleasant to his dreaming
visw. After the meal Barrow said:
Come with me. I'll give you u jolly
evening""
VERY good. Where are you going?"
i my club"
"What club is that?" z II
"Mechanics' Debating club"
Tracy %shnddered. slightly. lie didn't say
anything about having visited that place
himself. Somehow no didn't quito relish
tbs memory of that time. The sentiments
which had made his former visit there no
enjoyable, and filled him with such enthu-
slaain, had undergone IL gradual change.
and they had rotted away to such u degree
That no couldn't contemplate another visit
there with anything strongly Resembling
delight. In fact, he was q little ashamed
to 20; he didn't want to 60 there and find
out by tho rude impact of the thought Of
those people upon his recognized condi-
ton of mind, how sharp the change had
been. He would have preferred to
stay away. He expected that now he
should hear nothing except senti-
ments which would be Il reproach
to him in his changed mental attitude. and
he rather wished he might be excused. And
yet he didn't quits want to say that, he
d1dn't want to show how he did feel, or
show any disinclination to 90. and SO he
forced himself tn go along with Barrow,
privately purposing to take an early oppor-
tunlty to get away.
After the essayist Of the evening had read
MS paper tho chairman announced that the
debate would now be upon the subject Of
the previous meeting. 'The American
Press" It saddened the backslidin9 dis
clple to hear the announcement. 1T brought
uptoo many "reminiscences. He wished he
had happened upon some other subject.
Bnt'the debate began, and he sat still and
listened.
- the course Of the discussion one Of the
speakers, a blacksmith named Iompkins.
arraigned all monarchs and all lords in the
earth for their cold selfishness ia retaining
their unearned dignities. He said that no
and no son Of a lord ought to BE- able to
look his fellowman IN tho face without
shame. Shame for consenting to keep his
unearned property, titles and privileges at
the expense Of other people. Shame for
consenting to remain OF any terms ia dis
honorable possession Of these things, which
represented bygono robberies and wrongs
inflicted upon the general people of the
nation. He said: "If there were a lord or
a son OF a lord here, | would like to reason
with him, and try to show him how unfair
and how selfish his position is. would try
to persuade him to relinqnish it. take his
place among them on equal terms, earn the
bread he eats. and hold Of slight value all
Difference paid him because of artificial
position. oil reverence not the just due of
his own personal merits"
Tracy seemed to be listening to utter
anoes'of his v made in talks with his rad
icai friends in England. It was as if some
eavesdropPing ~phonoeraph had treasured
up his words and brought them across the
Atlantic to accuse him with them in the
hour Of his detection and retreat. Every
word spoken BY this stranger seemed to
leave = blister On Tracy's conscience, and
BY the time the speech was finished he felt
that hs WAS oil conscience and ono blister.
This mans deep compassion for the on
shaved and oppressed millions in Europe
who had to hear with the contempt Of that
small class above them, throned upon shin
ing heights whose paths were shut against
them, was the very thing he had often ut
tered himself. Tho pity in this mans
voice and words was the very twin Of the
pity that used to reside in his own heart
and come from his own lips when BIZ
thought of these oppressed peoples.
[To BE CONTINUED. -
Copyright.