Evening journal., 1892-08-17


leaves, and his voice still crying loudly;
''Voltaire! Voltairew
"Has the old man gone madg' Thought
Skerrett. "Voltaire the great is get
ting too ancient to travel. II is hardly
fair to disturb him. He is a soldier
emeritus Of our good cause He walked
France up. We have to thank him
largely that France has an appetite for
freedom and sends her sons over to help
us fight for it. But he cannot hear this
hullaballoo at Ferney; Lafayette, Ra-
diere, and the others represent their
master with such heart and stomach as
they can "s'e. -'s'. -
Il inasf,not lose sight Of my run.
away continued he to himself The
name Of Kerr struck him like shot.
He may have a grudge there. Some
private vendetta in the case. And yet
this mild old man always seemed to me
to have entirely merged his personality
in patriotism. / fancied that he had
forgotten all his likes, dislikes, loves and
hates, and given up all ties except his
allegiance to an idea"
Major Skerrett walked rapidly to the
edge of the bank, where Sergeant Lin
coin had first given tongue for an absent
philosopher.
As lie was about to follow the path he
heard steps again in the wood. In
moment the orderly reappeared and ran
mp the slope painting. He was followed
by a person who moved slower and blew
harder, the same old wiggy negro whom
Major Skerrett had observed laying
down the law to his companion.
$50 that is Voltaire!" thought the
major. well, it is the first time l
have ever found the devil blacker than
he is painted"
The orderly sank agitated and out Of
breath on the ground.
Voltaire came up the hill and, being
hatless, pulled hard at his gray wig by
way of salute. The wig was rooted to
the scalp. Voltaire left it in stu, and
bowed as grandly as a black dignitary
may when he is blown by a good run.
Il was in despair just now" said Ser
geant Lincoln. "In despair when
said it was too late to help me- Perhaps
y is not so. l trust God sends you,
Major Skerrett, to show us the way out
Of our troubles"
"This is sound Gospel" thought Skier
rett. "This black Voltaire may be the
Evangelist but the Gospel is unim-
peachable."
"Come, sergeant, continued he aloud,
"tell me what all this means, my friend.
We must dispatch. My bird down the
river may take wing If l waste time"
Il am panied, my dear young friend, -
slid the senior, rising, Ito acknowledge
to you an unwilling deceit Of mine. But
l must do SO. You have known me al
ways under a false name. l am not
Lincoln, but Brothertoft--Edwin Broth
ertoft.
"My fathers friendr said SkeIrett,
taking the others hand. "Mr. Brother
loft, SO missed, so desired by the goot
cause. Why
Here Major Skerrett interrupted him
self and went to rummaging in hi
brain for the disconnected strips of rec
ord stamped: "Brothertofts. The fam
ily'
"Why!" said Edwin Brothertoft, an
sweIing slowly and sadly, while tn
others brain read records and forge
thoughts at this furious speed. "Woul
/, you ask me why my life is what it
and not what men would say it nigh
have beenl All, my friend, the story
long and dreary-too dreary to darke
the heart of youth"
7 Sadly as he spoke there was no con
plant in his tone. He seemed to regar
his facts little dreamily, as if he wer
mentioning some other mans exper
ence.
But the past is dead" he continued
= land here are present troubles alive an
upon me-"
Troubles alive" says the major, fee
ing brave, buoyant Peter Skerrett sti
stirring under the buff and blu
"Those can help floor perhaps. Nam
themw
Edwin Brothertoft had seen only d
3, spair written up before him. He AZ
! vanced a step at Skerrett's words, lifte
. up his eyes and despair shifted to hop
: when You named Major Kerr"
y said, "you named one who is devisin
= evil to me and mine. Capture him an
y the harm is staid. My faithful o.
AAANAA N0AAeAAN NAANA WIZ "a ~ NNAA J =
= the story between us"
Yoltaire considered this his introdu
ton, and bowed pompously.
"You are too juicy Voltaire, and t.
= shiny and not sardonic enough to bel
;" the name of the weakened headpiece
France" the major said when
= made my pilgrimage to Ferney four
i i that Atropos Of bigotry in a nightc,
- and dressing gown, looking as wrinkle
leathery and great as one Of Micha
. Angeles Sibyls l hope You are as tn
to freedom as he was and a more Who'll
20 some man"
y Skerrett made this talk to give the o
Is fellow time to blow, as well as to stir
/, a smile to the surface of BrothertOf
- sad face.
Is eyes, sir" said the negro, bowii
., again. "Voltaire, sir, omnorum gothic
um Of Brothertoft manor house. Ham
/. bal was my name; but / heard Mr.. B
IT, Franklin say that Mr.. Voltaire was I
greatest min he knowed, so l married
10 that name, and tux it."
Here he nauspd and prinned I