The morning call., 1892-03-06
on. GREGORY

DIR. Gregory was walking up the street in
which stood the house of his friend, Sir
William Fay. 1t was steep street, austerely
monotonous in its architecture; the August
sun was hot, the elderly gentleman carried a
heavy bag, yet he walked with springing
step. He was white-haired and of fine
open-air complexion. Notwithstanding a
slight stoop, which betokened n dreamy
habit of mind, there was fire and spirit
about his whole appearance. His bright
and hopeful eye, of somewhat abStraeted
gaze, kindled easily as he muttered TO him.
self, and smiles played about bis lips.
Dr. Gregory was an antiquary. He de-
voted his time and energy to unburying the
past. Enthusiastic by temperament, lie was
apt sometimes to oyerestmate the importance
q the discoveries he made; nevertheless, the
British Museum anu some local collections
contained some curious relics of Roman and
Saxon times that he had presented. While
digging III the nelghbOrhood Of a Roman
encampment lie hai lately come upon a
square block Of masonry ornamented with
inscriptions, in relieve, reSem bling nothing
ne had yet found. The old gentleman was
FRYING along 10 share with his friend the
excitement and mystery of that ind. Sir
William Fay was renowned excavation, OF
vast learning and Judgment, who held a
high Official position. 4 warm friendship
existed between the two men. Essentially
different in temperament, community of
tastes gave 10 their relationship the eXhil-
aration OF intellectual comradeship. Ii the
truth must be told, However, Sir Williams
feeling for DR.. Gregory was one OF affection
lot the man himself rather than Of trust in
= his Judgment as an aTch80lcgiSt To the
doctor, who was an old bachelor. friendship
with The eminent scientist was the SOlace
ana delight OF his solitary and studiouS life.
DR.. Gregory, not being the most patient
of men, felt inclined to fume at being kept
% In waiting On the doorstep. With the
abTuptneSs CT intimacy he burst into his
friends study and cut short his greetings.
My dear Fay" he said in tones of myS-
terry. you Will never guess what L have in
this bag"
''The bag and its master. in effect. seem
charged with mystery" replied his friend,
an amused ginmer fickering up into his
faded eyes. lie was man OF inciSlye coun-
teuance. His finely cut features of classic
mold were somewhat marred by what look ed
like all accidental bluntneSS OF the tip of the
nose and projection of the chin. His
friends said that he resembled bust of
Jupiter fractured IN the process of eXhuma-
tIon.
Il have something there that will sur
prise you, that will agitate you, my dear
friend"
"Agitate mel" repeated Sir William with
Skeptcaly humorous emphasis, the amused
glimmer, not devoid of sarcasm. still bright
ening his glance as he regarded DIR. Gregory s
communicetiveneSs.
must prepare you for this find.
think. Fay, l may say without conceit that
L have made some interesting discoveries. -
gu certainly have" acquieSced Sir Will
lam, mclining his head.
'Well, l nave found" cried DIR. Gregory,
with burst OF sublime confidence, "a frag-
fnent which | believe to be unique. You
know that encampment / have been digging
through? Well, have dug below the Roman
ff4rs s4fo hn rlar 4lrI+.., or5..
believe have found there the trace of an
early civ liz ation-a lost civilization"
Take care! take caIe!" said Sir William,
in tone OF humorous warning. 1--WE old
anuQuaries are apt TO be all too eredulous"
"Credulous GU Will judge for yoursel
! am tolerabiy familiar with the great
knropeAn museums, and | do not remember
III any one OF these national collections haV-
lug seen such fragment. It's shape, the in
scIiptiOn upon il, the position in which |
found II, all add 10 Its mystery, all deepen
IN me The conviction that it is unique"
Dr. Gregory made an impatient gesture as
i about La open tie bag. but lie restrained
himself Affecting careleSSneSs, he pre-
tended to examine the treasures around.
In the overwhelming importance that he
attached to his concealed exhibit he
thought by ibis simple device TO piQue his
friends curiosity and TO draw from him the
request 10 see that extraordinary relic.
10 bis modification, Sir William Fay
seemed to have forgotten all about it and
Tambed OF gayly to his own topics. describ-
Ing The plan he proposed to adopt in direct
Ing certain excavations he was about. to
undertake 10 A 5ia Minor.
Are you not Interested in the important
discovery made by your friend?" at last
asked Dr. Gregory, reprOachfuliy.
It's Importance, my dear Gregory, | DO
not pretend to estimate" replied Sir
William. the gleam OF mocking light re-
turning to mis- glance. You know we old
antiquaries are getting little weary of that
word"
With seriousness too profound for COM
meGt, DR.. Gregory uupacked the broken
D.. IF gmeat and held il up at arms length
"Inerew he said.
"Where?" asked Sir William, with short.
sgated gaze eoldly passing over the frag-
mcnt.
Have you eyes? asked DR.. Gregory with
the calmne5s OF irritation.
My dear Gregory" replied Sir William.
in tone Of bantering protest, II see per-
feeuy what you are showing me, but really
your preface led me to expect somethin g
amazing!
Il am aware" said DR.. Gregory. rastralu-
ing the Irritation that was making his tenn
pies throO, that there are two specimens
of sepulchral carvings. somewhat similar,
perhaps, OF immense antiquity in the -
Museum"
Il fail to see third. my friend" replied
Sir William. with courtly chilliness. He
cut his glass to his eye. LET me see-very
interesting, very curious-but, nv dear
Gregory should say centuries later than
the carvings to which you aliude."
- Will not allow myself TO be yexed.
Fay" said DR.. Gregory, with great effort
controlling the excitement that was gaining
upon him, ''but-pardOn me for saying SOL
90 not think you are perfectly sincere. MY
dear fellow, there is something quite un wor-
thy of you in all this"
My dear Gregory" replied Sir William,
with polite Irony unlike the asperity of his
more real tone of affection, ''let us make
short work OF this difference between us
let Us compare this specimen with the un-
doubted antiquities in the museum Come
along. Will show you the points of differ
ence."
Fay" cried DR.. Gregory, flushing purple.
3" am too old to be lectured by you. I ain
experienced as scientist / venture to say
that of such antiquities | am better Judge ~
You are too credulous, Gregory, to be a
igdge. The true scientist approaches every
question Of the kind with wholesome in
cEedulity. Now, there is old Mr. Gold
heater." Here Sir William Fay INDUCED
in a protane story of the archaeological blum
ders made by silly quasi-antiquary. Poor
DR.. Gregory temper completely gave way
on finding himself ranked with an ignorant
amateur. With snort Of Indignation and
trembling hands he packed up the precious
fragment into its wrappings. returned it to
the bag and made. for the door.
As be held it open, "Fay," he said, in a
muffied voice, this ends our friendship. |
came to you in openness of heart: you have
returned my confidence with insult. l do
not wish to have any further intercourse
with YOU"
He went. banged the door after him and
left the house.
One evening, a week later. DR.. Gregory
was sitting alone in his study. A melan-
choly was over him. The lamalight gIinted
on fragments OF mosaics, On brJken tiles, on
bronze weapons stepped to tie hilt in the
romance of war, on statuettes of visionary
mold. The giant lullaby OF the past. which
so long had soothed him. had been rudely
interrupted by tie intrusion Of the presents