The Dickinson press., 1892-12-24
"And Your feilow-students n

"And your feilow-students at the
art galleries? and the old porter on
the first floor? your master across the
river and those pleasant people you
met on the Rhine last year-ail these
and many more would have beenyour
friends, but you wouldnone of them!
Now you sit here and whine-yes;;"
seeing that Van wlnced. "whine be-
cause you're all alone. You deserve
20 be" And the Spirit stamped her
foot in q very human way, and gazed
at him out OF lovely, acctlsingeyes.
"But," said Van, bewildered, but
never stopping to ask where she got
hervery accurate information. what
can do? Tell mo how can better
my lott"
The Spirit frowns. "Thcro it is
again! Why don't you ask How can
better my neighbours lot?' So long
as you think only o! yourself, lust so
long will nobody else think OF you"
| Van leaned back and signed resign
eddy.
The sweet voice went On. "Go look
up your friend. Send some remem-
brance to the pretty model. Aud the
| pleasant people OF the Rhine are in
| the city; 20 see tileni-heilg strangers
doubtless they will lie glad TO see even
you"
Van WAS thoroughly aroused now
But Non must stay with me, he
| pleaded. II can never do all that by
myself. No, don't 90 seeing her
look about, us il mcditatns flight,
"Nou must stay. All, do turning
upon her the full fire oi magnetic eyes
whose power. wien he chooses to ex-
ert it, h- tender sex find il hard to
resist The Spirit. i'cmls feminine,
hesitatce.
GLOW can ! devote all my time to
one mortal. when have 80 much to
do2' she said, lerplexecly. "No, it is
impossible. stll' marking Vans
de!ertion--"I can help you. But no
man can have two spirits, 40 you
must rid yourself OF that ugly,
morose ono that you have nov.
| ii you do that, ! can entlow you
With half OF my soul--the half will be
lar@e enough for n man--hur tho Old
spirit must leave lirsr. Will you do
this"
"Gladly," said Van
Then the Spirit softly kissed his
eyes, u strange lrthargy stole over
h M, and he felt and knew nothing
more till he opened !.is eyes again and
they iel, OH a figure seated comfort
ably opposite to- him nmd watching
him with mocking smile; figure odd.
ly like his own.
Van was startled tor an instant,
and then it gre" clear to him that
this WAS his old Soul that he had
abandoned for the Christmas Spirit
"Well," he said genialIy, "there yo,
are..'
EVIDENTLY murmured the Soul.
shall do with you?'
The Soul surveyed him with the
utmost nonchalanec. "'lthinE shall
just stay around here q bin with you
old man, it said, airly. at will h'
somewhat oi Il relief to move without
having to take you alon. Body
"Oi,' said Van, i'll some alarm
"but that won't do, No mnn want!
two souls going about with HIM.
don't need you; I've got u better one
now, and think III dispose oi you
Tell you what" with sudden inspira
ton, "fli give you to old Gi"ldth
waite; he hasn't any soulnt all. Sole
it to he devil, they say, long since.
And Van laughed cont.ntedly. "Wil
that suit yuu:' lie asked courtcollsly
The Soul smiled ut him with smilin!
contempt. "WelI, hardly" itsneered
"1t's all very pretty to- be generous
but it is scarcely the part OF :, man o
prnd, nee to give himself away in any
sense. And you would do tcomple.e g
ly. Have You realized what it is yo,
would do? Nothing moro nor les
than make another man present o
the entire history OF your life. No
only the deed but The motive. lIa.'
laughing lightly. ~ touch you there
eh?"
Van gaspel. But" he said, 9TH