St. Paul daily globe., 1892-02-07

ly to some one, and he would break out
| as If in fierce argument. Late at
| night he was pacing up and down the
DOM when an odd and curious-looking
man came down the stairway.
"Wno are yon ?' the old man de-
j manded, and then added. when the Wis
itor halted. Il have paid the rent"
''Glad or it," the visitor answered.
! We'll. but why do you come back
here? Is it possible that another month
has passed ?''
~ don't know what you are talking
about"
Didn't you come arovnd here this
morning and collec. $40 from me?"
u never saw you before"
us that SOP" and then, after few
| moments silence, during which he
rubbed his dim old eyes, he added:
!, well, what do you want here now?''
Just thought I'd drop in and warm
| myself. Didn't reckon you'd care"
"of course don't, but let'me see if
you are flrst edition."
The fellow laughed and said: 81 reck-
| on am. That is, my father and moth
er always said l was the oldest of five
children"
Whats your date?"
| 1850. L understand"
"And not lbS9?"
"Hah. you must think Pm just out of
the ark.''
Hardly so old as that. but when were
you first translated? YOn know it has
been held by certain scholars, or NAV
| say alleged scholars, that a versatile
monk put you into crude English before
! the art OF printing was invented. How
| about. that-but, pray pardon me, |
Thought for moment you were 'Plu-
| tarch's Lives "
well. now, amt and never was
! anybody's life but my own.''
The old man rubbed his brow and
said: 1T was a long time before |
| could believe in the occult, but | am
becoming full-fiedged mystic. 1t is
something that all sensible men must
come to. But mysticism is too grand to
he grasped at once. 1t is the key to all
wisdom: and there can be no sorrow
when all men are just and wise, for JUS
tice relieves the wants of the body and
wisdom will provide against grief.''
Have you got anything to eat
handy"' the visitor asked. glancing
about.
Il wish l had Greek wine and pome-
granateS," the old man answered, "but
l haven't. You are welcome. thongh.to
what have. Here is beefsteak pie"
he added. taking a plate from a Shelf
and handing it to the visitor. You see
lstlll keep my English appetite"
"Thauks."
The fellow seized the pie and eagerly
began to devour it, The old man stood
watching him. The fellows eyes
bulged out. "Got any water?" he asked,
almost choked. The old man handed
him leaking dipper of water. 81 am
old-fashioned even i'll my Drinking"
The old fellow walked ok to his bed,
turned despairngly toward the door.
him, and then, wheeling about and
facing his guest, who was swallowing
the last morsel of the meat pie, said in
tremuIOuS tones:
81 thank heaven that you have re-
turned''
Good enough, but as 1 never was
here before l don't see how could have
returned"
But didn't a brisk and heartless
business man give me s75 for you?'
IF he gave you any money for me ]
wish you would let me have it.''
''Oh, my 1881" cried the old man, at
tempting to fling his arms about the fell
low. ''Oh, my PIutarch, l will never
part with you again."
What kind OF joint have struck?"
"1Ou have come home, and you will
never leave me again."
much obliged to you for your kind
ness, but I've got my own affairs to
look after. It's gettin' along toward
mornin', and reckon I'd better go''
You cannot go, my Plutarch. All.
what binding, what printl There are
none like you these days. Tell me, did
the disturbed elements fOretell C8Sar'S
death? In the dreams of an anxious
mind did the fountain squirt blood!''
Il give it up"
But did Alexander ride the fiery
horse that Philip was unable to master?
L know that you are rOmancer, and
that you have talked much for the mere
pleasure of listening to your own musi-
cal words, but you can tell all old Wor-
shipper many truths that you withheld,
even from Montaigne."
cap, your water is too deep for me.
Let me get out.' The old man was
standing between his guest and the
door.
mo, you are not going to leave me-"
1--WE got to go. Got out of the way"
he said, attemptiI t pass The old man.
Il don't want to SHAY down here with a
crazy man. Let me by. say. Turn
me loose. I'll choke the life out of you.
Get away"
The old man fell on the floor and des-
perately clung to the fellows knees.
"Turn me loose, you OLD fool, or I'll
tramp the life ont of you.''
The old man uttered loud and de-
Spairlng CRY. Footsteps On the stairway
police. They seized the fellow; they
knew him-had been searching for him.
He was the express robDer.
The old man, still grieving over his
loss, is in the asylum at Kankakee.