The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-26
A PRESCRIPTION.

Arthur Brenton was Il young man pos
sessed Of some money ami Il good deal of
ability. But something else i'll turn pos
sessed him namely, Il passion. 1t was not
a passion that led him into any folly, TN
less overwork be counted as dissipation.
1t was not the passion that controls or
molds ninetenths OF the human race. The
object of his alteration had its origin in
the most intense heat imaginable, but it's
radiance was cold and impersonal He
cared more for the sharp, quick, selfish
sparklcs from dynamo machine than for
the light of wit or tenderness in woman's
eye. The passion that possessed him was
for electricity.
81 can't understand this Mt ALL" said his
friend Reed, picking up in Brcntons rooms
one day a pamphlet filled with long math-
ematical formula and strange designs of
instruments. Cant understand it any
more than L can your absorption in this
pursuit. How can you go on with such
horribly dry reading?"
Brenton replied 1.-The dryness of the
reading, my boy, only increases the thirst
for knowledge"
''Of COURSE said Reed After an in
oe'tiiu he ihuSHcu anu uuucu. -OD,
stand that; it's joke But don't YOU ever
get tired outs'
Yes" Brenton admitted THE fact is
I'm tired now for almost the first time
Somehow Pm losing interest in my
studies. My head doesn't work well, and
L don't know what the trouble isl
Better see Il DOCTOR Reed advised
And Brenton went TO his physician that
very evening. y few days later Reed was
surprised to meet him at a dinner party
for his friend was man who seldom went
out. Brcnton was extremely gay and
seemed to throw his whole heart into the
affair. What he was throwing into the
conversation with his neighbor, pretty
Miss Paret, Reed could not tell, but she
was evidently pleased.
We'll, old fellow Reed said TO him
when they were smoking, ''you seem in
such good trim, take it you are all right"
There's nothing in the world the mat
ter with me-" Brenton answered buoyant-
ly. Doctor said SO. Let us live and be
happy"
This rollicking manner was so unusual
in him that Reed began to think that there
was something the matter He worried
himself about his friends brain. Reed WAS
never troubled about his own brain,
although he frequently rollicked and went
much into society. But his concern for
Brcnton deepened rs he met him day after
day and night after night at receptions.
dinners and even at balls. The worst
shock was still to come. One remarkable
midnight he found himself sitting opposte
Brenton at select little poker party in
the house of friend and they parted ut 6
in the morning, Brenton having bet freely
and lost couple of hundred
Look here, Arthur" said Reed, on the
doorstep, feeling it his duty to speak, "this
isn't the sort OF thing for you at all. You
don't know how to play poker and you
can't afford to pay for your ignorance.
Steady now, Reed" answered Brenton.
who had drunk nothing but settler during
the night. II am all the richer for having
lost two hundred and odd dollars.
well, but your work." Reed insisted.
with the fatherly benevocncc inspired bv
ms wonted drafts of champagne at the
card table How can you goalong in this
drive and attend to your work."
II don't do any," said Brenton.
But-but your electricity. Imcan sa;d
Reed.
Brenton looked severe Don't mention
that word to me-" said he. II know moth
ing about electricity"
OF course after that there was hut ono
conclusion for Reed to draw-his friend
was insane. 1t was perfectly natural that.
Reed should devote his time to soci.,v.
that he should frequent clubs, duck sun.
pers and poker parties; that he shouid
know nothing about electricity. and very
little about anything else. All this for
HIM was healthy and reasonable, but for
Brcnton TO be Ill the same condition and do
The same things was pure INSANITY. Let
u be just to Heed. He felt keen sorrow
Inf I,,t H..
Tor the present WAS to keep the mournfnl
Secret to himself.
Other people did not seem TO suspect if at
all. Brenton had large circle of noncon.
Quoting or unelectrical friends who had
long been trying to draw him into their
gayetles and were only too glad that he
had nj last hcarkcncd to their persuasions
Ihey knew he was bright They were re-
Joiced to see him take his proper place and
rapidly become IL favorite The parcts es
pecially were pleased. They. as every one
knows, were immensely rich. Old Miss
Sarah Paret, who, with no need for money
mad become sort of receiving reservoir of
the family wealth. was looked upon with
great interest by all the branches which
acted rs distributing reservoirs, and old
MISS sarah had long ago taken great
fancy to Brenton.
'i'eeo hoA vi nuVlhS Tor some time
Planned a match between him and her
niece, Lily Paret-the one he had sat newt
to at the dinner have mentioned. Misc
Sarah was too proud. too rich and too
maidenly to divulge this amatory plan.
but suspect her all the same. 1t gave
her great delight to see the interest in the
young man which Lily showed. And. as
Brenton paid great deal of attention To
Lily Paret, nearly every one began to
agree that he had forsaken science for 80.
ciety, and that, instead of devotinp him
self to units of electrical measurement. he
would doubtless very soon begin an exper.
iment with two lives made unit by mar
riage.