Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-19
a DANGEROUS THING.


comes essential knowledge III an emel-
gency demands 10. 10 was odd, surely,
what fantastic diversions occurred 10
his genius, as II pointed out by rake.
True, its characteristic bent was toward
the natural sciences, and experimenting
in the laboratory had always been his
recreation; but why should he have m
vestigated the subtle possibilities otveg.
etable poisons9 Why had be traced the
workings Of thought and memory 70
their source, and thus solved the lngen-
iOus yet simple secret OF their control.
No one from both temperament and
position could be less liable than he 20
temptations arising from such powers.
His heart was tender aud compassion
ate. Even when absorbed by Occupa-
ton he would pause to avoid the worm
IN his path, or TO rescue q dy from a
spider. The one nightmare OF his ma
turity was an accident, which, as child
he had witnessed. Then, too, how
peaceful and prosperous had his life
been since Luke and he, two orphaned
cousins. had been brought by Prof..
Linsley TO his quiet home at Anyway 60
live under his tutelage. Thereafter the
three, for a most important third
was Ruth Liusley, mad grown up to-
gether as tremendously as the flowers
ia the old-iashiOned garden. Never a
Quarrel nor a rivalry had RULED
their intimacy. Luke and he were
brothers and Ruth was their little sis
ter. Perhaps Ruth'S helplesSness was
the peacemaker, QuerulOus though u
was, for il appealed 20 Primes strength
and 20 Ruth's pity. So, existence had
been quiet, thoughtful stroll beneath
academic shades. The boys were both
precOciOus, but 10 different lines. Luke
wasa dreamer, student OF autGmnai
tlnts and sunset hues, which his preg-
nant brush caught and transferred Into
life on canvass; Prime was an aggressive
explorer into the unknown, one who
was wont 20 ask, "WheuCe and WhyY'
Of every fact and Co urge an answer.
Even after majority was past ana
each had entered into possession or an
ample fortune, these young men did not
care 10 leave the professors house.
Luke pleaded the exceptional beauties
OF the hills and woodlands; Prime, the
privileges of the great laboratory az the
academy, but each one Knowing that 10
his own case II not in the other, Ruth
was the master magnet Luke doubt
less suspected the identity OF their
hopes, for his perceptions were compre-
hensive and acute, but Prime never
dreamed but that his own marriage 10
Ruth was 90 every one else as 10 was 20
him, the fOregOne conclusion Of a golden
future.
So, as Prime closed his wonderful dis
covery and placed iJ on It's mental shell,
he looked back without regret and for
ward with confidence. lie even FELT
thankful in a devout, il imperSOnal, way
that such knowledge had come 70 him
rather than 20 one who might have rea-
son 20 misuse it.
Prime locked the laboratory and went
out at the rear Of the academy, along
the campus path. Then he turned past
the dingy row OF commons, determined
TO follow the winding course Of the
brook TO the LinSley grounds: for the
evening was lovely and the soft breeze
which bore the fertility of the hills 70
him WoOed his steps into lingering.
The waters were bright with the radi-
ance of the West, and in their SparkleS
he read hope fulfilled, triumph assured,
AUNt AEHNL nCNs ~ ANtN n NNA N-' ~ " 49,
to musing, he threw himself on the
thick moss beneath the bank, and,
shielded by q canopy Of oslers, he
yielded TO the delights OF innocent an
ticipation.
Surely those reveries must have
Jagged reluctant, for when voices dis
persed them they vanished forever,
The first words that Prime heard In
sured his concealmeut.
"Why, Luke" said Ruth's voice. 81
have never thought of such thing.
You have always been my brother;
very dear, but still my brother"
ayes, Prime aud / have been your
brothers, as we were children together.
But those days are gone. 1 love you,
and you must be my wife.
"But / don't think"
"No matter, dear, only think how de-
pendent l am, how / have always
leaned on you, how little Joy there can
be in my life, and how that little will
90 out il you desert me"
"POOr Luke.'
'sTry to love me, dear. Ny affection
IS so fecuud, 50 feryent, that IL must
animate yours. We will dwell here In
the old home with your father, and /
will paint as have never painted be-
fore, for you will reveal beauty to me,
and fame will be our h2udmaiden. And
A. j shall be so happy"
"And Prince"
why, Prlue will DO, as he has done,
what he wills What does he care tor
save his work, his ambition? Give him
phySicaO problem 20 solve and Rome
may burn NOr Vesuvlus erupt; he will be
happy, for absorption is his happiness. -
Il SUPPOSE that is So"
"Aud you (wul think Of what I ask,
dear?"
ayes, Lukb I will think Of what you
ask-dear."
The voices died away, and with them
sped all ~ ileless aspirations from
Primes soul'i That miserable cripple 20
dare to hopefto bind an existence with
his letters! iShe loved him not; she
had said So and yet, true 20 his nature,
he had blfshiy persisted. poor
Luke" IN at told the same old story.
She was Sor BY for him, and compassion
would oreeb sacrifice; yet she would
ever afterw hrd nurse secret regret
within her kentle bosom, and that re-
greet woui9 be himself lie knew it,
Had she not asked about him? Had
she not SAL 81 suppose SO, " and sighed
when Lux e had lyingly vOucbed for
his indihe9ence2 SIZE had not named
him as a brother; on no. IL was his
false copk i'm who had done that,
knowing that the girls pride
would Be main auxiliary 10
his cunning. And now, what should be
do? ~? He would hasten 20 Ruth
and tHow himself at hel feet and kiss
the 4em Of her garment and prove the
ferYor Of his passion by burning words.
81 a. 49,