Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-01-12
A PRESCRIPTION.

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sbility. But something else In turn pos
Rssed him-namely, passion. 1t was not
apassion that led him into any folly, un.
hess overwork be counted as dissipation.
y was not the passion that controls or
nolds nine-tenths of the human race. The
object of his alteration had its origin in
Che most intense heat imaginable, but its
Rdiance was cold and impersonal. He
,sared more for the sharp. quick, selfish
sparkles from dynamo machine than for
She light Of wit or tenderness in woman's
eye. The passion that possessed him was
for electricity
IL can't understand this at all, /" said his
friend Reed. picking up In Brenton's rooms
sne day pamphlet filled with long math.
ematical formula and strange designs Of
Instruments Cant understand it any
more than l can your absorption in this
J.. pursuit. How can you go on with such
horribly dry reading"
Brenton replied. "The dryness of the
reading, my boy, only increases the thirst
for knowledge"
"Of course" said Reed. After an in.
slant he laughed and added: "Oh, / under
tand that; it's n 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
sudies, My head doesn't work well. and
Ldon't know what the trouble is"
Better see doctor" Reed advised.
And Brenton went to his physician that
very evening. A few days later Reed was
surprised to meet him at dinner party,
br his friend was man who seldom went
out. Brenton was extremely gay and
seemed TO throw his whole heart into the
Hfair. What he was throwing into the
Conversation with his neighbor, pretty
Miss Paret. Reed could not tell, but she
was evidently pleased.
"Well, old fellow" Reed said to him
when they were smoking, you seem in
sach good trim, take it you are all right"
There's nothing in the world the mat
Der with me, '~Brenton answered buoyant-
~. Doctor said so. Let us live and be
kappyp'
This rollicking manner was so unusual
ip him that Reed began to think that there
was something the matter. He worried
himself about his friends brain. Reed was
although he frequently rollicked and went
puch into society. But his concern for
krenton deepened as 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 opposite
frenton at select little poker party in
the house OF friend. and they parted at 9
~ l.a.r ,t,s.. II
abd lost couple of hundred.
Look here. Arthur" said Reed, on the
doorstep, feeling it his duty to speak, this
fn'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.
ybo had drunk nothing but settler during
tbe night. 81 am all the richer for having
lost two hundred and odd dollars.
well, but your work." Reed insisted,
With the fatherly beneyolence inspired by
his wonted drafts of champagne at the
card table. "How can you go along in this
drive and attend to your work."
~ don't do any" said Brenton.
"But--but your electricity, mean" said
Heed.
Brenton looked severe. Don't mention
ing about electricity"
OF course after that there was but one
conclusion for Reed to draw-his friend
was insane. 1t was perfectly natural that
Reed should devote his time to society;
tbat he should frequent clubs, duck sup
Pers and poker parties; that he should
know nothing about electricity, and very
little about anything else. All this for
him was healthy and reasonable, but for
Brenton to be In the same condition and do
the same things was pure insanity. Let
us be just to Reed. He felt keen sorrow
Tor the fact, but he decided that his duty
for the present was to keep the mournful
secret to himself.
Other people did not seem to suspect it at
all Brenton had large circle of noncon-
Quoting or unelectrical friends, who had
long been trying to draw him into their
gayeties and were only too glad that he
had at last hearkened to their persuasions
They knew he was bright. They were re-
joiced to see him take his proper place and
rapidly become fayorite. The Parets es.
pecially were pleased. They as every one
knows, were immensely rich. Old Miss
Sarah faret, who, with no need for money,
had become sort Of receiving reservoir OF
the family wealth, was looked upon with
great interest by all the branches which
acted as distributing reservoirs, and old
Miss Sarah had long ago taken q great
fancy to Brenton.
! Suspect her OF having for some time
PLANNED n match between him and her
niece, Lily Paret-the one he had sat next
~ at the dinner have mentioned. Miss
Sarah was too proud. too rich and too
naidenly TO diyulge 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 q great deal OF attention to
Lily Paret, nearly every one began to
agree that he had forsaken science for so
ciety, and that, instead of devotiDg him
self to units of electrical measurement, he
would doubtless very soon begin IN exper-
hnent with two lives made u unit by mar
Stage.
Lily had always been Indifferent to the
admirers who had presented themselves
during the two or three seasons since she
kadmade her debut. And finally her par
ants and old Miss Sarah grew anxious at