The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-16

II, An lunerllGu INlSC OF Tue lluSClGS, we
used to call it the prosperous smirk.' |
fear If you were not my heir there might be
more negation than benediction."
"Oh, sir, desist for the sake of my loyeW
Poor Egbert. You are between two fires,
your respect for me, your passion for this
young girl, and they both scorch you.
Know, then, that solictude IS a mark of
affection"
II appreciate your tender anxiety, believe
me, but in this instance it is at fault If
you only might see her and judge from
substance, not fancy! | can't begin to fit
tingly express the admirable qualities
which distinguish my Frances, her
Pray DON'T am too feeble to endure
d sonnet to your lady's eyebrow"
"Ah, you would not jest with my fu-
ture"
why not? All hopes are but the qups
Of destiny"
mo power could shake my faith in you,
grandfather, nor in her. AS for her people,
surely they are admitted to he in the first
circle Her father was q warden at st. ST.
mons Her uncle, Judge Phibbs'--
BY the way, what do the politicians call
him."
Foxy Phibbs Oh that's too bad
| Grandfather, | can't argue with you. Were
all your fears facts, it is too late. love
her far more than life or eternity. lwould
| give the fortune you promise me, my im-
mortal soul, to make her my own. II
Here Egbert rested his head on his hand
and was overcome by an honest emotion.
NtGk,, t.sIt N~,Y tH.itlpttf tha lot
ter, but never without the former. But
there, there my boy, am old enough
surely to know that l have attempted an
impossibility Young love is blind and
deaf and dumb and demented. No argu-
ment can move him save the prod of one Of
his own arrows Forgive me ii | have
wounded you. I'll not speak so again. Re
member, You are the Benjamin of my race,
and how proud am Of you'll | would save
you from your fate, but it wouldn't be fate
if could. Experience is u harsh master.
In disciplining he transrnutes, and would
keep your spirit as it is. You can't recol-
lect your mother. She was beautiful
woman and all reverence to the dead, but
your father was not happy with her. Nei-
ther, alas, was happy with--ah, the gliding
wears! At fourscore can | not forget the re-
grets and sorrows OF my youth? Leave me,
Egbert. Discussion exctes me. / would
regain, through rest, the stolidity Of my
condition. Rely always on my fondness." "
Old Roger Loomis lay propped by the
pillows on the broad couch by the window
looking out on the hedge lined garden,
which ran down TO the river On that turf
] / l,I 4 nhi1l fnbpntt6 oh tl,ga
winding paths he had strolled in early man
hood, arm and arm with one whose memory
was now as bitter as her presence had then
been gracious. In this great house of the
Loomis family he had dwelt throughout
harvest and winter, maintaining famous
hospitality, achieving respect if not love,
and the honors which position, wealth and
learning may bring. But the sacred hearth
of home had remained gloomy and cold.
Here he had seen his only son re-enacting
the griefs of his father, noble youth ad.
vancing into a noble manhood, until the
cling of soft arms had become restraining
clog. Here he had watched the successive
mutations coldness, rccrimination, unhap'
piness, despair, as one may view revisited
landscape.
Here he had been left alone, for his
strength had not descended and death had
snapped the chain of similitude-alone
save for his little grandson. All, what d
mighty exception! The light Of that child,
nature had dispersed sorrow and brought
contentment. In him his pride and afrec
tion had found responding recompenses
Never had Egbert disappointed him Never
had be given the lie to that ideal of manli
ness and honor which had become his like
ness. How the old man loved him and
prayed for his future. How he would fair
mark the pitfalls that they might be avoid
ed! And how Judgment derded this anN
iety and exposed its impotencel But the
day previous he had been willing to die, as
indeed he knew he must, for he had felt that
nature and discipline had cleared the patti
for his darling, but now, even in this resg
nation, had come the young mans ingenu
Gus confession Of passion for one whose as
sociations he dreaded and despsed, and out
from the forgetfulness of the past straight
way rushed agonies gliding at his eXtrem-
it's and their own undiminished powers.
"Ah, we'll" sighed old Roger Loomis,
ut is hard to kick against the pricks He
must win by struggling"
Yes, such was the condition of mans rise
from the fall, that never dying, ever extend
ing mysterious sin, but was it necessary
that this experience should come so late
that ere the clouds had rolled away the sun
had setP Let him consider! He had been
renowned as an adviser, one who could
Cajole circumstances and win their favor.
Ought not his failing powers now suffice to
protect his very and only ownl Yet what
could he do? Under NO consideration
would he disinhert or restrict the inheri.
tance of the last Of his race. lie was en-,
titled by birth and character to take 1t, and
take it he should But might he not seem
to do that which he would notY Might not
this sweetly speaking, sweetly smiling
maid be led to suppose that her lover was
: not the heir but as poor as the poorest
whom she surely despised2 Would not
then her voice grow shrill and scornful
would not her beaming features harden into
. refusalP
Let me see," solloquized old Roger
Loomis. "Its dangerous, yet what worthy
play hath NOT its hazard? | am certain Of
the statute Why, | argued for its reten
tion before the council of revision. But
might die Immediately after the execution
No, know my strength; 1t win last me
for at least another month. What victory
could ever be won If fear of death were
heeded' Twill tell Burgess that II I don't
send it to him in u weeks time that viii
be Il sign that / have surely destroyed It
But Egbert2 Will he hesitatep Not fot
one instantl Would l have hesitated
Thank God, in honor my boy cannot bC
taught by experienced
The next morning old Roger LOOMS sent
note to his lawyer, Abel Burgess, ant
during the afternoon in response that wor
thy man called. For an hour he remaineC