Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-07
"A PHILOSOPHER.

. Rathburn sat in the little library OF snc
home of his friend whose daughter ne was
to marry. He laid down voiumg -
Schopenhauer's essays and museu'
ME who live in such security and comIQI.
rs enjoy have little opportunity u pu'
philosophy into practice. -
He rose and entered the drawing room,
where he saw young man VINO nao JUST
been shown in.
s,Wby. Escott, !" he said, Fastening for
word r. shake hands with the youth. II
thoncht YOU were in London"
s.Tbe house called me back, )" explained
the voung man, whose face wore pensive
expression. },
Escott smiled and sat down.
s.I'ye been bothered some" the youth
.a;d embarrassedly. Then in an outburst
of candor he added: 'sYou see, before
went away thought / was soon to marry.
We didn't have her fathers consent, but
we thought that would be all right. Well.
her father wanted to marry her off to some
friend of his-she didn't even tell me his
name-and she decided to please her IA
ther.
aDo know herr"
at would hardly be right to tell you
who she is, although you are an old friend
of mine. You might misjudge her."
ssNot at all, (" replied Rathburn, congrat-
ulating himself on the occasion to apply
some of his philosophy at last, if only in
another case.
"She may have been quite right. Her
obligations to her father may outweigh
her duty to you. The multitude magnifies
the Importance of love. The love of man
for woman, or vice versa, is not by any
means the highest or most meritorious
thing that can engage human being s
thoughts. There are other and loftier
things than love. A man who resigns him
self entirely to love is not worth taking
seriously. wouldn't give much for per-
son who couldn t overthrow disappoint-
ment in love-
81 know all that" said the younger
man gloomily. He rose and paced the
room, stopped and heaved sigh. Pres
emily he resumed:
"a man is fool, admit, who overes-
Inmates love. Yet it is every mans pre-
rogative to make that kind of fool of
himself at some period of his life. As far
as l know, though, you have escaped"
Rathburn laughed guiltily. "No, have
not. I've been caught at last. But my
being fool doesn't prevent me from know
ing that I'm one. do think great deal
of love at the present moment. In fact,
I'm going to marry"
congratulations, old fellow! Who is
she?''
Rathburn pointed to portrait. Escott
looked first as if he doubted the correct
ness of his vision. Then he stared in open
mouthed establishment.
care you surprised" asked the elder
man.
'Why--yes-I never imagined that you
were the one."
1t was now Rathburn's turn to be as
tonshed. But he speedily controlled him
self. When he spoke moment later, it
was with Guietness and coherency.
s'My dear boy, neither did imagine it.
So she loves you? l half suspected there
was some one. That gives you the privi-
lege of being the fool in this case, and me
the opportunity of acting the philosopher.
love her, acknowledge. But even at
this moment see clearly that there are
greater things in this life than love, and l
know that shall outgrow this little expe-
rience. She belongs to you. But I'd rather
you'd tell her 1 said so. I'll see her ia
ther'' And he started toward the door.
my dear friend, murmured Escott, in
whom gratitude was too great to find adj
equate expression on the instant.
"H'sh!' replied Rathburn, motioning
toward the doorway curtains at the rear
of the drawing room. Escott looked. The
girl stood there. She had evidently heard
Rathburns speech of remuneration, for she
dropped her fearful, smiling eyes and
stood waiting for Escott to approach her.
A moment later the two young people were
vaguely conscious of the closing of the
outer door.
Rathburn, walking down the street,
forced his breath to a regular and temper
ate pace and compelled every other feel
ing to give way to pardonable pride in
having proved the practical efficacy of phi
loscphy in the small affairs of this little
life.-New York Press.