The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-11

i can remember nave Uocn eurrOunued
by books. They have not done me much
good, nor any one else either"
mo, probably not" he said. "But now
that you have left of reading you will
have a chance of learning something, IL
you live long enough. IL Is wonderful how
much one does learn when one does not
read. 1t Is almost awful If you don't
care about reading now, why do you not
occupy yourself with cheese mitess'
II do not feel drawn toward cheese
mites"
perhaps not at first, but all the same
they form a subject which is very engag-
ing. Or any branch OF bactcriologyS"
"Well, il you were TO lend me a micro
scope, perhaps / might begin"
II could not do that" he answered
quickly. II never lend my things"
mo, did not suppose you would, she
said. II knew 1 was safe in making the
suggestion"
You are rather quick of perception in
spite of all your book reading" he said.
''Yes, you are quite right. i am selfish i
dislike lending my things, and ! dislike
spending my money except on myself. III
you have the misfortune TO linger on as /
do, you will know that 1t Is perfectly le-
gitimate TO be selfish in small things, II
one has made the one great sacrifice"
"And what may that be'"
She asked so eagerly that he looked at
her and then saw how worn and tired her
face was, and tho words which he was in
tending to speak died on his lips
Look at those asses of people on tobog-
gans, be said brusquely. Gould you
manage to enjoy yourself in that way?
That might do you good.
"Yes," she said, "but IL would not be
any pleasure TO me-"
She stopped to watch the toboggans fly
ing down the read. And the Disagreeable
Man went his own solitary way, forlorn
figure, with a face almost expressionless
and manner wholly impenetrable.
He had lived nearly seven years at Pc
tershof, and like many others was Obliged
To continue staying therc If he wished To
continue staying on this planet 1t was
not probable that he had any wish 10 pro-
long his frail existence, but he did his du-
" TO his mother by conserving his life,
and this feeble fame of duty and affection
was the only lingering bit OF warmth in a
heort frozen almost by i'll health and dis
appointed ambitions. The moralists tell
us that suffering ennobles, and that right
acceptation of hindrances goes toward
forming beautiful character. But this
result must largely depend on the original
oharacter-certainly, in the case of Robert
Allitsen, suffering had not ennobled his
mind, nor disappointment sweetened his
disposition. His title of Disagreeable Man
had been fairly earned, and he hugged 1t
Co himself with triumphant secret salts
faction. There were some people in Peters
hof who were inclined to believe certain
absurd rumors about his alleged kindness.
1t was said that on more than one occa-
sion he had nursed the suffering and the
dying In sad Petershof and with all the
sorrowful tenderness worthy OF loving
mother had helped them TO take their leave
of life But these were only rumors, and
there was nothing in Robert Allitsen's or
binary bearing to justify such talk. SO the
foolish people who, for the sake of making
themselves peculiar, revived these unlike
ly fictions were speedily ridiculed and re-
duced To silence. And the Disagreeable
Nan remained the Disagreeable Man, with
clean record for unamiability.
He lived life apart from others. Most
of his time was occupied in photography,
or in the use and study of the microscope,
or in chemistry. His photographs were
considered 30 be most beautiful. Not that
he showed them specially TO any one, but
to The Monthly Photograph Portfolio,
md hence it was that people learned to
know his skill. He might be seen any fine
day trudging along in company with his
Photographic apparatus and desolato
dog, who looked almost as chcerless as his
chosen comrade. Neither one took any
notice of the other. Allitsen was no more
genial to the dog than he was to the kur-
haus guests. The dog was no more de-
monstrative to Robert Allitsen than he was
to any one in Petershof.
Still they were something" to each
othcr-tbat unexplainable something"
which has to explain almost every kind Of
attachment
He had no friends in Petershof and ap-
parently had no friends anywhere. No
one wrote to hun except his old mother.
The papers which were sent to him came
from a stationers.
He read all during mealtime. But now
and again he spoke few words with Ber-
nardine Holme, whose place was next TO
him. 1t never occurred TO him to say
good morning, nor to give greeting OF
any kind, nor to chow courtesy. One
day during lunch, however he did take
the trouble TO stoop and pick up Bernar-
dine Holmes shawl, which had fallen for
the third time 60 the ground
Il never saw "a female wear n shawl
more carelessly than YOU" he said. You
don't seem TO know anything about IL. ;"
His manner was always gruff. Every
one complained of him. Every one always
had complained of him. He had never
been heard TO laugh. Once or twice he had
been seen to smile on occasions when pco-
pie talk confidently of recovering their
health. 1t was beautiful smile, worthy
OF better cause. IL was smile which
made one pause to wonder what could have
been tho original disposition Of the Disa-
greeable Man before III health had cut him
of from the affairs OF active life. Was he
happy or unhappy IL was not known.
He gave no sign Of either the one state or
the other He always looked very i'll, but
he did not seem to get worse. He had new
er been known 20 make the faintcst allu-
| sion 10 hts own health. He never "smok-