The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-01-13

Soper; cared not who wore the
gardenia that was growing som,
where for me; l turned my bac,
on the metropolis, and sought GU
the sylvan retreat of Triggs that
might there recover alone and ge
a condition OF robust health before
writing to Edith Marchant.
Pm SOFT hearted beggar and {
letter once posted, ike a lie once
told, is bevonn control. l thought
all this carefully out in the train
and determined to do nothing in a
hurry. People think, but l do, don't
you know. I'm ahard thinker. Be
cause chappies seeking the handle
OF his walking stick, OF looking at
himself in a mirror, it doesn't follow
he's not thinking.
Concerning Triggs, I will merely
say that he is the right sort. Some
johnnies are like ligh houses, don't
you know: brilliant and glorious to
behold, and bursting with brains,
and full of great and tremendous
ideas. You admire that sort of man
because you know hes million times
wiser and cleverer and more cele,
brated than you ever can be. You
admire him but you don't like him
you don't want to know him, and
get chummy with him. You feel
he's not Jour sort; and you don't
care groat if the brilliant johhny
comes to grief or dies morrow.
But other fellows are like wood fires
ruddy, cheerful pleasant. You wont
get much light from them, but you'll
get any amount OF warmth. Most
chappies want warmth, not light; and
you can warm yourselfat wood fire
but not at a light house don't You
now.
Jimmy Triggs was wood fire kind
of man-always full of sympathy Tor
jokers In fix, and wonder at getting
hidden troubles out Of anybody.
Though I'm devilish secretive chappie
as a rule, yet [ always find myself talk
ing openly to Triggs. He's got the
trick of getting condolences; and yet
l don't see why he should, because
he's an awfully blunt, sledge hammer
sort Of johnny, and says just what he
thinks. The third evening after my
arrival, Triggs and l dlned alone, and
when we had done he tackled me. He
lighted a cigar and poured out glass OF
port, and put his feet up, and said:
Now drop the sublime, old man, and
take that thing out of your eye, and try
and be human for once. What's both
ering you? Tell me about 1t, aud if I
can give you an idea I will.
Then l laughed, don't you know,
and told him all about it, as he sug-
gested, and explained the painful
nature of the position. He said:
There isn't shadow for breaking it
of-not a shadow. You feel there isn't
yourself. You've lots of sense, only you
90 and bury it under all this d non.
sense and affectation. You say she's a
good woman; then stick to her. They re
not so common. Go back and marry
and come down here and live in the
country. and take up something rational
Grow roots, or study artificial manures
or breed cattle-anything. But take
my tip give up this knock kueed, hol,
low, masher foolery, and settle down
and begin to realize that man with
your fortune owes something to the
community.
OF course no chappie living has Z
right to talk 10 me like that, but car
stand anything from Triggs.
The really strange part of it wa:
that, since my arrival in the country,
rad begun 20 seriously doubt if had
rightly gagged my emotions in The
matter of Edith. 1 couldn't put them
into words; they were shifting anc
indefinite. And that night, as Trigg:
talked, half fancled that l still cared {
for the girl after all. 1 knew one
thing she was the only woman who
ever understood me. For l m deer
Johnny, and have more understanding
than people think. The longer l re
fected upon the subject of Edith, ane
the longer l listened TO Triggs, the
the frmer grew determination in my
mind not to decide too hastily.
Meanwhile | shot things and recov
cred tone. Of couise, mentally ant
intellectually. Triggs is nothing. Mel
who live all their lives among domestic
animals, and who retain efete Tor
principles, and only read the Time
and the Field, cannot be said 10 hav
their hand on the pulse of the hour
don't you know. Conservatism wit
Triggs has become simply a disease
Talk about heredity! Why, Triggs
his father over and over again, and hi
grandfather and his great grandfather
and he glories in it. His unlailin
answer to every objection or gestlo
is this:
| Changer Whya 1t +" 900
enough for my ancestors. I'm bel
ter than they were. What's the use {
changingP
So, amongst other atroclous habit
he turns day into night, and retlres ;
ten O'Clock, and gets up at half pa
, six, or some goddess hour of that kint
You must try and fall in with fadd,
johnny if he happens to be your hos
so proposed compromise betwee
nv hours and his. If he'd split tn
, difference and gone to bed at two {