The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-06-19

tcoNTINuEp.l

was?" Ellen asked him in an undertone.
by what?''
"By the singing of Schubert's Ave
Maria. Don't you remember, it was
the song that made her faint in the old
dnys2 Ishave never sung it since. Some
how / thought Of it tonight, and imme-
diately we found her crying. And it
seems it was something her mother
used to sing. {"
"Ahl DIR. Bently was right then. 1t
was "reminiscences -
There was a knock at the door Max.
ey answered it. He closed the entrance
to the rear chamber after him and turn.
ed up the gas in the vestibule before he
opened it to his visitor.
He was seized with a sudden trem-
bling ut the knees when he saw who that
visitor was, Paler, ghastlier, more fu-
nereal than ever, the melancholy Dye,
whose woebegone hat and threadbare
coat exhibited a still deeper shade Of
desolation, stood upon the threshold.
"You again?" ....-. .--...- WI
"Sir, again.
SIN spite Of all that told your"
'Sir, have borne your instructions
we'll in mind. have forgotten nothing,
1t remains for you to say whether you
will admit me or no."
Mr.. Dye did not look at Maxey when
he addressed him. In truth, he did not
seem to have energy or spirit enough
| left to raise his head, and he certainly
hid not appear at all anxious to be in.
tited into the room.
The growing conviction that this man
was not the prime mover, but only the
| instrument in the hands of more pow
erful parsonage who kept himself al
ways in the background, leaped to a
most mature stage in the artists mind.
admit your' he exclaimed, suppress.
ing the tendency to loudness in his
tones for fear of reaching the ears in
the adjoining chamber. That l shall
do most certainly, since You have come.
Walk in, Mr.. Dye, and State your bust
ness, and let us see if we cannot come
to something approaching mutual un-
derstanding. That is point which we
have too long been lodging about. Mr..
Dye and have very distinct idea that
it would be well for US to reach it to.
night"
The somber man raised look of mild
| inquiry W kIlt dltlst lattt sult sisll-
ply, "As you WILL . and passed into the
parlor.
Maxey closed and locked the door and
turned on two of the gas Jets
Then he noticed that Mr.. Dye was
trembling 1t was chilly evening, and
it occurred to him that the threadbare
coat could not be very warm.
You are cold, man. " he said. DRAW
up here by the fire =
He placed a chair as he spoke in front
Of the open CRATE Mr. Dye bowed
g1avely.
Sir, I thank you " ..-..."
He had only looked at Maxey himself
He sat down with his back to the picture
and began at once TO warm his hands
over the Goals. He did not wait for tho
al tist to question him. but Immediately,
with his most oratorical air, began:
Sir, you are doubtless exceedingly
surprised and, may l venture to add,
not inconsidcrably annoyed by my reap
pearance in this house When l went
away from here, sir, you .adjured me,
upon pain Of personal injury, never, OK
cept upon certain conditions, to appear
i'm your presence again. But at the risk
of that personal injury have once more,
and for the last time, come. Upon a
former occasion 1 might have feared
you; but, strange and paradoxical as it
may seem, now that am much weaker
and less capable of self defense l no
longer dread the violence of your re-
sentiment.
well, said Maxey impatiently as he
paused, shave you come here to chal-
lenge me? If not, please come to the
point. "
"Sir, you must pardon me, but cam
not be abrupt Before l come to the
point want to prepare you for what
am going to say by recalling, perhaps
unnecessarily, fact to your mind Sir,
told you ON q former occasion that
was contemplate rascal. Bearing that
in mind, my business here tonight will
not very much surprise you. Lost to
honor and self respect and to every SEN
tIment which makes a man man, you
will not be astonished when / tell you
what have come to tell. If, when have
told it, you wish TO throw me to the
Street and break every bone in my
worthless body, l shall not resist you.
In fact, could not if would. am too
weak Observe, for instance, that. -
He extended toward Maxey one of his
lean and sallow hands. 1t shock like a
leaf.
THAT is tho effect of the whisky. AS
long as money remains to me to pur-
chase oblivion DO not care for luck OF
the devil. am one of those uncongen.
ial, solitary individuals who retire with
jug into an obscure place. lock the
Ia. A fA
er have become maniac. fool and
an inanimate brute by turns l emerge
again into the light, more emaciated,
more broken down. one step nearer the
much to be desired rest that comes al
the end for US all. A cheerful life, sir,
is it not?'' .#s,
He turned his faded blue eyes will
the bloodshot corners toward the star
tied artist, who vouchsafed him no re
ply. and continued
Sir, you are saying to yourself: II
this man seeking TO excite my sympathy
or what is his object? What possible
interest does he think l can have in hi
grewsome narrative2' Very little sir, in
deed, Only it will afford some excust
. for me perhaps for the performance O
the most heartless and despicable act O
my whole accursed existence. .
Mr. Dye uttered the last words saw
agely and yehemently. His speech in
deed sounded so much like the mutter
ings of a broken intellect that Make,
inyoluntarily drew back pace or two
Mr. Dye did not heed him. He wen
on:
''You behold in me, Mr. Maxey,
1f,1i