Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-12-20

cd Heydinger. "CertainIy ne Uorrowtu
from Liant That essay on the chimney
pot hat
pure LIANT" I said.
1--WE neglected Liant q little, I am
afraid" mumbled Pingwell, horribly
bothered by this unknown name,
"You should read him, " said I.
"He's q perfect mine Of good things.
That passage in Browning, for instance.
You were pointing out the resemblance
only this morning, H~eydinger.
about the chattering disks" said
Heydinger. "You remember that, Ping
well?"
ct think So" said Pingwell "Chat-
tering disks, seem orecollect. How
does It go?"
"The chattering disks go reeling,"
said Heydingor, inventihg boldly. "You
must remember.
Pingwell now was really very uncom-
Portable. But no was having a lively
lesson in priggish conversation. "Iwish
/ had my Liant here, Z" said l.
lyon surely remember about the
ohattering disks?" said Heydinger, turn
ing as he pretended 10 search for a book
on the shelf.
"The phrase is quite familiar to me-"
Faid Pingwell, "but for tho life Of me
/ can't recall the contextl It's queer
what tricks ones memory plays"
Heydinger quietly resumed his scat.
"Have you written anything latelyf"
said Pingwell to change the subject.
t'Yes," said Heydinger, and seeing
SOME further question threatened, add
cd, as if in explanation, "Alvarados."
It pulled Pingwell up abruptly. al
varadosl Ahl' he repeated after Hey
dinger, with an air Of comprehension.
If he understood, he was certainly wiser
than l.. His ears were now bright red.
We remained tranquil, watching him.
It was not my affair.
Ho returned to conversation presently
with an air Of having fornd and grasped
the thing firmly. "Will you mako them
into a bookg'' he said bravely. A Just
perceptible dew was on his face. Hey
dinger evidently expected al much.
''Them l' he answered. WHAT"
"Well-iG Alvarados."
It'll" said Heydinger, raising his
eyebrows. II don't know" he said and
became silent. Pingwill was evidently
bafied. Very nwkwardly, and after a
pause, no said he hoped that would be
the case. Heydinger thanked him dryly.
There was an interval while we watch
ed one another. Then he discovered his
pipe was QUIT always is-and asked
me for the matches. Ho talked incoher-
emily upon indifferent topics for a few
minutes after that, and all the time
could sec the trouble in his eyes, the
awful doubt of his own omniscience
that had arisen. Alvarados? Presently
he rose to go. Routed.
AS he went out I heard him whisper
to himself very softly. "Alvaradosv'
He has not been neal us since. l car
imagine the dismal times he has had
hunting through Rabelais, Gil Bias,
Hudibras, the Dictionary OF PHRASE
and Fable for Alvarados, going through
the British museum catalogue for Wen.
die Hooper and hunting all Browning
for the "Chattering Discs" feeling
most horribly ashamed Of himself al
the time. I like to think of his flush Of
shame, the overthrow Of his frail ap.
paratus of knowledge, and ever AND
again Heydinger and l break the friend.
ly ~silences which constitute our inter
course by saying casually, "Pingwill
seems to be dropping us altogether, " or,
Don't seem to see so much Of Pingwil
as we used to do, Bellows" Such re-
Elections arc the olives of life.-H. g.
Wells in New Budget.