The morning times., 1896-12-06

in q little back room, We found seats at a
table and We're presently joined by Smith
Vests description fits him TO the HE:
HE was q man incapable OF rest, either
in body or mind. When he was seated ne
always advanced one foot, which treDbled
on the floor as if he longed to take
another step forward. His right hand
Quivered with eagcrness for the WORK tiiat
it would do. He had pale yellow hair
that started up in 4 little overhanslnG
wave from his broad and high forehead
a wave that shook along its curling crest
when his thought was deepest, as If a spirit
bending above him breathed upon him.
Such restless energy should have Worn
him thin, vet his well moulded figure
showed nU sign OF exhaustion and his face
was full in the cheeks, though 1t was salways
pale"
could see that Smith regarded his
interview with me as of considerable
importance. 1 was the first OF Vests
friends whom he had met, and he nat
urally wished to make good impress
sion. II is hard for any one to do That
who has to talk about himself most OF
the time, but there seemed to be no
alternative in this case. He was, un-
deniably, the principal object OF interest
1t appeared that he had been em-
ployed, in Il very humble capacity, by
an electric lighting company, but had
been discharged. He told NE this with
| perfect frankncss, appealing, however,
| with rapid glance of the eye, TO West
| as witness that he had not been to blame
| He had got an idea for an invention,
! and had incautiously taken ii directly to
the superintendent OF the works, who
had tried to buy 1t for q few dollars, and.
| failing in that, had Immediately discharged
| Smith. Of course Smith was almost IA
| tally hampcred in his attempt to go on
with his inventive work by the loss of his
| opportunity TO observe and study elec-
| trical machinery in action. He had tricd
to obtain aEother position similar to that
which he had held, but the man whom
| he had offended was sufficiently influ-
ential to prevent ii. Meanwhile the rascal
! was undoubtedly working up the idea
himself.
l. Smith disclosed to me the nature of
his discovery. l had had considerable
technical training in electrical science,
and l thought well of the idea, though
there was obviously wide gap to bridge
over befure practical result could be
reached. The loss of his position had
brought him TO IL standstill in his work.
He had, in fact, resolutely turned his mind
away from 1t, being driven by poverty
to seek remunerativc employment. OF
all things in the world, he had turned to
tile pen, the most ungrateful tool that man
has ever made. Yet he seemed to have
eXtorted something from it, for he showed
me several clippings from newspapers and
minor magazines of articles that he had
written. They Were well enough done
but showed no gift. / advised him tC
get lack to electricity with the speet
of tho spark itself, il the opportunity
offered.
1t WIS at this point that We encoun
tered Mrs. Smith. Evidently i'll order
TO get into the employ of another elec
tic, lighting company Smith would hay
10 leave the city. His circumstance:
would not permit OF his taking his wifi
with him OH Il tour of the country, am
she refused to be left behind. Natural
it meant q considerable sacrifice :or heI
She would be obliged to suppo.t herscl
. | and their child for an interval. and sh
! had not done any work since her marriage
except in the way of household affairs.
''She wants me to take any Job tina
can get," said Smith, "and settle dow
to the life OF u day laborer. 1t looks n
r IL / would have to do it. can't yc
, make living By writing, or at bcs
|. / can't save 4 penny. can't leave hel
can't take her away with me; and