The Irish standard., 1896-05-30

streaked with gray. His teeth, which
he seldom showed, were large, discol.
orcd and irregular. His eyes, aaove
which the brovss1net in a bushy hedge,
were small and deeply sunk in his head.
There was hardly one of the, mans fea-
lures which was pleasing, and corn-
b:red they made up q face almost
grotesque in its unconeliness; yet in
studying the expression of his counten-.
ance one forgot his ugfness. 1t is tho
I business of the physician sometimes
to consider: more than mere bodily all
nents, to heed eSsigns and tokens Of
the forces of the animating spirit. to
seek out the passions which have held
sway and dominated the existence Of
: the patient. Deceived somewhat at
first by his appearance Of decrepitude,
I. tried to- solve the problem Lamar
presented from a professional stand-
point. There was power in his face;
power, will, determination; much SELF
control, and more se]fishnees. Plain
~, thought l, a man of bitter hates and
few affections, unscrupulous and re-
sourceful, now a fugitive, and bearing
In his eye the look of dread of his pur-
Suers.
What brought him to such straits !?
, Over and over again asked myself the
question. That political intrigues had
made him an outlaw seemed to be the
most natural explanation, but it failed
to meet all the requirements of the
v~,IShino1 <,AorIo,. 81, ho
United States, would be free to go about
openly, yet here he was in hiding and
anxious to reach still more remote
refuge His manner was that Of one
accustomed to exercise authority. Why
should he have intrusted his fate to a
stranger, young and poor? Surely be
might have commanded far more
powerfully ally. 1t was as If in his
game with fate he had chosen to risk
his all on the slenderest of chances and
at the greatest odds, s:s
- He gave me time enough for these
reflections; for after the first salute
tions he relapsed into silence. Perhaps
he guessed what the trend of my
thoughts would be, and was willing to
allow me an opportunity to study him.
, Not until my meal was finished did
he speak. He had lighted cigar; and
was watching the rings of smoke,
which he blew very skillfully. a9''
$50 far all has gone WE'LL" said he.
"Yet I would not delay; this l think
you do comprehend. 1t is, however.
my preference to travel by night. But
first let me ask, you are still content
with the agreement?"
Perfectly" said 1. It was not the
truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, but it served we'll
enough.
every good Then to consideration
of an immediate matter. You will par
don me my slowness of speech in Eng
lish-''
t'But you speak it WE'LL broke in.
II lived in England several years"
he answered, but no sooner was the
explanation made than he appeared
to regret it; for he added: "But to our
subject. Permit me to lay before you
a plan.''
"Pray proceed" said I, somewhat
puzzled as to what was TO come.
'This it is: That you, having this
afternoon to do with as you may, re-
turn to; the city andrthere conclude
such affairs as are pressing. iHHs most
probable that another opportunity SO
excellent may not present itself"
His meaning was sufficiently patent.
Once we should have reached our desti-
nation he would prefer to have me
without an excuse for revisiting my
old haunts. Nothing, though, would
suit me better than to fall in with his
desire. So said:
= eff you will allow me until nine
o'clock this evening, I promise to be
free in every way to accompany you
wherever you choose to go. My bust
ness can be closed in short order. You
may rest satisfied that shall say moth
ing of the change of my plans. In fact,
don't expect to excite any lively Curl
osity; it will be merely case of an
other man dropping out Of sight; the
city is too accustomed to such disap-
pearances to worry about another add
ed to the list. Believe me, don regret
our arrangement
Regret it, indeed! The salary offered
was ten times as large as my income
for the last year. It would mean at
least plenty to eat and plenty to wear,
comfortable home and freedom from
the cares which had made life a bur
den. The wolf Of poverty that had
haunted my door would be driven on
to howl about the dwelling of the next
poor devil. AT an earlier stage of: my
career I might have hesitated, have
paused before conserving to bury my
self in the country; but it is rarely
vigorous ambition that thrives on
grinding monotony and grows strong
through years of semi-starvation; mine
was not made of such sturdy stuff. Had
Lamar sprouted horns and displayed
cloven hoof might have experienced
qualms, but scarcely wcll-defned re-.
grets. ,...
Three hours later was again in the
city, and the few ties which had bound
me to it were severed. The landlord
took my departure philosophically;
payment of the arrears of rent seemed
to reconcile him to losing the tenant.
A nearby practitioner gladly agreed
to give room to my books until they
should be sent for, and a junkman drove
an easy bargain for my furniture. A.
valise was capacious enough to receive
the few effects I cared to take away,
49,, l.