Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-31
THE VISIBLE SOUL.
Copyright. 1900, py Louis Klopsch,
The Christian Herald. New York;

The Christian Herald. New York;
Mr.. Samuel Greene, the leading lum-
Der merchant in a large Western city,
was known as one of the most prosper
Gus men in his section of the state.
he had acquired his wealth by hard
trading and close bargaining. Few
people could get ahead Of him: and
though it was his frequent remark
that every dollar he owned was 'hon-
estly made in trade" his customers
and his tenants knew him only as a
hard man, not unscrupulOus. but dis
posed to exact the last dime. At home
or in church to which he went occa-
sionally) his thoughts were too much
occupied with schemes of money max
ing to afford any spare room for affec
tion or religious feeling. His business
acQuaintanceS rather envied him, as
one who had conquered the secret Of
success.
The lumber merchant sat in his little
office at the close of an October day.
1t had been a day full of business and
| its aggravations. He was thinking of
going home, when there suddenly came
a rat-tat at the door.
Come in" called Mr. Greene.
gruff1y. "Oh, it's you, Simmons. Well
now. what's wanted?'
Mr.. Greene" said the newcomer, a
sturdiiy- built honest looking man of
middle age, I've come to see if YOU
| won't let me have another bill of lum-
ber-some Michigan pine l need for
| that contract | have on the east side"
| No, Simmons, you can't have
| af I,,y NV x-.ar
that's fiat" said Mr.. Greene. harshly.
LAS soon as you pay up what you owe.
you can get more; not till then
But, Mr.. Greene" protested Sim
| mons, this is serious matter to me.
| Why. I've paid you hundreds and hun
dreds of dollars good money. for your
| lumber: and as soon as this job is
through you will be the first to get
your money. You don't surely mean
TO say you refuse?
That's just what I do mean"
snapped Greene. But I've no time to
talk about it. You can take your
| choice: pay up your last bill. or go
without
| 1T simply means ruin. that's what it
does said the man advancing into
the ROOM Why, good heavens, Mr..
| Greene. you cannot mean what you
| say, 1t would be the meanest-"
Get out" thundered the lumber
merchant. advancing toward him. his
/ huge bulk now quivering with anger.
| ''Out of here, I say, You shall never
get a foot of lumber from me as long
as l live
| Simmons retreated a step or two
then. still with hat in hand. he turned
| towards the excited man. Mr..
/ Greene" he said in deep tones, may
| the Lord forgive me for saying it. but
| | think you have the meanest soul that
ever He permitted to enter into man.
| and if you could only see it
But his talk was suddenly cut short
! by a threatening movement of Mr..
Greene. who pushed him out of the
! office and slammed the door violently.
"Confounded impudence. l call it,"
said the lumber merchant on regaining
his seat. Why. hang the fellow.
trusted him and trusted him. I'm
fairly sick of his whining talk and
poverty stricken ways. To insult me
| by referring to my soul. What does he
know about it, anyway" and he rose
and paced the floor of the little office.
mused But who ever heard of any
| one seeing soul?" And then he sat
down again, and rubbed his chin medi-
| tatively He rested his head upon his
hands. Somehow. those words bur-
! rowed and buZZed in his brain. The
| world of business seemed to slip away
| into shadow and silence.
My soul-well. ! wish could see it.
I am sure that fellow is wrong. Any
how. he knows nothing about it. I
wish"
Here l am piped up a little. thin
voice, somewhere on the floor behind
him.
"What-what's that?" he asked
quickly.
Here am" repeated the thin voice.
"Who? Where?'
Right here behind you
The lumber merchant turned in
astonishment. and looked in the direc-
ton indicated. There, in a corner, and
in the shadow of the leather covered
lounge. was a little, impish. dwarf
locking figure, like a shriveled Filipino.
The merchant shrank back in amaze
ment
Who are you, anyway" he gaspcd.
Il am your SOUL piped the black
looking little imp in the corner.
My SOUL" He shook himself to-
gether as if disbelieving his senses.
Utter nonsense, Why, with a touch
of this button I can summon a police
man
Still am your soul" said the little
| black one. Yours and nobody else's."
How did you come into my office?''
interrogated the merchant.
Il was permitted to come as you
wished said the black thing. and l
must stay until the time of my per-
mission ends
| "Confound it, persisted Mr.. Greene,
| you don't mean to say that you are
! going to stick right here, in my office"
Wherever you go. I 60" pped the
voice. II am a part of you and you
| cannot be without me-
But" stammered the merchant.
with an inward shudder. how am I
ever to get along with you sitting
around?" He vent *over fearfully
toward the door and slipped the spring
| lock. why, this is ridiculous. Every
body who meets us will remark"
mo eve but yours can see me" was