Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-31
the Soul the right Of way. Iheh He

entered.
How shall I ever be able to meet
Mary and the girls in this hx! ne
said. ITS awful! awful! Something
must have happened in my brain, ana
he turned again toward the little 'isure
whose presence and appearance
seemed to put the question OF hallucl-
nation beyond all doubt.
On reaching his home, he stepped
quickly to the door, opened 1t with MS
own private key and let himself into
the hall unobserved. Up the stairs 10
his room he went noiselessly. once
safe within. he locked the door ana
sank down, exhausted, in a large easy
chair.
"He said I had the meanest soul the
Lord ever permitted to be in man
that's what he said. l remember every
word distinctly" and he looked around
once more at the dwarfish creature
who sat on a chair almost opposite.
And you are the soul that came in
obedience to some strange summons.
Now" said the merchant, II want to
think about this. Let us ask. what is
the cause of that dingy color-that
elfish blackness?"
Il am what you made me-" said the
Soul Il was not always so dark"
The meanest SOUL repeated Greene.
the words lingering in his brain like
the refrain of a song. The meanest
soul. Well. if | have blackened my
soul. | pray God to help me. for no one
else can"
A tap at the door interrupted his
thoughts He turned sharply 10 the
little figure.
You are sure no one can see YOU
None but you was the reply.
| He opened the door.
sam, Sam" said the gentle voice of
his wife. What's the matter? We saw
you go up. and we haven't heard from
you since you came home" She merry
| ously grasped his hand in her own,
which were trembling.
Nothing. Mary" said the lumber
merchant hurriedly. "Nothings the
matter. only l wish you would send
me a cup of tea-a cup of good strong
tea want to take il here in my
room. | have something on my mind:
nothing to trouble you. Mary, but |
must be here alone for little while"
a sob. the wife went down stairs.
Presently she returned with a cup of
tea.
Thank you. Mary" he said in n
tone so kindly that his wife looked at
him in surprise. Now. dear. you see
l am all right Won't you please get
Tom to hitch up and drive around to
Simmons. the carpenter. and tell him
want to see him Immediately? In fact.
tell him to bring Simmons with him
He pulled out his watch. Il must have
him here within the next half hour.
Five minutes later. he could hear the
sound of the departing coach. showing
that the coachman had sped upon his
errand. Mr.. Greene again touched the
bell and one of his daughters respond
ed
Edith. l want to send down to the
widow Grogan's. You know she is one
of my tenants. Can't one OF you girls
go down and bring her up? It's only
ten minutes walk, and l must see her
this evening"
Why, papa" said the daughter
and so late?"
oh" said the merchant. its only
seven o'clock. You go. Edith and /
will make it up to you. You can take
the street car and be down there in a
twinkling." And to her aStonishment
he kissed her. Such a thing had hardly
happened since the girls We're babies
1t was well within the half hour when
Tom drove up before the door. and
Carpenter Simmons mounted the
steps He was shownup to the mer'
chants room.
Come in. Simmons; come in" said
Mr. Greene with a show of anima-
ton.
II came. Mr.. Greene, but I haven't
the slightest idea"
mo matter. no matter. Sit down"
said the other. The fact is. Sim
mons, l behaved like a hog to you this
afternoon, and l am deeply sorry for
it. l want you to understand that.
Simmons. You have been a good Gus
toner of mine. and I've never lost
cent by your trade, and to have spoken
to you as I did was too mean for any
thing, and I want to apologize
"Oh. Mr. Greene" protested the car
penter. don't say a word
But | insist" said Greene stoutly.
If man acts like hog. he must
apologize; he has no right to act so.
You said that | had the meanest
soul
Mr.. Greene. cried the carpenter.
nervously, II regretted it the moment
| said it, | declare | did. 1t was
cruel thing"
1T was true" said Greene, every
word. | know it. l have the meanest
soul. and you told the truth Sit
down"
The visitor sat down in amaZement.
Now, here is an order continued
Greene, writing at the desk that stood
in the corner of the room. "Haff will
give you whatever lumber you want.
Hereafter you can have that privi-
lege. Yon are an honest man."
You don't mean it, You don't
mean it. Mr.. Greene" cried the car
penter. starting up. why. it's like
picking me out of the gutter. | was
ruined if | didn't get that lumber
You've saved me. You've saved NV
hucin IL