Newport daily independent., 1902-05-21

to, too! ACV0iO w tantly.
 tYouth." said the Philosopher, you are master of the situation-a plebe- ian Charon controlling the vagrant Shades. I engage your services. II you insist upon going home" ne added, turning to his charge, we cannot edo better than follow our Cbaron to the neither world"
 But this is Bond street." she ex- claimed, still with the ring of relief in her silvery voice.
 "I know it-at least I am willing to believe it, since Charon says so. Who better than he can conduct us to the Plutonian Realms-the Subter- ranean regions of the 'Tube?
 .sThe Tube? ?'" she cried. We are quite close to it!'
 @The idea of distance is purely rela- tive" he replied. "When, an hour ago, I left my club, imagined my self to be quite close to Trafalgar square-yet, in the event, found myself to be immeasurably far from that historic locality. Boy! lead us instantly to the station called Bond street. Charon shall have his fee"
 ',The Tube sir? Yes, I'll take you there-Bond street; it ain't very fur, but the fog is that thick as mo- body 'cept mole could find is way six yards afore him without a torch Five shillin', sir!"
 Ten minutes later they paused at the mouth of the Central railway station. The Philosopher paid the link boy five shillings. "On the banks of Phlegethon you will find many others,'' he said. "Go and search!" Then turning to his com panion he motioned her courteously to precede him down the steps.
 Together they descended, and, reaching once more a world of light, by a mutual impulse stopped and confronted each other on the thresh- old of it.
 The Philosopher started. Before him he beheld young girl of the most bewildering loveliness. Her soft blue eyes were directed to his with an expression of timid curiosity, in which there was the dawning blend of a gratitude diftidently conveyed. She, too, started-for she had imag- ined herself to be in the company of benevolent and middle-aged gentle man of peculiar, though interesting views, whose protection, paternally offered a maiden so situated might without loss of maidenly dignity ac- cept.
 Instead, she perceived, gazing into her face with an admiration ill con cealed, a young and singularly hand some man of 25.
 T fancied. IT thought you were quite an old man all the time," she faltered, "or, of course" She broke off with an eloquent blush, and dropped her eyes.
 "Facilis descensus Averno-" mur- mured the Philosopher, still gazing on the half-averted face before him.
 "Sed revocare gradum" she replied, darting at him swift little mischievous glance from under fiickering eyelid
 "What!" exclaimed the Philosopher. "Is it possible that you understand Latin, that you have read Virgil you?"
 "It is a sin, know" she answered, demurely; ''but I dol have, really. I--I am philosopher, too. You see, I was at Girton, where they make a study of the emotions," she added, with little saucy laugh.
 For a moment the Philosopher was silent. Then he said:
 "Philosophy is like a fog, and the 'twopenny tube is like the beauty that dispels it's fallacies. I renounce my creed. I proclaim heresy. Philosophy and love are no longer incompatible" He paused to throw out suggestion. May they not" he inquired, "continue to walk, hand in hand. side by side, together. through the thick impenetrable fog, the lonely, inhospitable mists of the distant unknown future?"
 But the reply of his companion was lost in the sudden roar of the ap- preaching train Emeric Hulme Bea- man, in London Sketch. Strange Catastrophe. The surgeon of an English shin of