New-York tribune., 1903-06-21

AGING Won to confession to be dished in my own
sauce. eh? But understand that like you far
better for owning up There are men-there
is q clergyman In our neighborhood for one
canabIe of pretending a knowledge Of Latin
which they don't possess
Doesn't Mr. Whtmore know Latin?" ASKED
Hey? Who told you was speaking of WHIT
more?'
glanced at Isabel. for her eyes drew me-
They were fixed on almost in terror
It have heard him talk it, sir
Excuse me; you may have heard MIN pre-
tending
But papa"- Isabel put forth hand as
if in protest: and 1 noted that it trernbled and
that the ring was missing which she had worn
overnight. You never told me that he-that
Mr. Whitmore''--
WAS an imposter? My dear, had you any
occasion to seek my opinion of him, or had
anv occasion to give it? None. think and but
for Master Revers incomprehensble guess you
had not discovered it now. have been betrayed
into gossip
He turned abruptly and feeling with his hand
over the surface of the summer house tanle
found and picked up small volume lying there
It struck me that his temper for the moment
was not under perfect control
Isabel cast at me look which could not in
terpret and went slowly back to the house
..The meaning of my catechsm just now"
said her father, addressing me after listening
for 4 while 10 her retreatrg footsteps, may be
the palmer when / tell you that am translat-
ing the works of the Roman poet Virgil. line for
line. into English verse and have just reached
the beginning of the Fourth Georgia. He is
NAV tell YOU a poet and the most marvellous
that ever lived; so marvellous that the Middle
Ages nistook him for a magician. That any
age is likely to mistake me, his translator, for
one I think improbable. Nevertheless l do my
best And while translating hold this hook IN
my hand not that can see to read a line OF H.
but because the mere touch of it, my companion
on many campaigns, seems to unloose my mem
ory Except in handling this small volume L
have none Of the delicate gift Of divination by
touch with which blind men are usually credit
ed But this is page one hundred and six, IS II
not? He held out the open book toward me- and
added. with sudden apprehension, You can
read, trust?"
I assured him that ! could.
And write? Good again! Come in-you will
find pen, ink and paper on the side-drum in the
corner Bring them over to the table and seat
yourself Ready. Now. begin, and let me know
when you cannot spell word. Twenty lines a
day is my average, but have improved on It
this rnornfng-a usual experience when I start
upon a fresh poem"
I seated myself, silently wondering what
might be the of the side-drum in the corner
Let me see-let me see He thumbed the
book for while, murmuring words which
could not catch; then thrust it behind his back
with a finger between its pages. Strengthened
himself up, and declaimed:
Next of aerial honey. gift divine. -
] sing. Macenas, be once more penlgn!
He paused and instructed me how to spell
aerial and "Maeenas'' The orthography of
these having been settled, asked his advice
upon benign" which, written down by me
0 forget how, did not seem convincing.
"You are indisputably an honest boy" said
he; ''but have yet to acquire that degree OF pa
tience which, by all accounts, consorts with my
afiiction. Continue, pray:
Prepare the pomp of trifes to ehold:
Proud peers-a nations poty unrolrd- -
Customs pursuits-its clans and how they fight
Slight things I labor: not for glory slight,
II Heaven attend and Phebus hearken me
First then, for site. Seek and install your Bee
With a capital B. If you please. The poet says.
bees; but the singular, especially II written
with a capital, adds. in my opinion. that mock
heroic touch which, as the translator must fire.
uuently miss it for all his pains, he had better
insert where he can. By the way, how have you
spelled 'Phebus?"
"F-e-b-u-s' answered.
''I feared so,' he sighed. And 'site'?"
"S-i-g-h-t" 1 felt pretty sure about this.
He smote his forehead.
THAT is how Miss Plinlimnon taught me- L
urged, almost deiantly.
fT hee vour Observation-Disclosures did you