The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-20
THE PHRASE MAKER.


The wick in the oil cup was very
short. and the squat flame threw aquiv-
Sring CLEAN across the Phrase Makers
face as he rubbed his parched lips with
spiced gum. Through the grimy, sooty
lattice, so closely wrought that no iignt
penetrated it, drifted the roar of the
street outside.
Il am white" said my host. serenely;
and on the avenue my people are traI-
ticking. For ten years l have not left
this room"
Don't you want to go back?" 1
stupidity asked.
There was a clink of a ring against
glass. and "a fine scorn tinged the Phrase
Makers voice as he spoke over his cup
Possibly you think it a little vulgar 10
live in the Chinese fashion and smoke
hop 1 used to think myself untor-
tunate. but I begin to fancy that, after
all. I do not fare so i'll. 1t is much To
sit calm and watch the world go by
The pallid hand set down the cup,
and the dark eyes were fixed in
drowsy stare. The Phrase-Maker was
not yet awake.
But 1 waited presently. 7 knew. he
would rouse and speak to me the &C
cumulated wisdom of many opiate years-
The htful ray from the oil cup illum-
tned a room Of many recesses, li-c
angles of the walls displayed dark
bronzes. huge and shapeless pipes. wea-
pons OF antique weight; above. from 1he
sagging ceiling, hung tattered oanhel'
darkly gorgeous. heavily motlonless'
about the fioor were scattered BOWS
wrought of bronze and silver, pigmy
lacquered tables. curiously snlped
TASKS filled with liqueurs-all the lux
urious parap hernalia of deVotee OF lhe
god Of Oblivion.
From a shelf-like shrine leered a
arrange contorted demon in full relief
before whose knotted feet burned some
1oss-ticks. At the Phrase Makers
knees sauatted his servant. Lee Quoy-
All this was sleepily familiar to me-
Since / had by accident found this fan
tastic recluse : had almost regularly
sought him out. From the first he had
RDolean to me as to one who might un-
derstand if sufficient pains were taken.
Once he had sent for me that he might
repeat into my ears a new saying.
For it was thus he lived, going over
the scenes in his life: and then, after
much meditation. uttering some phrase
that held the meat of his experience
Many stories he had already told me-
and some We're as If out OF my own he:
TT was in the Caribbean" he would
commence. and found rum slightly
fevering as a steady drink" long
story would follow, with details circum-
stantial. Then he would affix the label.
the gist of his tale: An onion has many
skins vet a heart at the center
Sometimes he would have two phrases
for a story and he would favor either,
alternately. We would graYely discuss
the problem till final inebriation over his
opium pipe illumined his fancy into i'm
patience of details. and he would JOY
ously adopt one phrase irrevccably-
Today the Phrase-Marker was ponder
ing deeply At times his lean face was
turned curiously upon the writing god
in the shelf-like shrine, as if he sought
to win therefrom words for his meaning.
Or else he laid cunning snares to entrap
me Into speech that would satisfy his
ear So finally I put hand on MS
ribbed breast under the green jacket
gum over his shriveled lips and motion
ed TO Lee Quoy to clean his pipe.
Il have spent ten years trying 10
know about it, and I cannot find the
key" he said, enigmatically.
THE key to what?" 1 asked.
He pulled at a tassel of the banner
aabove him, and reached again for the
spiced gum. Then he turned cavernous
eyes upon me. There was woman
once" he said, harshly.
Now in all the time l had known the
Phrase Maker he had never spoken of
a woman nor of women. l wondered
at seasons whether he knew of their
existence. So now gasped my amaze
ment
who was she?" presently inquired.
II do not know" was the response.
And then l. being wise, discerned that
he was lost for words.
Reckoning time as he did. it was
three smokes later that rose to leave
the Phrase Makers presence In these
many hours he had uttered five
phrases: a kiss is music heard by the
lips. laughter and tears are the gates;
the hollow of an arm; in the soft dark
ness: words whispered in the dusk"
The end of it was a long. uuivering
"A-a-ahr' that throbbed in the shad-
owy room as felt my way to the door
I asked again, s'who is she?"
The man sitting on the mat swept
his eyes with pallid fingers and his
eyes glowed through the gloom. 1t