Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-02-26

see it when 1 wCLk there.
Brady had the large room. IL is
empty now save when some strand
ed newspaper man seeks a tempo
rary home. The room is full OF
books, mostly verse, left by the de-
parted poet. The bed is huge and
filled with many pillows, for Brady
read and smoked a pipe in bed.
The other sleeping room was oc-
cupied by Harris. Its walls still
glare with posters, great daubs Of pure
color, uneomprehendible, sketches
and some line drawings. The room
has not now the artistic atmosphere
it had when it was the lair of Har-
ris, FOR it is comparatively clean, the
palettes are gone, and rugs cover the
All the pipes and tobacco jars now
litter the big room we used in com
mon-the council chamber of the
communicate l smoke there and
read as | lounge in the deep chairs.
1t is all mine, for Brady and Har-
ris deserted and left me in loneli-
ness and undisputed possession.
At first we were hilariously happy.
We had long arguments, we dis
eussed the sinful ignorance Of pub
fishers who refused TO buy our
wares, we worked and showed each
other our work, which is strange,
for, as a rule, writer's are woefully
bashful about showing their work
before il is printed. Afterward it is
different We opened many bottles
at strange hours, and the popping
of eorks punctuated many discus
sions.
Brady and Harris went TO work
I'm the early morning. leaving me TO
sleep until noon, and many times
coming home at midnight ! found
them deep in argument over books
or pictures or telling each other
their hopes and aspirations.
The coming Of Jones, copy reader,
marked an epoch Jones furnished still
life. He would fall asleep under the
most distressing circumstsee and
IN any position Tie Invariably over
slept. and blamed others for his weak
ness Finally he issued q sweeping re-
quest for rs to call him when we
thought he was oversleeping. For two
months our chiefest JOY consisted IN
calling Jones. We called him when we
arose. and we called him when we went
to bed. often We hurried home espe-
cially TO call him. Jones stood il two
months. Then he slipped ont between
calls and came no mJre
For almost two years we were happy,
except when the rent came due. hen
the first shadow fell Brady com
menced to have social aspirations. He
was seen at "Bohemian" gatherings,
which advertised themselves as such.
He commenced to get into debt to his
tailor. and his verse changed In tone.
Presently he deserted MS when we
had a night free from work. Then he
began complaining 81 the havoc moths
had wrought in his dress suit, and he
feared the worst. Within two months
the attack reached its eliminating
poiut. One night he came back 10 US
radiant: he wanted MS 10 congratulate
him. and said he was the happiest man
on earth. Then he locked himself in
his room and wrote a poem,
Dutifully we gacbeI ourselves, at
tended the wediin and robbed the
tobacco jar 10 adorn Brady's fiat. Then
We disowned him. We lighted candles
al the head and at the foot Of Brady
deserted bed. and mourned him as one
lost. Brady came to ses rs az rare
intervals. but refused the preferred
stein on the grounds his wife objected
TO drinking
Two months later Harris went away
on his vacation. He returned changed
man. He called on Brady and his wife,
and when he returned he had an m
sane. idiotic look on his face. He
went into raptures over the happiness
which. he said. flooded Brady's life.
listened to his heresy and watched
him sorrowfully After awhile when
Iwould search through Harris clothes,
would find heavy letters sealed and
scented Those letters were perfumed
with violet I hoped that would SUI
Ace 70 dispel Harris illusion, but II
did not.
Waters stood that way for two
months more. One night in the middle
Of June Harris came home early in the
evening. I was enjoying a night free
from work. and was propped up ~
chair full of pillows, and my pipe OF
\ stool. gloating deep with Nurger and
his students. saw at once Harris had
something TO tell He assumed a care
less air and finally, after many feint'
and twists. fatty asked me to be 0es'
man.
said never a word. J rose mp
dragged myself into streetclothes. an'
went away. came back at four o'clocl
IN The morning. Harris says ! wa
bowlinr drunk. That Is not true
was merely bowling over Harris
weakness
, Feeling hypocritical vert dow
! country. and attended Harris wed
. dinp lie married doll-faced countr,
g;rl Who was proud Of him. He mad
! fool Of himself when he earned hi