The Lamar register., 1903-06-24

ume OF new smoke toward the ceiling.
Aunt Emma mentioned that. She
suggested that l might paint on china
or give whist lessons, and yet retain
my prospects,
"Ah! did she. really? Just my own
idea, precisely; only she improves
upon 1t. Paint on china or give whist
lessons! Capital! But the last
strikes me as especially felicitous.
You could give whist lessons, should
say. certainly. without sacrificing your
prospects. Your aunt is an eminently
sensible woman"
The professor spoke jauntily; SO
much SO that Eleanor who had in
tended to be sardonic. paused with
surprise. 1t almost seemed to her
that there was irony, also, in her
mentors words. But the sober pre-
cision of the phrase with which he
renewed the dialogue. convinced her
of her error.
why should you not adopt your
aunt's suggestion"
Cant you see why. Uncle Phin?
should merely be making believe. 1t
couldn't help being nearly the same as
it is now. Oh, Uncle Phin, | don't
wish to seem to you ungrateful for
what Uncle Harold and Aunt Emma
have done for me. They have been
very, very kind. and-and don't
wish to criticise them; I'm not criti-
cising them. But what is beneficial
for one person and what interests one
person may be harmful and demoral-
t.yft, to To-
that | object to-the whole way of
looking at things; and had feel
irg that you would understand me,
Uncle Phin."
There was the sadness of despair
in her tone.
Understand you. my little girl? l
should think | did understand you.
Has not my whole life been protest
against the very atmosphere which
you condemn. and which, thank God,
you cannot bear? Come here and
kiss me-"
She approached him in sweet sur
prise. and lowered her lips to his
cheek. He held her upon his knee
and stroked her hair.
You shall teach; you shall do what
you wish" he said Il will see to it;
leave it all to me-"
Then you do not think me foolish.
Uncle Phin?"
Foolish? thank God that you are
SC wise; that 1t has been given you
to see the difference between the false
gods and the true. the glory of life
ard its prostitution-yes. prostitution,
say. | had not dared hope it, for
they had held to your lips the Lethe
of luxury and languor and form and
superstition. but you would not drink
no. thank God. you would not drink!
You have made your choice; but.
child, the path which you have
chosen is no easy one to follow" he
cried, with sudden sternness. You
have said that work and privations
have no terrors for you: you may
even be proof against dependency
and weariness of heart and brain:
but are you ready to put up with
polite scorn, kindly consideration and
pitying patronage? Are you prepared
to be looked askance at as quixotic,
stigmatized as unconventional. ta-
booed as unorthodox? This must
those who pursue knowledge and
truth for their own sakes be prepared
to endure. They must look neither
to the right nor to the left; they
must be ready to strive from the .ris-
ing of the sun to the going down of
the same, content In the single con-
seriousness tnat they are helping to
unravel the mysteries of Gods treas
ure house and search out the secrets
of the infinite"
She turned her eyes to meet his.
81 am not afraid. Uncle Phin." she
said with a bright smile. "If only
am worthy"
"It is a matter of spirit. not of
deeds" he answered. He took her
hand in his and patted IL softly, while
he seemed to be looking into distance.
as he said: Il will tell you secret.
Peach blossom. For the soul that loves
truth and seeks it unflinchingly, un-
sparingly, devotedly, unwearyingly.
the stars and the seas and the flowers
and the woods and the tempests and
the sunsets and the beasts of the
field and the glorious works of man
and man himself-man, the mightiest
mystery of all-have a charm
beauty unknown to those who fold
their hands and smile the smile which
says: is not truth found? Would
we be wiser than our fathers? They
may politely mock at us, but they
cannot hurt us. They may pity us
even as we pity them; but they can
not rob us of Heavens usufruct, the
wage of honest workers who juggle
reither with themselves nor Cod
knowledge, the light of the SOUL
81 am so glad to hear you talk so:
it gives me courage and hope. Not
that I have doubted my mind. uncle.
but it was not easy to battle single
handed against the strong opinions of
others older and with far more ex-
perience than l. And when thought
you were going to desert me too, |
indeed felt my heart sirk within Inc.
But now l am so happy; the future
seems SO clear to me-"
THE pride of glorious YOUTH" an
swered the professor, stroking her
hair again. who is 1t that does not
fail? Who is IL that is ever satis-