The San Francisco call., 1905-04-02

N1L--E 0kEL " l- l6Q Ne
spoken Had il been from any
sympathy for the cause he cham
pioneo2 Was il not rather in a mere
spirit Of hurt pride and resentment
The same resentment that had made
him refuse 70 eliminate the bitter stan
zas from his book2 a flush rose 10
his brow How unworthy had been his
motive beside that OF the STRIPPING who
had written against that same bill.
a sense Of shame rushed through
him In the late weeks al Newstead
he had felt how small were such i'm
pulses he had told himself that he
would sing for his songs own sake ana
keep II free from the petty and the re-
raiisuves that he would live in the
azure his own mind created and let the
worlds praise and abuse alike so by.
Had he kept this determination?
He poured out q second tumbler OF
the liquor and drank IL
Neither clsret nor champagne ever
affected him, but the double draft OF
brandy brought an immediate intoxi-
cation that grew almost instantly 10
gray giddinsss- He pushed a couch TO
the wsH, showed a screen between il
and the dawn-Iit windows threw him
self down without undressing and fell
into a mOveiess sleep that lasted many
hours The reaction, his physical
WEAKNESS and both topped by the
cOgnac, made his slumber lOg-like, a
dull. dead blank OF nothingness, IN
broken BY any sound
Fletcher came IN yaWning. looked
into his masters sleeping room and
went out shaking his head Later ne
brought ( pile OF letters. and relaid
the fire Noon came-one, two O'Clock
and meanwhile there were many
knocks upon the door, from each Of
which the valet returned with larger
eyes 10 add another personal card or
note 10 the Increasing pile on the
table.
As the clock struck three. he opened
the door u-On two OF the best-liked
OF his masters old-time town assOci-
aCes. They we're Tom Moore. with Il
young rudy face OF Irish humor. and
Sheridan clad 10 sDrucery as II Apol-
10 had sent him 4 birthda- suit. and
smiling Ike rakish gray-haired
cherub.
Fletcher. where's your master2"
His lordship Is OUT M Sheridan"
The devil he Is, Hang IL we'll
wait then. Tom Go and look for him,
Fletcher"
4 shouldn't know where 70 look.
sir. Ny lord didn't come il al all last
night
Sheridan Whistled. That's queer.
Well vel wait a while'-and they
entered IS he saw the pile OF newly
arrived stationery. the older man
threw his stick into the corner and
smote Moore on the shoulder with q
chuckle.
7 told them so.-' he vociferated.
wagging MS head. 4 told them 50
when his Satire hrst came out Curse
catch me. dye ever know Of such a
triumph That speech was the spark
10 the Dowder. II was cute Of Muir
ray % issue last night Every news
paper in town clapping its hands and
bawling bigger adjectives- Genius and
s-outh-ah what z combination il is"
He took 4 pinch OF snuff and de-
scended uDon the heap Of cards and
billers. picking u each in turn be-
tween thumb and forehnger and look
ing at Il with Z sQuint. Lord Car
Isle he read--.'his guardian, eh2
wouldn't introduce him in the Lords
two years ago. Colonel Greyille'-
wanted 10 fight George once for & line
IN his Satire about high-play in the
Argyle Club. He's cooing gently now,
Blue-tinted note-Emells Of violets.
Humph. More notes-seven of 'emi
Fletcher. you old humbug. dye know
your master at this moment is the
greatest man IN LondonZ"
Yes. Mr. Sheridan"
"Oh, you do2 Knew it all along,
I suppose Doesn't surprise you one
bit. eh2 p
Ne. Nr. sheridan"
Curse catch me-"
Yes. M sheridan"
Moore laughed. and the older man.
csckIiug al the Wallets rnatter-of-fact
expression. continued his task: Card
from the Bishop OF London-Lord de-
liver US, Another ietter-where have
I seen that silver crest2 Why. the
Melbourne arms 10 be sure, By the
handwriting. it's from the Countess
herself Lord HesthcOte'-.Lord Hol-
land It's electrici It's a contagion.
All London is mad to-day. mad over
George Gordon."
I passed Murray's shop an hour
ago" declared Moore There was a
string Of carriages al the door ike the
entrance Of Palace Yard Murray told
ne he viii have booked orders for
fourteen thousand copies before night
fall
As the other threw down the mass
Of stationery. he spied the bottle
which Gordon had half emDtied.
Here's some cognac." he said.
Fletcher, some glasses That's right
It's Early in the day for brandy.
hut better never than late as Hob
house would say Wen toast G0rdOn's
success" He poured for both and the
INNS clicked.
With the glasses 70 their lips. e voice
broke forth behind them declaiming
ex temDore-
NJ heat = On TIE shore.
Ard ny tzrk - OF r6e sea-
But before 20 Tom Moore.
Hers e double health 20 thee,
Moore dragged away the screen. Cor
don was standing by the couch: his
turrbIed hair and disOrdered dress
showed he had just awakened His
face was flushed. his eyes sparkling.
.sTou villain expostulated Moore;
''it's you we're toasting-
Ard with water OF with wine
The Ithzti0r I would pour
should Re peace with thine and mine
Ana health to thee. Tom Moore.
Gordon. you eavedropper, have you
read the pzpers2" Sheridan shouted
Not q line
Curse catch me. you've heard US
"a king then. George. George. you've
wakened 10 find yourself famous"
Gordon hardly felt their hand-clasps
or heard their congratulatory small
talk He almost ran 70 the window
and flung II open. drawing the cool