The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-01-20
HELVERTON'S CASE.


to lather working up the side Oh
wail-like steady rappings at this anu
that.
Naturally Helverton was not popu-
lar. There were plenty OF men VINO
never saw him without wishing to KICK
him. The trouble was that he was
strapping big man and as strong as an
OK. II 1T had not been for that ne
probably would have received an aver
age OF dozen kickings week, allow
Ing for rest on Sundays. No, ne was
not popular; still people liked TO nave
MIN around occasionally to hear Wnat
ne had to say In the way OF dlstrac-
ton about their friends. 1t was anus
Ing at times. He got into the cluD IN
that way. Horrigan wanted to black
ball him and announced his intention
or doing so. 81 mention 1t, he salo'
because II there should happen by any
chance to be a white ballot in the pox
l might otherwise get the blame LOT
it."
That provoked a discussion. i con-
tend that Helverton isn't any common,
ordinary backbiter," said Bursar.
I'm with you there" agreed Horri-
gan. Hes an extraordinary one and
ne bites uncommon hard. There
wouldn't be an unsecured back in the
club If he got a chance to use his
] teeth"
What I meant to say and what l
mean to say is that Helverton isn't a
Dackbiter at all" persisted Bursar.
Doesn't he bite back?" demanded
Horrigan. ~i
Only when backs happen to be
handiest. He'd just as soon take the
END OF Your nose as not. But the
point make is that he has no pride Of
possession. If don't believe it,,
Just admire anything he owns and
watch him get out his little hammer
and pulverize 1t. No, he's just plain
knocker. l vote to abolish the COM
plant book and let him In"
When Helverton got in the first
thing he did was to knock" the club.
He remarked to an acquaintance, who
mad said he had heard it was nice
sort of club, that it had it's drawbacks.
| We'll, it's membership is tolerably
select. isn't it?" asked the acquaint-
ance.
Helverton smiled pityingly. did
you know that Chumway and Bolso-
yer and Ganzweiler and Ben Kayne
were members of that club?" he asked.
"Chumway made his money in get
rich-quick coneern-that is, of course.
he got rich quick. Ganzweiler Ia q
professional politician. though l un-
derstand he Mas q respectable burglar
at one time. Bolsover is a sewer con-
tractor, but lie smells sweet alongside
of Kayne. SJpiect!"
One evening", OF set purpose, CAM.
weller spoke aoE The beauty Of Helver.
zuuIt y ssscn.
"It's pretty Szsough to look at said
HelEerton, "but I've always had a sus
picion that the cases are filled. It's
little too orpnate for my taste any
way, though might put up with that
If it kept CORRECT time"
Helverton Was in his second Aear -
membership when they put him III
their library committee and he bought
a lot OF new books. He was superin.
tending thei1 arrangement on the
shelves when Horrigan, who was one
of the mildly interested group looking
on, picked up a gaudy little volume
and opened it.
Hello" he said. Here's some
poetry. Helverton's going to refine
our rough natures. Poetry, by
George!"
Pm aware, of course, that swine
prefer swill as steady diet to orient
pearls" said Helverton in his pleasant
way.
"oh. this is rich!" said Horrigan
who was reading and not noticing
This fellow is peach, whoever he
is. Listen o,this,. men:
The aftermath.
Cleaned from the blighted harvest of un.
/ rest
Subordinated to the souls behest,
The sullen wrath
or godlings with Titanic anger moved.
j While shallow precepts of experience,
Calm and dull eyed,
Heap ashes on a quickened ecstacy
And deadened 1t again. All. this see
Unsatisfied."
Wouldn't that jar you? What dc
you think Of it, Helverton%
Il think" said Helverton, fthai
there is beautiful thought expressed
subtly and musically. l don't see
anything to grin at in the least"
Horrigan opened his eyes wide and
gasped. Here's more of it, he said
strangliAg, after a moment:
But all will pass;
The glowing grandeur of the mighty
thought,
The fair abundance of the Word unsought
| Must die, alas!
/ Still coextstsnt with the richer tone
| vibrating to my list'ning ear alone
i A melody
And later moments with its music bless,
Though may die .
There was a general shout. Bui
Helverton turned red and looked de
cidedly annoyed. "Ridicule is cheap
he said. "Detraction requires neither
intellect nor feeling. Criticism comes
easy to those who themselves have &C
complished nothing. A sheer Is the
| surest indication of a depraved mind
and to sneer at noble things, at beauti'
tul things"
why, you don't mean to say seri'
ously that you consider this anything