The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-04-12

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for a word in private that her father
sat up much later than had been his
habit even upon those evenings when
Mr.. Eerwin was not calling and that
he was devoting himself anew to the
study of ponderous books doubtless as
means of divcrting his attention from
worldly affairs.
After tea Mr.. Butterfcld and | r.
tired to his study, where we lighted
two long stemmed clay pipes, and just
us ! was about to open the subject OF
finance Lucy came in and announceI
the arrival Of Mr.. KcrWn.
The banker was hard featured,
sturdy man of fifty-fivc, with Il mouth
that was Il perfectly straight line and
eyes capable of extraordinary concen-
tration, 50 that his glance was not for
ones face in general, but for partic-
ular part of 1.-THE tip of the nose or Il
line in ones forehead. l found this pc
culiarity Of Mr.. Kcrwin's somewhat
disquieting. yet he seemed, upon the
whole. to be more amiable man than
his aspect would Indicate
AS to this money, this new fortune
Of mine" said the clergyman after the
banker had made my acquaintance and
had helped himself to tobacco, my
friend has come to talk with me in re
spouse to Il letter which wrote before
you had been so good as to advise me
in regard t. IN Investment"
50 the money was already invested.
1t was the Trst that l had heard of
that fact.
I thought it probable that this rural
banker of nearly twice my years would
resent my intrusion into the affair, but
I mfSjudged him. In the blandest man
ner and with no further hint from MI
Buttcrfeld he proceeded to lay the
whole matter before me briefly, but
with exemplary clcarness. | listened
with increasing amazemcnt. The in
vestment was of a speculative charac-
ter in the sense that it promised eX-
tra0rdinary returns, yet it was so
shrewdly considered and 50 wisely
based upon important private informa-
ton that could find no basis for criti-
cism. 1t was an opportunity such as
one may not have in lifetime, and
there was Il practical certainty that
Mr.. Butterfield would quadruple his
money within a few years. Nothing
could be more natural than that so re
markabIe Il piece of good fortune
should have excited this placid Old
man. to whom his daughters future
had 50 long been the great unsOlvcd
puzzle.
Yet, singuldrly enough, while Mr.. Ker-
win was disclosing these facts to me
the clergymau's attention wandered
[ observed that he surroptitiously read
from a large book which he held open
on his knee and that he was only mild
~ interested in my approval of the in
veStment
Il am satisfied, quite satisfied" he
said. My friend Kcrwin has kindly
taken this whole matter off my mind.
| trust his judgment implicitly. Sure
lY," he added after a mOmcntary pause,
Il have been very fortunate of late.
This money has been greatly blessed to
my II mas l'IONGitb liiC lAiC tlC'
ancc-l may even venture to say the
fricndship-Of Il man whom l have long
misiudged" And he beamed upon the
iron faced KCrwin. "Doctrinal differ
Cnces," he continued, "have held us
apart for some years.
'Doctrinal differences" repeated Kcr-
win, with Il rigid grin. That's good
phrase"
by the way" said the clergyman,
yelling nervous impatiencc, upon
that point which we were discussing
the other evening find here the follow
ing statement
He read from the big book para
graph heavy With scientific terms.
Kcrwim's eyes glistencd, and he spoke
the instant that the reader paused.
lie had not uttered three sentences be
fore | perceived that the man was Il
dogmatic materialst and that he was
hammcring at the foundations of the
others belief.
KerWin was one of those men who
have read great mass of high grade
scientific literature late in life, but
have never had a groundwork of scien-
tific training They know what the
scientists say, but not what they mean.
1t is nearly impossible for any man
who has not received systematic in
struction in the actual labor of in
vCstgatiOn to understand the real es-
sencc of the simplest scientific state
ment, such rs salt consists of sodium
and chlorine The greatest chemist in
the world might say that, but he would
mean only that no one whom he knew
of had ever found anything else in salt
The true scientist takes his readers
lack Of dogmatism for granted, and
that is why he is so rarely understood.
Mr.. Butterlield seemed bewildered by
the skeptic's array Of facts and to be
vainly seeking for some higher scien-
tllic authority which would contradict
mis- enemy. Such struggle is futile
and tends more strongly than anything
else to throw the mind into Il condition
Of miserable and hopeless doubt With
ineXpressible pain | beheld the begin
ming Of the ruin of this good old mans
faith and peace, and by II o'clock of
that evening l was upon the point Of
throwing Kerwin out of the window.
After the banker had zone Mr. Put.