Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-10-03
man Of middle height, Mr..

younsish man Of middle height, Mr..
Donald Megbie, the well known jour
na!ist and writer on social and relig-
ious matters. Donald Megbie held
rather a curious position in the lit
erary world. He was the friend Of
many great people, and more often
than not his pen was the vehicle
chosen by them to first introduce their
ideas and discoveries to the general
public. When it was time to let the
man in the street know of some stu
pendous discovery Magbie was called
in, and his articles, always brilliant
and interesting, explained the matter
in popular terms for the non-technical
mind.
$50 Gouldesbrough has not yet
4" Sir Harold Oliver said.
l>ot yet" Lord Malvin answered.
81 have had telegram from him, how
ever to say that he is compelled to
be rather later than he had expected.
have told the butler to wait in the
hall for him, and to bring him straight
through here directly he arrives"
"a remarkable man." said Mr.. Meg
bic, in that low and pleasant voice
which had become so familiar in high
places in the private rooms Of
cabinet ministers, it was said-during
the last few years.
"a man none Of us can afford to ig-
nore," Sir Harold answered, with q
slight sigh of impatience.
Megbie smiled.
MY dear Donald" Sir Harold went
on, please don't smile In that superb
or sort of manner. know what you're
thinking. You're thinking. how these
scientists love one another. You. are
accusing me of envy, jealousy, and un-
charitableness. I'm not jealous of
Gouldesbrough, great as his attain
ments are, and I'm sure l don't envy
him"
"Any one might be forgiven a little
envy on such an occasion as this"
Megbie answered. 81 confess that il
thought everyone Of import
ance in London were met together In
Lord Malvin's house to welcome me,
to hear what I was going to do next,
l should be rather more than pleased. /"
Lord Malvin smiled kindly, but the
noble old face grew sad for a mo-
ment.
"Ah." he said, 'you are young, Mr..
Megbie. thought as you think when
was your age. But one finds out
the utter worthlessness of fame and
applause, and so on, as one grows
older. The work itself is the thing!
Yes; there and therein only lies the
reward. All else is vain and hollow.
am very old man and 1 am near
my end. suppose may say that
such honors as can be given have fall
en- to my share. Yet I can honestly
say that I would give them all up,
would efface myself utterly, if I
thought that 1 was on the brink of the
discovery which I believe William
Gouldesbrough has made and will tell
us something about tonight"
The other two started. A deep note
of seriousness had come into the
voice of the venerable old man. #
portended something something vast
and far reaching-and they all stood
silent for moment, occupied with
their own thoughts.
The distant music of piano and
violin rose higher and higher in keen
melody. There was note
Of triumph in it which seemed to ac-
centuate the gravity and Importance
of Lord Malvin's words. The triumph
ant notes of the man who was COM
ing were singing and ringing through
the halls and chambers of this great
house!
The music ceased suddenly and
there was great clapping of hands.
At that moment the three men
waiting in the inner room saw tall,
black figure moving toward them;
the figure Of man on whom people
were beginning to press and con-
verge; a figure that smiled, bowed,
stopped continually to shake hands
and receive greetings, and made slow
progress toward them.
Sir William Gouldesbrough, the
man of the future, radiant, honored,
and successful, was arriving to greet
Lord Malyin, the man of the past.
(To Be Continued