The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-08-18
CHAPTER XII.
Continued.

more; he need not now repress the
setter feelings and mortify his flesh
he could be as sentimental as his
heart desired-and he was.
Not that he had forgotten Cam
pion and his affairs altogether; on the
contrary he was anxious to help him
now that he was no longer hamperet
by his Mahatma.
And by frequent study of the mes
sage which had been "precipitated
by means of the Babu, Nebelsen had
arrived at new reading, which sup
piled solution at once more practi.
cable and more equitable than the
first, and put the masters judgment
in better light.
He was so delighted at his own in
genuity that he was determined tc
go to Campion at once and impart his
discovery, but while he was prepar-
ing to do SO there came sharp rap
at his door, and the painter entered.
You com at goot time," said Ne
belsen, cheerfully.
Campion said nothing; he only
only stood and looked. Possibly he
was struck by the change in the mys-
tics appearance, for the ex-Chela had
returned to the garb of ordinary citi-
zens, and had sacrificed his curls
and the greater part of his beard
leaving his ocher-colored hair rather
short and rather spiky He had de.
stroyed his own picturesqueness with
out even attaining the conventionali-
ty such sacrifice deserved.
"Ach,' he said, II forget-you hal
not seen me since / renowned the
Mahatma."
No." said Campion, land wish
to heaven / had never seen you be-
fore! When did / ask you to in.
terfere between Miss Ellsworth and
myself? Read that found it when
! came back to town last night"
He tossed note ON the table be-
fore Nebelsen, who read:
II don't know what object you
may have had in trying to induce me
through Mr.. Nebelsen, to take back
my present, but am sure now that
it was not very creditable one ]
shall not ask you to return the idol
because if you don't want it yourself
I want it even less. If you really
think yourself still bound by what ]
was so foolish as to make you prom
Use, of course you are nothing of the
kind, and are quite at liberty to get
rid of it by all means, as soon as ever
you pleased"
II do not understand" said Ne
belsen, as he laid it down.
1T was more than a mistake when
you took upon yourself to mention
my affairs to Miss Ellsworth. was
going to write to her, but you have
put an end to all that. Now after
this, Nebelsen, I'll trouble you to
leave me to manage my own bust
ness
II say only this; the real advice
that my Mahatma wrote"
Il don't care to know it. / wish
I had never been idiot enough to con
fide in you" said the angry Canpion;
you've done more harm by your
meddling and muddling than that
miserable old idol could if it was
everything you say it is. And I've
had enough of it. l am free to turn
that thing loose as soon as l please
now, and l can do that without any
body's assistance. And in future
perhaps, you'll be kind enough not
to Interfere"
The poor Chela was deeply hurt;
he had meant to serve Campion; he
did not even yet quite understand
how he had offended, so that he could
offer no defense. But, as Campion
concluded, Nebelsen's pride and anger
were kindled at last. He had meant
till then to give the painter the bene-
fit of his latest discovery, but if he
would not be warned, why, after all
1t was no longer any business of his.
Why should he take any further
interest in maintaining the credit OF
theosophy? If the Mahatma allowed
himself to blunder, he might correct
his errors for himself--it was Karma.
So his eyes blazed red like hun
cry dogs as he said, heatedly, you
are ungrateful and pighead. Ger
tainly, do not any more trouble my
self with you. You hat refused to
listen to what dry to say. Very
well, ! shall not again speak. wash
my hand at YOU"
Campion, too, was not dissatisfied
with the result of his visit. He had
freed his mind and disembarrassed
himself of the Inuddle-headed mys.
ticism in which he was ashamed OF
having placed such little confidence az
he had felt.
The next thing to be done was Il
get rid of the idol, as he now fell
himself at liberty to do. He was be
ginning to feel less superstitioui
about it; it's behavior had, so far al
he knew, been most exemplary sine,
he had been away up the Thames
and he had almost argued himself
out of the notion that 1t could possess
any sort of intelligence, but for al
that he was determined not to have
it about him any longer.
1t was apparently on It's best be
hayior, in the hope Of being allowed
to stay; but that could not be; no
again would he expose himself to /;
demoralizing dread. Harmless or pc
tent, the thing must go, and this timt
no one should have chance of assist
ing it to find him again!
E He had meant to wait till nightfal
before carrying out his plan, but aftel
painting all the morning, he felt 81
giddy and confused that he deter
mined to get the deed done whila h.