Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-27
CHAPTER xvIII-Continued.

CHAPTER XV11l-Cont1nued.
I read the letter with mingled emotions.
Alicia did not yet know the world as
believed myself to know it, and ] felt
that she could do nothing. even had
been cowardly and selfish enough to let
her make the trial.
My mind went back from Alicia's letter
to the message of Elias. Its words were
few and simple, but l could not get rid
of them; they were continually before
me and their import was heavy. The
rapt mountaineer was yet a seer and
prophet to me, and all the attacks upon
me did not have as much weight his
simple words.
!, 1t was the effect of my position to make
me seek solitude. l wished to be alone;
the faces of people annoyed me; and al
though I strove to overcome this desire
l could not always do SO. l do not think
that the recluse is a happy man nor that
it is desirable on any account to be Sc
Guided; but the wish to shun observation
was at times exceeding strong, and l fear
that by it l incurred deserved wrath more
than once. On self-examination I attrib-
uted this feeling in myself to cowardice.
l hesitated to face critical or censoriouS
looks, and the inference was not pleasing
to my pride The conclusion was con-
firmed by a talk that l had with Judge
Wharton, whom / met as / Strolled in a
solitary path by the side Of the river.
l had not been to his house in some
time, and l had taken care to avoid him
as / walked about the city. But on the
river path we came suddenly face to face
and there was no chance to evade him.
He stopped at once and held out his
hand.
I've not seen you In such while, Mr.
Clarke he said in hurt tone, that /
had begun to fear | had given you Of
Tense. though unwilling on my part
If there were any offense,' l said, lit
is l who would give it to you, though it
would be unwilling on my part, too
There is no man whose friendship 1 value
more highly.
Come let's walk on together" he said
and he changed his course to mine. Hav-
ing met him l was glad now that he had
chosen to go with me. Despite my avoid
ance of him 1 had missed his mental
strength and the help of his keen, clear
vision. Neither of us spoke for some
time. BY the side of us, almost at our
feet, flowed a deep river. its surface
flashing now in blue and green, then in
gold and silver. in the intense sunlight
Over us lowered the cliffs, the rocks often
hidden by the trees and bushes that chung
to the steep face.
Mr. Clarke. said the judge, at last,
you are troubled by these attacks: it is
natural that you should be. Speaking as
an old politician, they seem to me TO have
a concerted origin. You are young. and
you have risen rapidly. You have made
enemies and they are working against
YOU
II think you are right in all that you
say / replied. land / will admit to you
| that these attacks have hurt me very
deeply
Then why not reply to Them" he said,
earnestly. Let me repeat the suggestion
that | made TO you some time ago. Don't
be offended. I'm an old man, and I'm a
good friend of yours.
l was far from being offended and
knew. moreover that the advice he gave
me was good only wished that he knew
| could not take it, and | wished somehow
! that he knew. too. why | could not take it.
1T seemed to me-" L replied that l
| said enough in the campaign, when | told
them what / had been.
Il know. | know: it was only general
charge they made then: but now they are
| explicit and they specify a certain period.
| I'd answer them at once and smut their
mouths forever.
| | did not reply just then. but / repeated
over and over to myself the phrase, shut
their mouths forever. How l would
like to "shut their mouths forever; but
! look and think as / would, l could see
or think of only one way, and that was
out of the question. Yes. out of the ques-
ton. could not tell the world the truth;
| it would ruin me, it might drag Alicia
down with me and it would serve the
! good purpose of nobody. The way
was uuixotic. foolish to the last degree.
and | shut my teeth down upon each
other with hard resolve. The good judge
saw my face and he msread it.
Il don't wonder that you're angry with
| them he said with sympathy. Its a
| misfortune of our politics that too many
| of us descend to low and vulgar attacks.
| We are too ready to believe evil about
| public men. but sometimes these things
must he met
| His tone was quietly paterna and /
| said nothing to correct him in his error,
while he seemed to feel that he had given
sufficient hint and turned the conversa-
| ton. We walked together for two or
] three miles and then turned. coming back
| AT the same slow gait toward the town.
| AS we reached the first fringe of houses
| he said:
| You'll dine with us this evnins. won't
you, governor? Come, we've missed you,