The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-03

most of the sweethearts. inttitiveW, all ch'f
dren and all dogs Much as we may pity theit
folly their very delusion is a jewel. much as We
may on their account the more berate the object
Of their affection. there lasts the wonderland
the doubt concerning one who can inspire 1t.
Old DR. Cook" has fully earned the contempt
in which he Is held by the world he betrayed
and usulted. For all the profits of his false pre-
tense he must pay in full measure of universal
opprobrium That he realizes this fact could
not be better shown than by the way In which he
gives up the fight. pleading for a mercy he does
not deserve. Overwhelmed with the eireum-
stantial evidence of his crime. he is as man con-
demned who sells the one thing remaining to
him OF value.-the confession which the facts
neeessltate. Distinguished for the magnitude
Of his fraud this world-faker goes about peddling
his shame.
but there is one bright spot in this unrelieved
disgrace and prostitution of human character.
Old Captain d s Osbon remains true to the man
despised of the world Not even when he says
it. Will his friend believe the words. To him
confessions, even, are lies when they involve the
destruction of the figure which his love has
erected. Even while his Confession was In the
hands of the printer, Cook wrote this old friend
reeasserting the business of his claim and again
repeating the allegation OF his martyrdom Pre-
pared to take the world unreservedly into the
confidence of his infan1y. he seems to have eung
, TO hissfrend until the last possible moment And
when the story--Coek's own story--was out;
when Cook had formally pleaded guilty to the
ind 'etment which he had so strenuousy de.
MED. this old man his chief benefactor, the one
Of all others whom he had most completey de-
cefved and compromised. refused to believe it!
Set his lips in straight line and re-asserted
his faith Stared AT the damning facts without
winking an eye-lash and told truth to go and
reform itself
He saved my wife when she dying, Cook
did" said the old man, and III stick to him TIL
he tells me with his lips that he is a faker,"
II is pleasing to know that Cook still has
friend; that as a physician he was capable a,
least of that sort of professional passion simu
lating sacrifice which even the ordinary physi
clan possesses In moments of stress In the battle
of lite with death that somewhere in nature
, in which perverted ambition sought to impose
its claims by deceit. there beats heart al
moments warm enough 10 win the lasting graft
tude OF q straight, bluff person such Captain
Osbon Whose has gone into the valley with tht
Doctor knows that there are emotions which ar,
above and beyond the ordinary rules of tude
nent OF analysis Whoever has in the loni
hours watched the silent struggle of the sicl
chamber. and seen the physicians eyes hlazini
from his drawn face with 4 never-conqueret
hope know without other explanation tn,
reason OF this old mans simple and unquestiol
ing faith That there should survive such v.
victory to a man like Cook is but another II
J lustration Of the curious composition OF the
human soul. What pity that man having i
) within him in a human relationship 70 act in ;
manner to inspire so fine creduliy should hav,
thrown away the simple jewel of honesty an.
kind1iness for the imitation gold and the falls
fire OF a lust for notoriety,