The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-12


A nan beiirved that his soul was haunted, In
the ghosts Of hose whoss blood ran h hi vsins eoa
TENDED for possession There were snoaents wh<s
he could almost zee his soul like timid hide eninai
darling here md there in an effort to escape from
those raonstrous fosces They included the founder
LOT the family the merciless warrior that for sefrs
Ito his king had secured the vast hereditary iands tn
warriors grandson that had drunk himself to death
the grandsons wife, married during a debsuck
woman Of uncontrolled impulses that had contributed
so many Of her vicious instincts to her line. Thoss
three celebrated beyond their period. found new
life in this descendant living in time soJreote, %
alien. and yet meeting 50 many opportunities for m
dulgence.
| There were days. when the man was controlled by
the old warrior. Those that had the misfortune 10
get in his way were made to feel like the beasts Of
the field Some Of them were struck down and cursed
and subjected to indignities that drove them into
fury; but they did not dare betray resentment A,
such times the resemblance used to be noted between
the man and the portrait of the old warrior in the
castle hall It used be said that they as like
as two peas"
There were other days when the would
abandon himself to drink. Sometimes he would dis
appear Then he would be found in disreputable
resort, insensibe. They would take him back to the
castle and lock him up. keeping him supplied with
drink till the madness passed When he emerged he
would look worn out and ill., curiously like the weak
figure close to the warriors, the family drunkard
On still other days the man would abandon himself
to sensuaIty. His escapades would be the scandal of
the neighborhood. His eyes would grow smaller and
more cunning. His mouth would sag His gait would
shuttle. Now he would bear striking resemblance
to another portrait the drunkard's wife, whose in
trusion into the family had wrought so many woes,
the creature whose name was q stain in the es-
cutcheon.
Worst of all were those periods, sometimes pro-
longed, when the tyrant the drunkard and the SEN
suast in their struggle for possession would control
the together when he would eagerly yield to all
the vices in his nature till, exhausted and SICK he
would find himself lying on bed, wondering why
he should have been sent into the world and why
he not permitted to end his sufferings in death.
1t was during one of those periods that the man
had his clearest glimpse of his soul among the ghosts
worn out like himself from indulgence. What a
wretched thing, painting after its torments.
"Are you really alive" the whispered
The soul looked worried Then it smiled YEARLY
and answered "Yes there is life in me still"
"Do you know me?" the man asked. "Oh, yes"
"Who am II" "You and are the same" the soul
answered.
"Ahr the man sighed "Arent you. ashamed of
me?" mo" "Why not Il am only sorry"
For long time the man did not speak Then he
said, "You are valiant little soul l wish could
help you"
you are the only one that can help me"
-"ButI am weak" the man pleaded.
IF you will only care for me little, just lit
tie" said the soul Il win drive them all away"
The man was so surprised that he came near sit
ting up For fear of disturbing the soul he remained
motionless. $780,,
'What can little thing like you do against those
monsters With one finger they could crush you"
"They have tried with all their might crush me"
The souls voice was much stronger. But they have
not succeeded yet They will never succeed They
are are only ghosts All they do is to brighten
me and force to yield to the impulses they bound
themselves to generations ago. Oh if YOU would only
care for little, just little Can't you that
/ am starving?" =
'Why are you starving"
Simply because you don't care for me"
Il care for you more than do for those others.
don't care for the others at all. The only feeling
l have for them is hate
But hate only makes my task harder. II weakens
me and it makes those others hate me more and it
makes them try to control The only feeling That
is irresistible is love-
do you want me to love them" the man cried
out, with loathing in his face.
You cannot. There is no such thing as loving
evil There is only loving good"
'.And are you good?" The soul hesitated. 81 am
eternais "Oh! And you say that you and I are
one :. sYes." ....
p And you ask me to love myself"
II ask you to love what is really yourself what is
beautiful in you and noble, what unites you with
God"
"And in this way can / escape from these mon
sters?"
Joyously the soul replied They monsters only
because you make them so. Care for me and see
what will become of all their evil"
"How shall begin, soul?" the man asked hum
bly,.
"You have begun" replied the soul, fading into the
dark.
As the man grew older people noticed change in
him. Those periods of brutality of drunkenness, and
Of debauchery gradually ceased The wealth sent
down to him in those lands secured through and
rapine he devoted to the service of mankind His
face grew finer. His manner was more serene. He
was longer compared with the portraits. He be-
came recognized as man of character and power