The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-03
IM EVENING s701Y

Advice to Alpheus.
(By Barry Preston.)
| No one should know better than
Alpheus Mudgett how I dislike to have
my evenings disturbed: therefore was
sure it must be something Of tremen-
dous importance when his card was
brought up to the study that night.
| Show him up" said to the maid
after moments deliberation, and
presently Alpheus. long face. thin
all. came in.
MY dear fellow" said Alpheus.
nothing in the world would have in
duced me to interrupt you. save that
am In trouble very distressing thing
has happened"
''Well?'' said again.
IL have fallen in love-" said AL
pheus.
rs that all?'' said I.
quite enough, isn't it7'' said he. 81
hundred q year I get down at the
museum is-well, 1t would be dreadfully
Inadequate"
who is she?" I ..sked.
Miss Carlin. the curator's secretary
| at the museum"
interpreted that glare as something re-
| Quiring defense of the lady on his part
"She's wonderful-wonderfu said
he. Il really couldn't help 1t. She's"
His eyes were glowing. cut him
short with 4 wave Of my hand.
! Yes. yes" said I CURLY. II know.
They're all like that-at your stage Of
Ithe-er-disease. Does she know your
feelings for her? trust you haven't
l been indiscreet enough"
! Pm afraid have" said he. Moth
ing definite or final. you understand;
still. unmistakable, as one might say"
You can't think Of it," said natly.
Ten hundred isn't enough" said he.
| Not only that" said L. There are
other considerations. For the next few
no right to hamper yourself and your
abilities. Why, my dear boy. you have
the makings in you of one of the great
est entomologists Of the age-the en-
thusiasm. the unerring eye. the fine
| Judgment. You will go far-if you stay
| free and unhampered."
1 / expected Alpheus to enthuse ana
| beam upon me. Instead thought he
looked at the moment decidedly I'M
"What'n dor" he asked blankly.
You must forget her." said I. You
must go away and forget her. Look;
| 1 know Moseley. the curator of the
Corliss Museum Of Natural History In
the west. I'll give you note to him.
Go out there and see him. He can
surely give you something in their en-
tomological department. Then forget
her. OF course you probably won't, get
/; even ten hundred out there; more
| probably about seven or eight. But
to get to the Congo country and study
| those red moths have spoken to you
| about. Authentic accounts OF them will
| be the making of you. 1t will take q
little longer on the salary you'll get out
there. but the sacrifice is worth It If
1 4 Vyen
you advise me to. then?" he said.
| ."I surely do" SAID l. why, look
| at me, my boy. Once. when was your
age, I went through the same expert
ence. fell head over heels in love with
| the most wonderful blonde-or maybe
she was a brunette-well, anyway. that
| is immaterial now. Suffice 1t to say.
| looked the thing sQuarely in the face.
| / had a chance in life that l should
| have to give up If I got married. My
boy, do you doubt the wisdom Of my
decision in sticking to my career? II
! had faltered. the world would not
/ have known Of those strange beetles
| OF the upper Amazon. nor of the iri-
descent butterflies OF lower Burma,
| nor"
..That's so.'' said Alpheus.
| He sat silent for q time. said
nothing. knew he was debating with
himself. and since the question at issue
was q purely personal one I held my
peace. stiil. did say once:
| Remember. my boy. with your pc
culiar gifts you owe a great deal to the
world"
think that must have decided him.
for presently he said:
/ "Give me that letter to M0s~ley"
I 1 wrote It, describing Alpheue ana
his genius in glowing terms. and ask
ing Moseiey to do the best he could
| for him. Then Alpheus left and
went back to my work. He did not
come to see mo again before he left
next evening for the west.
I didn't see nor hear from him for
six months I was shaving away In the
: study another evening when mis- card
was brought up.
Alpheus was radiant. Also he had
grown fat; also he had discarded the
disfigurin9 spectacles; also his clothes
were pressed, and there was . hearty
air of joviality and well-being about
him.
wrung his hand. lit looks to me - II
to Moseley."
1, the wisest In the world" cad he.
/ And the work ?''
! Most interesting and satisfying"
i Even more 30. Moseley got me a
chance ut eighteen hundred year
the first year: I 90 up to two thou
sand next year"
my boy, I congratulate ron with
all my heart. Two thousand next year,
eh7''
It made me gasp. I get but SIX
teen hundred at the university. and
that after all my years Of research.
! and. may perhaps say without un-
duo lack Of modesty, my not incon-
..Moseley's q great fellow" said
AlpheuA
Isn't hep said I. II knew he'd
do something for you"
HE did more, I think. than either
| Of us thought" said AlpheuAL
Nov" said I. before We 90 any