Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-16

pipe here has been the friend of my soli-
tude these many years, and | cannot bear
to turn my back upon II yet so ! carry
IL with me still, and sometimes, when at
all thoughtful. l find 1t between my lips.
But though the flesh, as you see, is very
weak, I hope. in time, to forego even
this" and he sighed, shaking his head
in gentle depreciation of himself. But
you look pale-haggard." he went on;
you are i'll, young sir!'
mo, no." said /, springing to my feet;
Took at this arm, is IL the arm of a
sick man? No, mol am well enough, but
what OF him we found in the ditch, you
and 1.-The miserable creature who lay
brbbling In the grass?"
"He has been very near death. sir-in-
deed his days are numbered. think. yet
he Is better, for the time being, and last
night declared his intention of leaving
the shelter of my humble roof and set
ting forth upon his mission"
His mission, sir?'
"He speaks of himself as one chosen
by God TO work His will. and asks but
to live until this mission, whatever II is,
be accomplished A strange being!" said
the little Preacher, putting at his empty
pipe again as we walked on side by
side, "a dark, incomprehensible man.
end a very, very wretched one-poor
soulv'
''Wretched?" said I. "is not that our
human lot? Man Is born 10 sorrow as
the sparks fly upward and Job was ac-
counted wise In his generation"
THAT was a cry from the depths OF
despond; but Job stood. at last upon
the heights, and felt once more Gods
blessed sun, and rejoiced-even as he
should But as regards this stranger.
he is one who would seem 20 have suf-
fered some great wrong. the continued
thought ~ which has unhinged HIS mind
his heart seems broken-dead. I have.
sitting beside his delirious couch. heard
him babble a terrible indictment against
some man; I have also heard him pray.
and his prayers have been all for ven
geance"
Poor fellow" said I, sit were better
we had left him 10 die in his ditch. for
n death does not bring oblivion, II may
bring change OF scene"
'.sir." said the preacher, laying his
hand upon my arm, such bitterness in
one so young 10 unnatural; you are In
some trouble. would that i might aid
you be your friend-know you better
"oh, slrl that IL easily done. I am a
blacksmith, hard-working, sober and use
ful 20 my fellows; they call me Peter
Smith. A certain time since l was a use
less dreamer; spending more money in
a week than now earn IN 4 year. and
egotistical and pedantic, wasting my time
upon impossible translations that nobody
wanted-and they knew me as-Peter VI
bart"
"yibartl" exclaimed the preacher. start
Ing and looking up at me.
"Vibart" I nodded.
Related In any way to-sir Maurice
Vibartf"
His cousin. SIR" My companion ap-
peared lost IN thought. for he was puff
hDg al his empty pipe again
mo" returned the preacher; mo, sir,
but I have heard mention OF him, and
lately, though just when, or where. /
cannot for the life OF me recall"
why, the name IL familiar 10 a great
many people" said l; you see, he Il
rather a famous character IN his way. .
And you are now = blacksmith"
And nightly content 20 10 be -
You arc a most strange young manp'
Faid the preacher, shaking his head.
MANY people have told me the same.
SIR" said !. ana yaulted over the stlle'
fet, turning hack when ! had gone some
way, | paw him leaning where i had isft
him. and With ne pipe still Ia his mouth.
CONTINUED MoNDAY)