The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-30

By Hugh Walpole

dx. GENTS eyss thsf be hsd svsnssen n -
human being
They ut down Wnhraham's ovgvhsknt
ting fsar v.s isst HI guest should law han-
Thsy began 10 talk and wnhraham TOOK
at once - sccsptsd that his fr1snd kns~ -
about hin-svsrythins-
BE found himself easeriy piunging into a.
tails Of scenes. episodes that he had long put
behind him-put behind him for shame pr
haps or for regret or for sorro~. He knew
at once that there was nothing that he ned
vel nor hide-nothing. He had no sense that
he must consider susceptibfities nor svosd
self-confession that was humiiiating.
But he did ind. a. he talked on. a senss a
shame from another sde creep towards him
and begin to enclose him Shame IT tn
smaIlnsR mearnea, smptmess q ths th4nr.
that he declared
He bad had always behind hs u,iseaku
and sins . sense that he was . rather un-
usually interesting person; IL only His fr1ends
knew everything about him they would BE-
surprised at the remarkable man that b.
really was. Now II was exactly the Opposite
sense that came over him In the ron
trimmed mirror that was over His msptsk
piece he saw himself diminishing, diminish
ing. diminishing. First htmseH
large. redfaced, smiling rotund, lying bach
In his chair; then the facs shrivelins. tn
limbs shortening. then the face small end
peaked. the hands and legs little ana mean.
then the chair enormous about an around
the little trembling animal covering aszinst
the cushion
He sprsng up
No. no. can't ten yus any u,crS
and you've known it all 90 long. / en-
mean. small. nothing-I have not even ErSaf
ambition nothing"
His Guest stood up and put Els hand On
his shoulder. They talked. standing side By
side, and He said some things that belonged
to WiIbraham alone. that he would not tsu
me.
wilbraham asked HIM Why BE I'D eons
and 70 him
viii come now TO . few Of my friendzs
he said. First one and then another
Many people have forgotten Ne behind Ny
words They have built up such q mountain
over Ne with the doctrines th<y have NJ
triouted to Ne, the thdnss that they say that
I did I am not really" He said laughing.
His hand on wilbraham's shoulder. 50 duu
and gloomy and melancholy a. they have
made Ne I loved Lhe-I loved men; I
loved laughter and Eamss and ths open dir
things that they have forgotten So from
now I shau come back to one Or two
/ an lonely when they see Ne 80 solemnly..
Another thing he aid They are making
life complicated now. To lead q good life
TO be happy. 10 manage the world only tn
ness, Tolerance.
Can I 90 with you and be with yos -
waysf- wnbraham asked
DO you really want thst?- BE sid
Yes" said wllbraham. bowling hin hesA
Then you shall come and never leave
Ne again. In three days from now
Then He kissed wubraham On the fors
head and went away.
I think that wEbraham himself became
conscious as he told me this part Of bis story
nembereJ Figure and the foolish. inadequate
reported words Even now a. Irepeai q M
tie Of what wiIbraham said I fssl ths v1rt1s
and power slipping away.
And so II goes oni As the Figure rsredes
the words become colder and colder and tn
less OF power. But ON that day vbsa I ~
beside wiIbrsharn's bed the conviction IN hd
voice and eyes held me 20 that althoush my
reason kept me back my heart snil - thaa
he had been In contact with some pover
that was a stronger forcs than anything that
/ myself had ever known.
But have determined To mai. no p>rsuuHl
comment on this story. I am hsrs am1i0
Is q narrator Of tact ;.
wiIbrahara told me that ofulr hin v,sfe9
left him he sat thers for soma tsms IN
dream. Then he sat I'D. startled. - though
some voice. calling. had Weakened him, WIN
an impulse That was snks q ore suddsuly
blazing mp and lighting the d.rk pancs q
his brain imagine that an wllbr.hamt
impulses in the past ehfvsirsc. ideansesc,
foolish had been Of that kine-suddsn, a N
almost fsrocsous snsrgy and determination.
blind to al eonssqusnoss. He must 70 o.
At once and tell svsry one Of what hid hap
pensd to him
j once read q story somewhrs sbsut su~
town that was expecting q great v.<eur