The Price He Paid — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

S A DARK SPOT. sudden vehemence; “and, truly, not without good grounds.” The young man looked at him in silence, then, after a pause of a second, he laid his hand on his arm. “Dr. Brunnow, forgive me if I ask you a question which may, perhaps, seem indiscreet. What is this matter between you and my chief? Whenever his name is mentioned, you betray an amount of bit- terness which cannot possibly have its origin~ in mere political opposition. You seem to know him intimately.” Brunnow’s lips twitched: © “We were friends once,” he answered, in a low voice; “young men together.” : “Impossible!” exclaimed George. “You and——” “His Excellency Baron Arno von Raven, Governor of the Province of R——, and closest friend and confidant of our present rulers,” completed the doctor, laying a sharp, scornful emphasis on each word. “That surprises you, does it not?” ; “Certainly. I had no notion of any such ac- quaintance between you.” “How should you? It dates almost half a genera- tion back. In those days he was only plain Arno Raven, and as poor and unknown as myself. We learned to know each other in stormy, troubled times, meeting in the ranks of the party to which we both belonged. Raven with his splendid talents and restless energy soon worked to the front, and became leader of us all. We followed him with blind confidence—I more especially, for I loved him as | have loved no human being since, not even my wife or chiid. All the enthusiasm of my youth was lavished on him. He was my hero, to whom I looked up with ardent admiration—my ideal, my pride—until the day when he betrayed and deserted us all, when he sacrificed honor to ambition, and sold himself body and soul to our enemies, giving us up at the same time to perdition. They call me ‘misanthropic,’ those wise fulk who have never had their illusions rudely dispelled—who have never met despair face to face. If indeed I. am a misan- GEomichboo gs) (EO)