The Price He Paid — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

A DARK SPOT 9 thrope, my nature was warped to bitterness on that day when, losing my friend, I lost with him all faith in mankind.” | He turned away in great agitation.- Evidently the memory of that long by-gone event still shook the man’s whole being to its depths. “So there is some foundation for those reports which hint ata dark spotin the baron’s past,” re- marked George, thoughtfully. “I have heard rumors and vague allusions, but no one ever ap- peared to have any positive knowledge on the sub- ject. The matter must always have escaped pub- licity, for Raven is only known as the energetic, un- yielding representative of the government.” “Renegades areever the most untiring persecutors of the faith they have abandoned,” said Brunnow, gloomily; “and there was always a dangerous ele- ment at work in Arno Raven, a fierce, consuming, all-mastering ambition. This was his ruling pas- sion, the true mainspring of his actions; and _ this it was which finally brought about his fall. His thoughts were constantly running on power and greatness to be achieved in the future; he longed to govern, to command, cost what it might, and he has obtained his heart’s desire. His career is ab- solutely unexampled. From poverty and obscurity he has risen step by step from one dignity, from one high distinction to another. On becoming the son-in-law of the minister» whose acknowledged favorite he had ever been, he was exalted to the rank of baron, and at this moment he is the well- nigh omnipotent governor of one of the principal provinces of the land. He stands on the lofty pin- nacle whereof he used to dream; but, I, whom he drove into prison and into banishment, who can look back only on aweary course of years full of the most bitter disappointments, and who, standing now on the threshold of old age, have still to wrestle with the material cares of life—I would not exchange my lowly lot for his greatness. He has paid forit a heavy price—the price of his honor.” | The speaker was terribly agitated. He broke off, and turning, strode afew times up and down the ! Eomicbooks (E(0)