Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

760 A MONTH IN THE MOON. sun. That is the minimum of time necessary for the preparations, which can only be made in daylight.’’ Amid these labors the prisoners were not forgotten. Norbert made a point of being extra kind to them, to make up for their sufferings from the severe cold. He had charged Vigil to see that they had their share of the heat derived from the hot stones, and additional clothing was given them. Every time Kaddour witnessed’ these indulgences he was seized with a fresh access of rage that found vent (do what he would to suppress it, out of regard for Norbert) in savage howls and convulsive contortions and grimaces, Once more Norbert tried to reason him out of his petty rancor. ‘‘I have already told you,’’ he would say, “‘ that I will not encourage your feelings of revenge. Ido not wish to hear any more on the subject. Why can’t you give up this violence? It is so unworthy of your education. Forget it, do, my dear Kaddour, for your own sake and for ours !”’ ‘Forget it, indeed!’’ replied the dwarf, with inexpressible bitterness. ‘Let him forget who has not suffered as I have! But as for me, poor despised vagabond, treated everywhere with contumely, the deformed mon- ster at whose appearance women and little children shudder—how can you expect me to forget? If you could only have one day’s experience of my lot during thirty long years, you would then understand my hatred of these wretches ! ”’ ~ Kaddour,’’ answered Norbert, putting his hand affectionately on the poor dwarf’s shoulder, ‘‘ Kaddour, you will never convince me that you are justified in giving way to your anger. IJ know you were very cruelly treated by these fellows; but try to be superior to them ; show them that they have not been able to degrade your heart ! Forgive them! Rise above the sad- ness of your lot! I know it is hard, but let me have the happiness of seeing you conquer yourself !”’ The dwarf looked at him wildly. “You ask too much!’ he cried in a hoarse voice. ‘I know you ‘are right, but Ican’t; I can’t doit! I aman accursed being who is out of place among respectable men! Leave me to act in accordance with the character they imprinted upon me !’’ He wept copiously as he spoke, and hid his face in his hands with a wild gesture of despair. Norbert saw that he had had some effect upon him, and went on. to add : ‘‘ Listen, I shall try an experiment. Your hatred is fed chiefly by memory. To accustom you to see your enemies without emotion, I shall permit you to ‘accompany Virgil to the prison, trusting that you will abstain from insulting defenseless men.”’ ‘ From that day forward the dwarf became calmer outwardly. Twice a day he went to the prison with Virgil, and slaked his vengeance by looking at the captives doing their enforced work. ‘This seemed to suffice, for he ceased to talk about them. The interminable night dragged its weary way along, each hour growing Eomichbooks (G(0)