But the real cause of the brilliant, strange man's persecution was the
jealousy of the dean of the philosophical department of the former's
real ability.
* * * * *
"We must do more for this man than we have ... he is a genius ... he has
not enough money to return to Europe on....
"He has written a curious, mad play called _Iistral_ ... one dealing
with psychic phenomena, which we ought to put on....
"That way we'll net him three or four hundred dollars."
It was Dineen who spoke.
We chanced to be walking up the Hill together.
* * * * *
The school cheer-leader was tall and statuesque, and his voice was deep
and resonant ... but, though pleased with his stature and his vocal
qualifications, Van Maarden decided on me to play the lead in his
abnormal play.... I did not possess as fine a voice, but I knew the
mystics almost as well as he did.... I believed in spiritism, and would
be accordantly sympathetic with the author's ideas....
* * * * *
The rehearsal of the play progressed. Van Maarden, receiving' from
Dineen's own personal bank-account a substantial advance on the expected
receipts from the two performances, returned East, and sailed away for
Holland.
But an intimate friend of Penton Baxter's, before he left, he related to
me many fine things about the latter, and spoke in special admiration of
his wife, Hildreth.
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