The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-17


else? | have ALWAYS taken a great de-
ligh, in trying to read the heart through
the face. This mans manner puzzled
me considerably, and when | first
felt the recollection Of his face dawning
upon me, said 10 myself. Now | shalt
know all But il never came before me
distinctly. | was distracted with IL.
without being able To seize a firm hold
of il. or Of any leading idea in connec-
ton with il. beyond the general express
sion Of excitement constrained or inilu-
enccd 10y some contending force.
| was very much interested in my
vague speculation, and | must have
walked more than mile before be-
came aware Of the fact that | had been
taking turns without recording them.
80 that when awokc 10 a sense of my
situation had lost my way. received
an unpleasant shock; for although |
had no fear, the place where found
myself was gloomy and forbidding in
the extreme.
Overhead hung huge warehouses.
whose upper stories were lost in the fog
and night The lane was narrow. and
practicable only 10 foot passengers.
/ Strain my ears as | might. could hear
no rum of voices. no sound of wheels.
no bells. no noise of life. A chill fell
upon me. My Imagination took fire,
and il seemed 10 me that had wander
ed beyond the confines of life into some
city, which stood mp with houses and
towers, hut knew no informing football
of the quick. no gentle whisperings Of
the dead.
pushed on hurriedly. Suddenly |
heard sound Click click-click.
= Billiards." | thought joyously. and
following the direction given by the
sound. found door, pushed it open,
walked through a long narrow passage,
and entered the room where the game
was going on.
There were FIVE persons in the room.
namely. the marker, two PLAYERS, and
one man sitting on a side seat | should
have called him spectator, but that
he seemed half asleep
| sat down directly opposite him. Ills !
head was bent low upon his chest; his I
hat was crushed down over his eyes
his arms hung Imply beside him; his /.
appearance was that Of one utterly over
come. and Immediately came to the I
conclusion that he had sat too long az /
ter dinner.
| asked my way of the marker. and I
finding had not drifted very far from
my anchorage, made up my mind To sit /
and watch game or two.
think must have been upwards of \
an hour in the billiard-room. when one +
of the players accidentally touched the \
sleeper with the butt-end If his cue and I
reused him. IL j. impossible TO express
my establishment when once more saw
the face but dimly remembered the
faceof him who had fallen in the narrow
street some hours before.
| was more than Surprised was
shocked. How did it come we two
should meet again that same night?
How did it come that this man. whose
very appearance had troubled me.
should turn up once more in this unac-
countable manner? Was fate busy be-
tween him and me? felt uncomforta-
bic. When his eve fell upon me there
was no CLEAN Of recognition. He did
not remember we had met before.
He did not materially alter his posi-
ton. lie sat limp and spiritless, As one
completely crushed. Now | saw plain
IL that there was no artificial lcthargic
influence at work ia him. Now | dis
covered the second element in the con-
tention; il was extremely physical
fatigue. | could still see the hunger for
action in his eye; he watched the swift
" travelling balls rs though he enyied
them; but his heavy limbs lay abroad,
"a fhnnprh fhafsa Les Z
rally them. How was this condition to
be accounted for? Poverty could have
nothing to do with it. He wore one
ring which must have cost more than
many families have to spend in a whole
year. His dress was a little tossed and
soiled, but Of the most fashionable cut
and materials.
Something far deeper than my curios-
ity was now reused, and for the life of
me ! could not keep my eyes off him.
At length the balls ceased to roll the
players took their leave; the lights were
turned down the marker approached
the weary man and asked if he wished
to play. no. in tremuluus voice,
out of which all the volume and spirit
had departed. As he uttered the word
he rose heavily, came with slow pace
round the table, and entered the long
passage. | followed As he reached
the outer door entered the passage.
He stood for moment looking out into
the fog, and then | heard him mutter,
"The Jay will never come. Ill 90 to
the river"
"To the riverl To the river, with
those weary limbs and that passion Of
restlessness eating his reason away IL
can mean only one thing. To the river,
if you like, but not alone. Ill follow"
With these thoughts, fastened after
him.
,rhnrn rras M crr-naf nnnnssifv for can.