The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-09-23
A DREAM AND A SLEEP.

A DREAM AND A SLEEP.
had just completed my twenty-ff
year when l first set foot in London. 1
had come up partly to see the place, and
partly to see a relative whom we expected
to arrive from India any day of the week.
As you know, Mark, 1 have always been
a quiet, curious, dull fellow, taking little
interest in the ordinary amusements pro-
vided for the general public, and having
no appreciation for what is called fun.
So that instead of seeking a theater, or
some other brilliant place of entertain
ment, put on an overcoat, hta cigar, and
walked out about 9 O'Clock.
There was a dense fog, and the air was
damp and mwholesome. I happened to
be staying at a hotel so situated that by
the map 1 took all my bearings with re-
lation to Holborn. The gas lamps on
the opposite side of the street were to
be seen like balls of tow illuminated by
a dull glow. They were visible, but
gave no light. I was in a large and very
busy street. Cabs and carts and omni-
buses passed in an unbroken current. I
became q little depressed and confound-
ed, and meeting a quiet-looking street
which seemed to lead into some silent,
lakelike square, 1 turned down, and ex-
perienced the most inexpressible relief
from the muffied muteness around.
Isuppose l must have gone about a
hundred and fifty yards in a straight line
before 1 discovered there was no way of
exit at the end. 1 crossed, and began
walking back toward the head of the
street. Before 1 got half way I reached
a turning to the left, and for a moment
stood irresolute as to which course l
should take.
AS 1 was celebrating, I heard footsteps
approaching rapidly. The tread was
that of a man running quickly. 1 drew
a little out of the way to let him pass;
but, as he went to the same side, he ran
against mi rather forcibly, and, tripping
over a raised stone in the kennel, fell
heavily to the ground. helped him to
rise. He was not hurt; and when he
and 1 had exchanged apologies he turned
slowly down the street to the left, and
walked with bent head and deliberate
step.
The two questions which arose to me
were, who was he and what had occa-
stoned his haste? His manner and
speech were those of a gentleman; and,
as far as L could see, there was nothing
In his dress o. appearance inconsistent
with the presumption that he was one.
What could make a man of his class
rush down aby-street at such pace, and
then suddenly, upon receiving a mo-
mentary check, subside into a shamble ?
Had he committed some crime, and
were the ministers of justice upon his
track?
I listened, half expecting to hear the
the street, and from beyond the street
the sound or traffic came feebly and
duly, like the muttering of water in a
distant cave.
Mechanically I turned into the narrow
street the man had entered. 1 could not
relieve my mind of him. He chung to
me like the vapor. But what was it that
seemed SO strange about him. All of
us have experienced the phenomenon of
remembering, or recalling, or reimpos-
ing on the mind persons and objects of
which, at the time they were displayed
to us, we took no sensible mental impress
sion. So it was now with me in this
case. 1 began realizing his face; al
though at the time we stood opposite to
one another I had no image of which ]
was conscious in my mind. Now the
face was beginning 10 float up out of the
gloom, and to trouble me.
At first 1 could make out in the cham
bers of my perplexed mind no more OF
that face than a general expression OF
strange excitement wrestling with some
thing else. Whence came that excite
ment2 and what was that something
else? 1 have always taken a great de,
light in trying to read the heart through
the face. This mans manner puzzled
me considerably, and when I first felt
the recollection of his face dawning upon
me I said to myself, Now I shall know
all. But it never came before me dis
tinctly. I was distracted by it, without
being able to seize a firm hold of it, OF
of any leading idea in connection with
it, beyond the general expression of ex-
element constrained or influenced by
some contending force.
I was very much interested in my
vague speculation, and 1 must have
walked more than a mile before I became
aware of the fact that 1 had been making
turns without recording them. So that
when I awoke to a Ems of my situation
I had lost my way. l received an un.
pleasant shock; for although 1 had nc
fear, the place where l 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 to foot passengers.
Strain my ears as 1 might, 1 could heal
no hum of voices, no sound of wheels,
no bells, no noise of life. A chill fell
upon me. My imagination took fire,
and it seemed to me that l had wandered
beyond the confines of life into some city
which stood up with houses and towers,
but knew no informing football OF the
quick, no gentle ~whisperings of the dead.
I pushed on hurriedly. Suddenly
heard a sound. Click-click-click.
Billiards." 1 thought ioyously, ant
following the direction given by the
sound, L folud q door, pushed It open.
walked through a long narrow passage.
and entered the oom where the game
was going on.
There were five persons in the room
namely. the marker, two players, ant
one man sitting on a sile seat. L SHOULD
have called him a spectator, but that hC
seemed to be fast asleep.
/ sat down direct y opposite him. Hi
head was bent low upon his chest hi
hat WIS crushed down over his eyes hi
arms hung Imply beside him /; hi
appearance was that OF one utterly
overcome, aud L immediately came to thu
conclusion that he had sat too long TO
dinner.
L asked my way OF the marker, ant
finding 1 had not drifted very far from
my anchorage, made up my mind to 81
and watch o game or two.