The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-25


had no fear, the place where l found
myself was gloomy and forRiddipg in the
lextreme.
\ "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 / might, l could hear
no hum of voices. no sound Of wheels,
no bells, no noise of life. A chill fell
upon me. Ny imagination took fire, and
it seemed to me that / had wandered be-
yond the confines of life into some city
which stood up with houses and towers,
but knew no informing football of the
quick, no gentle whispering of the dead.
| II pushed on hurriedly. Suddenly
heard sound. ick-click-click.
/ 'BilIiardsp 1 thought joyously, and fol-
flowing the direction given by the sound,
found a door, pushed IT open, walked
Through long, narrow passage, and en-
tered the room where the game was go
ling on.
i "There were five persons in the room,
namely, the marker, two players, and
one man sitting on side seat. should
have called him spectator, but that ne
Iseemed to be last asleep.
81 sat down directly opposite him. His
head was bent low upon his chest; his
hat was crushed down over his eyes;
his arms hung Imply beside him; his ap-
Ipearance was that of one utterly over
come, and Immediately came to the
conclusion that he had sat too long, af-
ter dinner.
81 asked my way of the marker, and
finding.I had not drifted very far from
my anchorage, made up my MIND to-slt
aud watch game or two.
II 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 of his cue and
reused him. 1t is impossible to ex-
press my astonishment when once more
/ saw the face but dimly remembered;
the face of him who had fallen in the
narrow street some hours before.
81 was more than surprised-I 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 unaccounta-
| BILE manner2 Was fate busy between
| him and mep / felt uncomfortable.
| When his eye fell upon me there was no
CLEAN of recognition. He did not re-
mem Der that we had met before.
s.He did not materially alter his posi-
ton. He sat limp and spiritless, as one
/ completely crushed. Now saw plainly
I
fuence at work in him. Now l discov-
cred the second element in the conten-
ton: it was extreme physical fatigue.
could still see the hunger for action in
his eve; he watched the swiftly travelling
balls as though he envied them; but his
heavy limbs lay abroad, as though there
| were no power left to rally them. How
was this condition to be accounted for ?
! Poverty could have nothing to do with
lit. He wore one ring which must have
cost more than many families have to
spend in year. His dress was a little
tossed and soiled, but of the most fash
lionable cut and materials.
.'Something far deeper than my curios-
ity was now aroused, and for the life OF
me could not keep my eyes of him.
cat length the balls ceased to play; (;
the players took their leave; the lights
were turned down; the marker ap-
preached the weary man, and asked him
If he wished to play. NO. in a trem-
i ulous voice, out of which all the volume
and spirit had departed. AS he uttered
the word he rose heavily, came with a
slow pace round the table, and entered
the long passage. followed. AS he
reached the outer door entered the long
passage. He stood moment looking oul
into the fog, and then / heard him NUT.
ter, The day will never come. IAllgo tc
the river.'
0sTo the riverl To the river, with
those weary limbs and that passion oi
restlessness eating his reason awayl 1t
can mean only one thing. To the river,
liz you like, but not alone. Tli follow.
With these thoughts, hastened alter
: him. "eN
"There was no great necessity for eau
ton. The fog and his intense preoccu
: patton made it unnecessary for me t.
: take unusual care. l kept close to him
and followed him through an intricate
network of narrow lanes. AT length VIZ
came into broader street, and / as
: sumed, from the dip in the ground, and
, a certain sensation OF coldness and
yagueness ahead, that we had entered
the approaches to q bridge. He walkeC
rapidly, and was about ten PAGES be
hind. Presently the ground ceased t,
fall. 1t became level. / missed tn,
: houses, and, looking more closely, mad
! out low parapet.
/, "Still he hurried on. drew near t,
him. There was no knowing the momen
he would place his hands on that loy
4 parapet and vault iuto the obscurel
0 waters beneath. The perspiration stoot
9 out on my forehead. was on the poin
Q lof rushing forward and seizing him
. when he drew up suddenly and placet
! his hand on the parapet. There was nov
no doubt of his intention. leaped for
g ward and tapped him smartly on tn
!. shoulder.
"He turned round and confronted me
. We were standing under gas-lamI
: The light was feeble, but quite enoug
= Ito let me see the expression OF his tact
= There was no anger or annoyance in hi
:, leyes. He stared at me in a half wild
2 half dull way, and did not seem to as
. or care why ] had touched him. Some
q thing in his aspect put me out or concei
q with my suicidal theory for him. di
y not say the words had arranged. Iii
a Iappearance forbade me.
y ".I am stranger in London. / ar
Z rived here only this evening. Pardo
4, me, but / have lost my way. Would yol
q be good enough to set me rightT
"He continued to look at me In th
same dull, unspeculatiye manner. IL
4 completely disregarded my question
1--we have met tonight before. Did yol
= follow me from where 1 fell to the bill
n liard-room p he asked in a low, worn on
n voice.
- II was thunderstricken. He had nc
. only seen me at the time OF the acciden
= but had recognized me in the billiard
!. room. 1 lost my selfpossession con
n n -