The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-09-17


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.
pushed on hurriedly. Suddenly L
heard a sound. Click-click-click.
Billiards." / thought joyously, and
following the direction given by the
sound, found door, pushed it open,
walked through 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 side seat. L should
have called him spectator, but that he
seemed to be fast asleep.
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
appearance was that of one utterly
overcome, and Immediately came to the
conclusion that he had sat too long for
dinner.
/ asked my way of the marker, and
finding l had not drifted very far from
my anchorage, made up my mind to sit
and watch game or two.
/ think / must have been upward OF
an hour III 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 express
my establishment when once l saw the
face / but dimly remembered the face
of 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 III this unac-
countable manner! Was fate busy
between him and me / felt I'M
comfortable. When his eye fell upon
me there was no CLEAN of recognition.
He did not remember we had met be-
fore.
He did not materially alter his posi-
ton. He sat limp and spiritless, as one
completely crushed. Now L saw plainly
that there was no artificial lethargic in
fuence at work in him. Now discov-
cred the second element in the conten-
ton; it was extremely physical fatigue
l could still see the hunger for action i'll
his eye he watched the swiftly travel
ing 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
for2 Poverty could have nothing to do
with it. He wore one ring which must
have cost more than many families
have to spend III whole year. His
dress was little tossed and soiled,
but of the most fashionable cut and
materials.
Something far deeper than my curiosi-
ty was now reused, and for the life of me
L 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 tremulous voice, out
of which all the volume and spirit had
departed AS he uttered the word he
rose heavily, came with a slow pace
passage. / followed. AS he reached
the outer door 1 entered the passage.
He stood for a moment looking into the
fog, and then / heard him mutter, "The
day will never come. I'll go to the
river"
"To the river. To the river, with
those weary limbs and that passion of
restlessness eating his reason away! 1t
can mean only one thing. To the river,
if you like, but not alone. I'll follow. "
With these thoughts, l FASTENED after
him.
There was no great necessity for eau
ton. The fog and his intense preoccu-
patton made it unnecessary for me to
take unusual care. kept close to him,
and followed him through an intricate
network OF narrow lanes. At length we
came into a broader street, and L as
sumed, from the dip in the ground, and
certain sensation OF vagueness and
GOODNESS ahead, that we had entered the
approach to bridge. He walked rap
idly away, and l was about ten PAGES be-
hind. Presently the ground ceased to
fall. 1t became level. i missed the
houses, and, looking more closely, made
out q low parapet
Still he hurried on. / drew nearer to
him. There was no knowing the mo-
ment he would place his hand on that
low parapet and vault into the obscllred
waters beneath. The perspiration stood
out on my forehead. / was on the point
of rushing forward and Selling him,
when he drew up suddenly, and placed
his hand on the parapet. There was
now no doubt of his intention. leaped
forward and tapped him smartly on the
shoulder.
He turned round and confronted me.
We were standing under gas-lamp.
The light was feeble, but quite enough
to let me see the expression of his face.
There was no anger or annoyance in his
eyes. He stared at me in a half-wild,
half-dull way, and did not seem to ask
or care why L had touched him.
Something in his aspect put me
out of conceit with my suicidal
theory for him. 1 did not say the words
l had arranged. His appearance for
babe me.
81 am stranger in London. / ar
rived here only this evening. Pardon
me, but 1 have lost my way. Would
you be good enough to set me right 2"
He continued IN look ar mo ~, 4Ia