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

him, when he drew up suddenly, and
placed his hand on the parapct. There
was now no doubt Of his intention. |
leaped forward and tapped him smartk
on the shoulder.
He turned round and confronted me.
We were standing under a gas-lamp
The light was feeble, but quite enough
10 lei me see the expression of his face
There was no anger or annoyance in his
eyes. He stared AT me in half-wild,
half-dull way, and did not seem TO ask
or care why had touched him. Some
thing in his aspect put me out of con-
ceit with my suicidal theory for him.
did not say the words had arranged
His appearance forbade me-
81 am stranger in London. | ar
rived here only this evening. Pardon
me, but have lost my way. Would YOU
be good enough To set me right ?"
He continued 10 look NJ me in the
same dull. unspeculative manner. He
completely disregarded my question
1--WE have met tonight before. Did
You follow me from where fell To the
billiard-room? he asked in low, worn
out voice
| was thunderStricken. He had not
only seen me at the time of the acct
dent, but had recognized me in the bill
liard-room. | lost my self-posSession
completely 'No, | mutiered, . did
not follow YOU from where YOU fell to
the billiard-room.
THAT is strange, he muSed, "very
strange. What coincidence. But did
You follow me from the billiard-room to /
this?''
Yes
"WhvP"
~ heard YOU mutter something about I
tomorrow never coming, and the river,
and | feared-r
"Whas?r
"Well, your manner-pray excuse |
me--seemed little excited. and \
feared that perhaps YOU might \
waved my hand vaguely in the direction
OF the river.
To ms profound astonishment, | MAY
say horror, he burst out into 4 historical
laugh, leaned against the parapet of the
bridge, and surveyed me with 4 half
amused, Multiplying look. After mo-
ment he shook himself; regarded me
fiNedly. asked me where lived or stay
ed; and when | had answered, said,
- Come with me-"
There were two good objects to be at
tanned by going with him: should
draw him away from the river. and
myself should get home. We walked in
silence together. did not know how TO
reopen the conversation after what had
occurred. Evidently he didnot wish 70
speak. His gait was unsteady, and when
we had gone about half mile 1 asked
if we should get cab. or il he would
take my arm. He made no reply, but .
took my arm and leaned heavily upon
me.
| haven't the least idea of the way we
went We made many turnings, and
grew gradually to feel that we were
penetrating the better portion Of Lon
don. Lights shonc over the doors. and
music came from the drawing rooms. :
and more than once | caught glimpses
of spacious halls through doorways !
while carriages waited without. was !
on the point of asking him if he was ,
quite sure he had not been deceived by
the fog. when he stopped before a large
house in square and knocked
Il do not know this place. | said
''l'ut | do. You need not be afraid. !
DO look like decoy?n
The door was opened by porter. and
we entered a spacious hall, lighted hy a J
huge gasolicr Of dull amber glass Pass
inc through the hall, we went into an I
other and narrower one; ont of this we J
passed into dark passage of consider
able length, and, finally, into small.
low room. From ceiling 10 floor hung I
amber silk curtains, and between them !
stood vast mirrors. There were only Z
one small table and two chairs Along
three sides of the chamber ran low
touches covered with amber velvet. A
duh yellow Turkey carpet covered the :
floor, and overhead hung n single lamp y
with a single floating wick. On the
there was nothing but {
pipes and pair Of old flint pistols curl
Dusly wrought and glittering with dia- {
monds and rubies in the dim golden
light.
lie motioned me to one Of the chairs. I
take seat he said, moving his
hand to a silver gong that stood on the b
table, and sinking into the luxurious
easy-chair. "You will have something? !
What shall ii be2 This is my place, or, 7
rather, yours, for the present
"Thank you, nothing for me. But !
you need refreshment, and, if | may !
presume to say so, sleep still more |.
II have neither eaten nor slept for
hours, and | think I must Q
have walked hundred miles in that I
time"
uttered an exclamation Of surprise ;
and looked closely at him. lie was "A q
young man, not more than nine-and-
twenty, or thirty at most, but looking !
much older under the influence of cx- b
trnnn nhvsicnl exhaustion His face u