The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-04-15

no doHbt of his intention. / leaped
forward and tapped him smartlv on the
shoulder.
He turned round confronted me. We
were standing under gas-lamp. The
light was feeble. but quite enough to let
me sec the expression of his face There
was no anger or annoyance in his ewes
He stared at me in Il half wild. half dull
way. and did not seem to ask or care
why ! had touched him. Something in
his aspect put me out of couccit with
my suicidal theory for him. did not
say the words l had arranged. His APP
pcarancc forbade me.
" am stranger in LONDON. ar
rived here only this evening Pardon
me, but | have lost my way. Would
You he good enough to set me right"
He continued to look at me in the
same dull. unspcculative manner. He
completely disrcgardcd my question,
1--WE have met tonight before. Did
You follow me from where | fell to the
bllliard-room he asked in low. worn
out voice.
was thundcrstuck. He had not only
seen me at the time of the accident. but
| lost my sclf-posscssion completely.
NO" muttcrcd. 81 did not follow
you from where you fell to the billiard
room
THAT is strange" he unused. every
strange! What coincidence! But did
you follow me from The billiard room to
this?"
eyes"
"Why?"
81 heard you muttcr something about
tomorrow never coming, and the river.
| feared"
"What?"
Well, your manncr--pray excuse
mc-sccmcd little excited, and feared
that perhaps you might - waved my
hand vaguely in the direction of The
river.
To my profound astonishmcnt, ! may
say horror. he burst out into hystcri
cal laugh. leaned against the ,mrapct of
the bridge. and surveyed me with II half
amused. Multiplying look. After mo-
mcnt he shook himself; regarded me
tiNcdly, asked me where | lived or staid;
and when had answered, said "Comc
with me.
There were two good objects to he at
tanned by going with him: | should
draw him away from the river. and my
self get home. We walked in silence
together. | did not know how to re-
open the conversation after what had
occurred. Evidently he did not wish to
speak. His gait was unsteady and when
he had gone about half mile | asked
him if We should take n cab. or if 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 pen
Grating the better portion of London.
Lights shown over the doors. and music
came from the drawing-rooms, and more
than once | caught gIimpscs of spacious
nails through doorways. while carriages
waited without. l was on the point of
asking if he were quite sure he had not
been deceived by the fog, when he
stopped before Il large house in square
and knocked
IL do not know this place." said.
"But do. You need not be afraid.
Do I look like dccoy?"
The door was opened by porter, and
we entered II spacious hall lighted by II
huge gasclicr of dull amber glass.
Passing through the hall we went into
another and narrower one; ont of this
we passed into dark passage of consid
cradle length and finally into II small,
low room. From ceiling to floor hung
amber silk curtains, and between them
stood vast mirrors. There were only
one small table and two chairs. Along
the three sides of the chamber ran low
couchcs covered with amber velvet. A
dull yellow Turkey carpet covered the
floor, and overhead hung single lamp
with single floating wick. On the
mantlcpiccc there was nothing but pipes
and II pair of old tlint-lock pistols curl
ously wrought. and glittcring with di;i-
monds and rubics in the dim, golden
light.
lie motioncd me to one of the chairs
"Takc seat, he said, moving his hand
to silver gong that stood on the table,
and sinking into the luxurious easy
chair "You will have something?
What shall it be? This is my place, Or
rather yours, for the present"
"Thank you. nothing for me. But
you need rcfrcshmcnt, and, if ! may
presume to say SO, sleep still more"
81 have neither eaten nor slept for
forty-eight hours, and | think must
have walked one hundred miles i'll that
time"
PAYING CRops.-A large net profit