Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-12-20

from where you fell to the billiard
room
That is strange he mused,
very strange! What o coinci-,
deDce! But did you follow me
from the billiard room TO thisP
eyes
"'WbyP
"I heard you mutter something
about tomorrow never coming,
and I feared
"WhatT
"'Well, your manner--pray ex-
cuse me-seemed Q little excited,
and I feared that perhaps you
might waved my hand vaguely
in the direction Of the river.
"To my profound establishment,
may say horror, he burst out into
an hys.erical laugh, leaned against
the parapet Of the bridge, and sur
veyed me with half-amused, half
pitying look. After q moment he
shook himself, regarded me fixedly,
asked me where I lived or staid 4;
and when ! had answered, said
Come with me-
'There were two good objects to
be attained by going with him
should draw him away from the
river, and ! myself should get home.
We walked in silence together. I
did not know how to reopen the
conversation after what had occur
ed. Evidently he did not wish to
speak. His gait was unsteady, and
when he had gone about half q
mile / asked him If we should get
a cab, or if he would take my arm.
He made no reply, but took my
arm and leaned heavily upon me.
81 haven't the least idea of the
way We went. We made ma, y
turnings, and l grew gradually
to feel that We were penetrating
the better portion of London
Lights shone over the doors, and
music came from the drawing-rooms,
and more than once l caught
glimpses of spacious halls through
doorways, while carriages waited
without. / was on the point Of
asking If he were quite sure he
had not been deceived by the fog,
when he stopped before a large.
house in square and knocked.
"I do not know this place.
said
"'But I do. You need not DO
afraid. Do I look like a decoyr
"The door was opened by . por-
ter, and we entered the spacious
hall, lighted by hugh gaselier Of
dull amber glass. Passing through
the hall we won't up into another
and narrower one; out Of this we
passed into a dark passage Of con-
siderable length and finally, into
q small, low room. From ceiling
to floor hung amber silk curtains,
and between them stood vast mir
rors. There was only one small
table and two chairs. Along the
three sides Of the chamber ran low
couches covered with amber velvet.
A dull yellow Turkey carpet COW
cred the floor, and overhead hung
a single lamp with single floating
wick. On the mantelpiece there
was nothing but pipes and pair
of old flint pistols very curiously
wrought, and glittering with dia.
monds and rubies in the dim gold
en- light.
"He motioned me to one Of the
chairs. Take Q seat he said,
moving his hand to a silver gong
that stood on the table, and sink
ing into the luxurious chair. You
will have something's Whist shall
it BET This Is my place, or rather
yours. for the present
"'Thank you, nothing for me.
But You need refreshment, and, II
may presume to say so, sleep
still more
al have neither eaten nor slept
for forty-eight hours, and I think !
must have walked 100 miles in that
time
, al uttered an exclamation OF
surprise and looked closely at him.
He was young man. not more
| than twenty-nine or thirty at the
most, but looking much older un.
;. der the influence of extreme ply.
4 steal exhaustion. His face was
flushed and hectic, and his eyes
q were dim and bloodshot. Hi
!. figure was slender, almost to ema'