The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-04-15
My First Night in London.

I had Just completed my 25th year
when first set foot in London. l had
come partly to see the place, and partly
to meet relative of mine, whom we ex-
pected to arrive from India any day of
the week. l have always been quiet.
curious. dull fellow, taking little inter
est in the ordinary amusements pro-
viled for the general public, and having
no appreciation of what is called fun
So that, instead of seeking theatre, or
some other brilliant place of entertain
ment, l put on an overcoat, lit cigar,
and walked out about 8 o'clock.
There was dense fog, and the air was
damp and unwholesome. l happened
to be staying ut hotel so situated that
by the map, took all my bearings with
relation to Holborn. The gas-lamps Of
the opposite side of the street were to
be seen like balls of tow illuminated by
dull glow. They were visible, but
gave no light. I was in a large and
very busy street. Cabs, and carts, and
omnibuses, passed in an unbroken cur
rent. became little depressed and
COMPOUNDED. and meeting a quiet-look-
ing street, which seemed to lead into
some silent, lake-like square, turned
down. and experienced the most mex
prcssiblc relief from the muilied mute
ness around.
l suppose must have gone about $50
yards in a straight line before discov
cred there was no way of exit at the end.
I crossed, and began walking back to-
wards the head of the street. Before |
had got half way / reached turning to
the left, and. for moment. stood irrcs
olutc as to which course / should take.
As was dclibcrating, l heard foot
stops approaching rapidly. l drew Il
little ont of the way to let him pass
but. as he went the same side, he ran
against me rather forcibly, and tripping
over Il raised stone in the kennel, he fell
heavily to the ground. helped him to
rise. He was not hurt; and when he and
l had exchanged apologies, he turned
slowly down the street, and to the left,
and walked with Il bent head and DELHI
crate step.
The two questions that arose to me
were, who was he? and what had occa-
stoned his haste? His manner and
epe ,ch were those of gentleman; and,
SO far as could see, there was nothing
in his dress or appearance inconsistent
with the presumption that he was one.
What could make IL man of his class
rush down q by-street ut such a pace,
and then suddenly, upon receiving a
momentary check, subside into sham
bic? Had he committed some crime,
and were the ministers of justice upon
his track?
listened, half expecting to hear the
clatter of feet in chase. All was still in
the street, and from beyond the street
the sound of traffic came feebly and
duly, like the muttcring of water in
distant cave.
Mechanically 1 turned into the narrow
street the man had entered. could
not relieve my mind of him. He chung
to me like the vapor. But what was it
that seemed so strange about him? All
OF us have experienced the phenomenon
of remembering, or recalling, or reim
posing on the mind, persons or objects
OF which, at the time they were dis
played to us, we took no sensible mental
impression. So it was with me in this
case. began realizing his face; al
though at the same time we stood oppo
site to one another, had no image of
which l was conscious in my mind.
Now the face was beginning to float up
out of the gloom, and to trouble me.
At first could make out in the cham
bers Of my perplexed mind no more of
that face than general expression of
strange excitement wrestling with some
thing else. Whence came that excite
ment? and what was that something
else? have always taken great de-
Ii yht in trying to read the heart through