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

| me considerably, and when | first felt
the recollection of his face dawning up
on me, l said to myself. Now | shall
know all, But it never came before me
distinctly. l was distracted by it. with
out being able to seize u firm hold OF it.
or of any leading idea in connection
with it, beyond tho general expression
of excitement constrained or influenced
by some contending force.
| was very much interested in my
vague speculation. and / must have
walked more than over Il mile before |
| became aware of the fact that | had
been taking turns without recording
them So that when ! awoke to sense
of my situation had lost my way. !
received an unpleasant shock for. al
| though / had no fear. the place where
found myself was gloomy and forbid
ding in the extreme.
Overhead hung large warehouses.
whose upper stories were lost in the fog
and night The lane was narrow. and
practicable only to foot-passengers
Strain my ears as ] might, | could hear
no hum of voices. no sound of wheels.
no bells, no noise of life. A chill fell
upon me. My imagination took fire.
|
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 whisper of the
dead.
l pushed on hurriedly. Suddenly l
heard thud. Click - click - click
Billiards." | thought, and following
the direction given by the sound.
found II door, pushed it open. walked
through Il long, narrow passage, and en-
tered the room where the game was go
ing on.
There were five persons in the room,
namely, the marker. two players, and
one man sitting on side scat. | should
have called him Spectator, but that
he seemed to be fast asleep.
l 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 entirely
overcome, and Immediately ] came to
the conclusion that he had sat too long
after dinner.
l asked my way of the marker, and
finding had not driftcd very far from
| H. Nh'IioiitSVs HiUtt w Ill HlIIit W oit
and watch game or two
l think l must have been upwards of
an hour in the billiarl-room, when one
of the players accidentally touched the
sleeper with the butt-cnd of his cue and
reused him. 1t is impossible to express
my establishment when once more | saw
the face l but dim1y remembered the
face of him who had fallen in the mar
row street some hours before.
/ was more than surprised-I 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 in this unaccountablc
manner? Was fate busy between him
and me? / felt uncomfortable. When
his eyes fell upon me there was no CLEAN
of recognition. He did not remember
that we had met before.
He did not materially alter his posi-
ton. He sat limp and spiritlcss, AS one
completely crushed. Now saw plainly
that there was no artificial lcthargic in
flucncc at work on him. Now l dis
covered the second element in the con-
tention; it was extreme physical fatigue.
/ could still see the hunger for action in
his eye; he watched the swiftly travelling
balls rs though he cnvicd them; but his
heavy limbs lay aboard, as though there
were no power left to rally them. How
was this condition to be accounted for?
Poverty could have nothing to do with
it. He wore one ring which must have
cost more than many families have to
spend in year. His dress was little
tossed and soled, but of the fashionable
cut and materials.
Something far deeper than my curl
osity was now aroused, and for the life
of me / could not keep my eyes off him.
At length the balls ceased to play the
players took their leave; the lights were
turned down; the marker approached the
weary man and asked him il he wished
to play. No." i'll II trcmulous voice,
out of which all tho volume and spirit
had departed. AS he uttered the word
he rose heavily, came with slow pace
round the table, and entered the long
passage. l followed. As he reached
the outer door entered the long pas
sage. He stood moment looking out
into the fog, and then heard him NUT
ter. "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 the intense preoccu-
patton made it unnecessary for me to
take unusual care. kept close to him,
and follaunl him fLronnh IN i,,trinato