The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-06-20

/ me, but | have lost my wav. Would
: you be good enough to set me right
5 He continued TO look at me in the
/ same dull, unspeculative manner. He
= completely disregarded my question.
l I'VE have met to night before. Did
e you follow me from where | fell to the
billiar room% he asked, in a low, worn
s out voice.
e 81 was thunder stricken. He had not
: only seen me at the time of the accident.
but had recognized me in the billiard
e room. l lost my self possessi0n complete
e ly. No. | muttered, Il did not follow
f You from where you fell to the billiard
room
" That is strange he unused, very
: strange! What a coincidence But did
: you follow me from the billiard room to
ths?'
Yes
Z" why
q 4 heard you mutter something
about to morrow never coming, and the
river, and feared
" What?
: We'll, 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 my profound astonishmeut, l may
say horror, he burst out in a historical
laugh, leaned against the parapet of the
!, bridge, and surveyed me with a half
amused, half plying look. After mo-
ment he shook himself; regarded me
tiXedly, asked me where lived or staid ;
and when l 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 | did not know how to
reopen the conversation after what had
occurred. Evidently he did not want to
speak. His gait was unsteady, and
when We had had gone about half mile,
| asked him if We should get 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 many turnings, and
| grew gradually to feel that we were
= penetrating the better portion of London.
Lights shone over the doors, and music
came frem the drawing rooms, and more
than once | caught ghmpses of spacious
halls through doorways, while carriages
waited without. / was on t:.r point of
asking if he were quite sure he had not
been deceived by the fog, when he stop
ped before a large house in the square
aud knocked.
Il do not know this place, said
6 But / do. You need not be afraid.
Do look like decoy?"
"Ihe door was opened by porter and
we entered a spacious hall lighted by a
huge gaselier of dull amber glass. Pass
ing through the hall, we went into anoth.
er and narrower one; out of this we
passed into dark passage of considera.
bic length; and, finally, into 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 a single lamp.
On the mantlepiece there was nothing
but pipes and "A pair of cid flint pistols
curiously wrought, and glittering with
, diamonds and ruDies in the dim golden
light.
|
Take a seat he said moving his hand to
4 silver gong that stood on table, and
sinking into luxurious easy chair
You will have something? What shall
. it be I? This is my place, or rather yours,
, for the present.
" Thank you, nothing for me. But
, you need refreshment, and, if | may
presume to say so, sleep still more
Il have neither eaten or slept for
forty-eight hours, and / think / must
have walked 100 miles in that time
! 81 uttered an exclamation Of surprise
and looked closely at him. He was a
, young man, not more than twenty nine
or thirty at most, but looking much older
under the influence of extreme physical
exhaustion. His face was flushed and
hectic, and his eyes dim and boodshot.
His figure was slender almost to emacia-
ton, and deep lines marked the face speak.
. ing of premature care or sorrow-I could
not tell which.
che did not heed my exclamation, but
went on +:
/" you thought / was asleep in the
billiard room. ] was not. Forty-eight
hours ago | awoke out of dream, and
, have not dared to sleep since
Was it so terrible?'
Z" Terrible No. 1t was so good, SC
: healing, so heaven-sent, that burst MOI
sleep lest it should get the lie
; :" But you will kill yourself. You mus
r sleep
" What o'clock is itf'
g "A quarter past twelve
2 g In ten, perhaps eight hours. / shall
know if that dream was true or not. You
4 thought I meditated springing into the
Thames. 1t was good of you to follow me
| | am grateful to you for your care of me
+. But in all London-in the whole world
2 there is no man who wants to live more
than l do
} g But
:" 4 know what you would say an
going bad way about it. Let that pass
f There is no other way. If you will stay
t until the news comes you shall see. If il
f be good, shall sleep"
ga nd if it be bad?'
r 'fHe knit his brow and clenched his
hands, and then he said, with a strange
: laugh, L shall sleep all the same
4" i will stay if / may
D "'Good Then you shall hear my
dream
e ''He lit pipe, lay back in his chair
: and began in Tow, strained voice, like
4 one who listens to words which have trav
i eled from distance and repeats them a
) they come.
1 Il need go no further with the pas
than to tell you that five years ago M
: father was living and l was the third son
At that time fell in love. 1 will troubl,
e you with no rhapsodies. 1t was my frs
and only love. 1t was returned fully ant