The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-09-02

the E. brothers, and, of course, knew
both well. 1t was, therefore, the most
natural thing in the world for Bill to ask
Harry, as we settled into the cane bot
toned chair at the door:
"When did you see Dick last?"
'tSaw him t'other day. looking gay as
lark, but swiping a little, fancy,
though-a tinge redder than usual
While they talked on .9layed back"
and enjoyed the cheroot and the busy
scene opread ont below us. Hong Kong,
or the town of Victoria, more properly
speaking-len passant, was amused to
see in one of our dailies, few days
since, this notice: 'sThe English Consu-
late at Hong Kong was destroyed by fire
on - inst, and most of the consulate
records lost" Why not add, the Ameri-
4 can Consulate at Boston, Mass, U. s. A,
by astrange coincidence. was burned ths.
same days built on the western side
OF the peak of Victoria, on the island of
Hong Kong.
'The Peak" rises twelve hundred feet
from the water of the narrow bay, which
lies between it and Cowloon, on the
main land. From my seat at the door I
could look down on Queens road and
Pettes pier, and see, through the golden
haze OF the sunset, the motley procession
| that swarmed to and fro; watch the
crowd of noisy boatmen as they gesticu-
lated to and importuned each new conner
to ''the steps, the lonngers of all nations
and costumes that leaned idly against the
sea-wall, or sauntered lazily about on
the pier head, and the numerous small
crafts and boats (of equally varied form
and rlg) that darted in and out on the
| sparkling waters of the bay among the
crowded shipping of many nationalities.
| To the left of the field lay Green Island
and the Cum simeon Pass, leading to the
| Boca Tigris; to the right the narrow
channel of the Lymoon Pass to the open
waters of the China Sea; while broad be-
fore lay the baked plain and canoned red
/ sandstone hills of Cowloon. Ny eyes
wandering over the scene-whose sole
charm was In its orientalism-settl
down and rested lovingly on the 'sstar.
| spangled banner that waved" from the
peak of Commodore TatnalIs flagship,
| the San Jacinto.
! My thoughts plunged through the
| sphere to antipodes, and in fancy /
sought the scenes of my childhoed-the
| orchard, the meadow and deep-tangled
wildwood, and this little porch, girls;
pictured the ''old folks at home," and
many another loved form and face; but,
with the fash of the sunset gun, the
"cld flag" sank to rest, and my visions of
''the dearest spot on earth vanished
with the bunting that had given them
birth, and fell into brown study, won
dering when my time would come to go
"to Gods country" (for thus we Ameri-
cans ever call the United States.}
| Scarcely had my musings taken shape
when I was startled by the exclamation,
my Godl there's Dickw and, looking
up, saw E. standing beside Harry's
chair, with startled expression on his
face, and an air of expectation, looking
intently at the dead wall through the lit
tie doorway of thepassage leading to the
staircase. ''Therei and without
further warning he sprang forward
through the doorway. and we heard him
running wildly along the passage and up
the stone steps.
Harry and I turned blankly to each
other, and wondered what the deuce had
got into Bill.
Got the jim jams think?' asked Harry
who was the first to find his tongue.
''Think not" and I vcntured, "guess
he saw something" There the converse
ton ceased, and we smoked meditatively.
Presently we heard Bill shambling
down the stairs; he came weakly along
the passage and entered. How changed!
his face, usually SO red and flushed, was
livid; his eyes sunken, and lips blue; his
whole form seemed shrunk, and trem-
bled as if with palsy; and the perspira-
. tion, oozing from every pore, fairly
dripped from his chin and hands.
''Dick's deadr' he gasped, as he sunk
, | into the nearest chair.
"Whatp' "How do you know" "When
did you hear?" were our startled queries.
"Saw him."
"Where?"
.sThere! in the passage, standing
against the wall. Saw him, gentlemen,
as plainly as I see you. mol I amt
drunk" Neither of us had spoken. 81
tell you, my brother Dick is deadf' and
his head dropped helpelessly between
his hands, and he shook with the strong
emotions That convulsed his mind.
We gave him stiff glass of brandy,
and helping him up stairs, left him with
his wife.
Adionrning to the verandah of the
ssOrientals" we called for couple OF
s.claret cobblers," and lighting fresh
cigars, talked the thing over. We agreed
to say nothing to any one about this un-
: til we went up to Canton, where / had
} decided to accompany Harry on the NOR
| row. We turned in early, and o'clock
the next morning found us on board the
) Willamette, an American river steamer,
belonging to Russell. Sturgis d Co.,
. bound up the Hong Kiang for the capi-
, | tai of the two Quang provinces.
> After breakfast we went below to sec
) merry John Allen, the genial chief engi-
| neer, and were duly astonished to hear
5 that .sBill E. is on board, and says
| he's going up to Wampoa to meet his
brothers body, and be present at his
) funeral, to take place this afternoon"
f What are you talking about?" broke in
Harry.
sThat's his say" sentimcntally
answered Johnny.
"Is that so?"
Eyes, so! and the talk on board the
: boat. and there's money up on it, too.
Don't yeu want to go me something
against the chances?' he added insinua-
r tingly.
!, ssWhat do you know. johnny" asked.
Nothing more than you hear, and
what Bill says. last time Isaw Dick be
was looking first rate, but pom my word,
J gentlemen. it looks queer; any way two
, o'clock will tell the whole story.
] Then the conversation took turn and
! we discoursed on p1e-santer themes. Al
Tifin, it was table talk, and it was evil
\ Al - -.