The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-24
"sUN Err sHMOoN" STORIES,

Headed by One the Scene of Which Is
SUledad Street.
Four men were waiting on Soledad street
for a car last night. They kept up CONVEX
sation on trivial subjects, but it was noticeable
that all were ill at ease and that each now and
then glanced furtively down the street. Look
in the direction indicated there could be seen
what appeared to be moving light. 1t danced
up and down, to the right and to the left, al
ways in straight lines; then would disappear
for a few moments but would soon reappear
and repeat the performance. Was it signal !?
The men said nothing of it but each con-
trived, without exciting suspicion in his COM
panions, to draw nearer to the strange object.
Eventually, failing to see any lamp or gas
tube, and not understanding the cause of the
the face of one, the youngest of the four, a
pallor spread.
81 was saying, Jacques" said one, who
had large nose and countenance such as
those depicted in sketches of the
French militia at rest in a pot house;
81 was saying-mon Dieu !-eh what was
saying?"
To this his companions vouchsafed no re-
ply. The conversation had tagged. But to
Edouard, he of the large nose, talk was SEEM
ingly sort of safety valve through which his
apprehension oozed and left him nervous but
still in possession of his faculties. He rolled
a cigarette and said, "The car is very long
time coming; | wish they would put more
cars on. go. Do you like Blind Tom? He is
phenomnon if ever there was one. What are
you looking at Robert?"
"Down the street." was the evasive res
ponse.
"Ah, yes, the car. That car --Scarebleu!
Did you see it?"
eyes," said the three others as in one
voice.
"Pm going to find out what that is"
declared the man addressed as Robert
and he walked hastily toward the appari-
ton. His comrades silently awaited his re-
turn.
"What was it?' they cried when he again
approached,
1--WE know that" said Jacques.
Ills lamp there % asked Edouard.
-"Or a gas yeti" added another, an
army officer.
Ills it woman signalling 49,. "A band
Vi lIlCNCS TIC poHSCy NODSll!
These and similar questions were put in close
succession.
"Im going home -. the car has passed ....
but I'm going home .. 1t is shameful of you
to treat me so. You must know Pm drunk,
and why do you keep me here to let every
body see me p. &. d. Il thought saw signal
it was the effect of the wine. ...Do you
know of anyone seeing signals instead of
snakes? thought snakes and rats and bugs
were all one saw. Come! let us CO."
81 suppose I'm drunk, too, said Jacques,
mournfully, "for saw the signal, and (cour-
ageousy) | see it yet"
$50 do l" muttered the army officer be-
tween his clenched teeth.
-"Stop don't go. You see merely the
a light reflected from the large gas jet in front
Of you on the metal sign OF lawyers Of
fee"
"A-ah!" The three drew long breath
Then they laughed, and Edouard, who has for
some time been in his anecdotage, began a
story.
"This reminds me of the experience OF
General Magruder 49,. the General played the
guitar admirably .... When he was in Mexico
some ladies, having heard his skill. requested
him to entertain them with music, and he con-
sented. But they brought him, instead of
violin as he had requested, mandolin. He
was replying to one of the ladies when the in
strument was handed to him, and he took it
without looking at it. Rut as he seated him
self to play he looked down; and then the
smile died away from his face, he turned
red, then white, and great drops
of perpsiration gathered on his forehead.
Ladies said he, making a courtly bow, Il
hope you will excuse me; shall be pleased
to play for you at some other time, have an
appointment Then he hastily quilted the
room. He was very angry.
-" Do you want to insult me; letting me
stand in ladies' society when you know | am
intoxicated ? he demanded of his male
friends.
=" But you're not drunk they replied
-" Not drunk = said he, mot drunk |!
Didn't count 81 strings on guitar ? F"
Edouard lit another cigarette and appeared
satisfied as his companions laughed.
"That," said the army officer, sis almost as
laughable as the story of the drunken fellow
who accosted Waterman and, pointing to a
street lamp, asked, gravely, 'Mishter, izsh
That er sun er uh simeon p And"
Iust then a car came.
"wAITIN' Fob DE LAwD."