Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-14
THE MAN IN THE SHADOW.

-Beseliiah Butlsrporth, In Christian Union.
-
THE MAN IN THE SHADOW.
1t was bitterly cold that night. The
wind swept furiously down the long
avenues, sending the light snow, that
had Just ceased to fall, flying hither
and thither through the air, sweeping
it from one side Of the street and piling
it up with methodical carefulness on
the other; driving it in long, feathery
drifts from the housetops and dusting
it down the necks of unfortunate Pc
destrians in spite OF their closely-but-
toned coats and turned-up collars. All
shivered as they came to that corner
and then with half-averted heads hur-
ried past into the more sheltered street
beyond. The Man in the Shadow
crouched closer yet into the archway OF
the big bank building and looked curl
ously out on the passing throng.
Everybody seemed TO be anxious to
get home--as who wouldn't be. in such
weatherp-but that was no reason why
everybody should look so happy and
expectant over such an ordinary event.
Then, too, by another extraordinary CO.
incidence, everybody seemed provided
with q bundle or package of some sort
and such packages! Whitey-brown
parcels, tied up snugly, mysterious in
their every aspect; brown paper par
GELS whose very folds breathed q de-
lightful suggestiveness of turkey and
pudding; smooth, trim packages with
sleek, well-rounded sides, thoroughly
conventional and respectable; broken,
dsreputable ones, with perchance q
skate-strap or china dolls head peep
ing out, and thus basely betraying its
owners secrets; long ones and short
ones, little packets that could be car
ried in the e'waistcoat pocket, and valua-
BILE, no doubt, in inverse proportion to
their size, and big bundles tightly bound
with manifold shawl-straps and proving
almost too much for their struggling
owners. Everybody that was anybody
seemed passing that particular corner
that particular night and carrying
everything that could be bought in the
city.
The Man in the Shadow looked puz-
zled. Across the way the door of n
shop opened, and little girl, with long
fair hair flying out from beneath her
red worsted hood, came running over
the crossing. But the ground was
slippery, and the rash little adventures
suddenly disappeared into the big snow
drift beyond the curbstone. The Man
in the Shadow uttered low exclama-
tion and, darting out, lifted her up.
"Oh! I've broken it," she exclaimed,
anxiously pulling out something from
her tiny pocket. "No, it isn't either;
I'm so glad. It's for Christmas, you
know, and I'm ever SO much obliged to
you" Then, turning quickly around,
she sped away again.
"Of course that's what it all means
Christmas Eve"-muttered the man,
going back to his old shelter. Much
good it does me"-and he frowned as
he kicked the snow off his boots and
drew his thrcadbare coat yet moro
closely about him. "It is growing latc
and the crowd is getting thinner.
Suddenly tall figure closely en-
yeloped in long ulster hurried past.
The slouched hat was pulled low down
over the pedestrians forehead, but as
he came into the circle of light under
the lamp-post sudden gust of wind
lifted it off his head and sent it flying
on ahead of him. The Man in the
Shadow started and took step for
ward as though about to follow him.
"Pshaw, what fool ami" he said,
as he shrank back; "as if it could be
he--and even If it were''--
"Come. my man, move on; no loafng
around here!" met his ear, and Police
man Buffer looked in suspiciously upon
the crouching figure. He looked up de-
family and then, with a gesture OF
assent, stepped out into the street.
"One of the kind as II need watch
ing" remarked Mr.. Buffer, confiden-
TALLY, to a white-coated waiter who had
stepped out into the street for moment
to see what was going on.
''As desperate a lookin' cove rs ever
! seed, said the waiter, who had not
seen him at all; ''but you'd better be
coming inside. It's mortal cold out
here and your coffee is about ready
"Wot a fool | was to let him stay
there SO long" said Policeman Buffer,
regretfully. "How do / know but wot
he's been drillin hole under the lock
and pluggin' it full of blastin powder
while Twas up the streetp"
"Taint no call you, Mr.. Buffer,
to be throwin' yourself away investigat-
in, and come to think of it, he couldn'
have been doing anything like that fol
he's been out and in from there dozen
times. ~
'Mebbe 1 ought to have stroked him
of little with the club" hesitated
Mr.. Buffer, caressing that fifth member
of himself fondly; "but he's out ofmy
beat now, and anyway he's pretty sure
to be run in before morning. AND
with this consolatory reflection he re
tired.
Down the well-nigh deserted streets
with head bent down and with rapit
steps, the man hurried along. Pres
emily he stopped and looked arount
him. A toy-shop across the way will
brilliantly-lighted show-windows caugh
his eyes. On the pane was lettered il
evergreens "Merry Christmas. every
where the same old story" he muttered
impatlently, ''and 1t seems can't ge
away from it. don't want to hear Thu
Christmas bells-who would, with sucl
echoes ringing In his earsP kept my
lact Christmas Eve just ten years ago
and don't care about trying it again. :
The icy wind was sweeping down coldel
than ever. andhe began TO feel strangely
numb and bewildered. Half-despair
ing, and yet with an odd sense of happi
ness, he Sank down upon u flight of low
broad steps and leaned his head agains
the balustrade. Across the street h,
could see some one dressing Christ
mas tree some one with cherry ribbonl
In her hair--and he smiled as h,
languldly tried TO guess who 1t Nigh
be; then he smiled again as he counte(