Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-11

sutbkc nTes Out ~
word.
.''This game so strangely ses'
said DO you desire to play it!'
Thought the figure bowed its hesd,,
Its eyes were still liked upon the board
~ il impatient TO proceed. dared
mske no delay. l tremblcd, but ! no
longer hesitsted. knew my move be-
forehand, and | made it. The right
hnnd OF the figure Immediately extend
ed itself over the board and made the
answering move.
"Itvas not move which ! had cx-
pected was surprised. Strange as
il may seem, impossible as it may seem
to any but true disciple OF the game
land to such it will appear natural ani'
indeed. inevitably in spite OF the sem
sation with which my veins were chill.
| became interested, then absorbed.
I thought saw the object OF the
move, but | was not certain. did not
move without deliberation but again,
as soon as | had played, my opponent,
without the hesitation of an instant,
stretched forth his hand and moved IN
his turn. This extreme promptltude
surprised me at the time did not re-
fleet that was not playing against flesh
and blood.
Moreover. the move itselfperplexed
me. saw that the advantage | had
gained was vanishing. 1 began to trem-
bic with excitement, as | had lately
trembled with dread. And yet | know
played my very best; my seascs
seemed to myself extraordinarily acute.
The combination which | had de-
yised again appeared irresistible-a
stratsgem certain of success. |
had the game within my grasp; |
thought myself on the point of VIC
tory. Suddenly, as my opponent moved
a piece, low sound caused me to look
up. The automaton was regarding me
with a full gaze and now, it was I'M
mistakable, the resemblance in It's
features to those Of Martin Sombras
was no Pigment Of my bra n. The look
was exactly that unmalignant glance of
triumph with which my old friend had
been accustomed to announce victory.
Involuntarily | cast my eyes down to
the board. | could hardly believe what
saw; was checkmated
For the first time saw it all. |
saw before me the most subtle combi-
nation which ever proceeded from a
human brain. | believed it to be i'm
possible for any ingenuity to have seen
through such movement: Many times
since have | played over the game in
solitude, and proved to demonstration
that the mate, from the moment we
began to play, was inevitable against
that evolution, so yelled, so oyerwhelm-
ing. Sombras's theory had, after all,
been sound.
$50 deeply was | arbsorbed in won
der ana admiration that | half forgot
the strange antagonist to whom owed
my defeat. When shall forget never
shall forget-the circumstances which
recalled me to myself? A slight noise, |
know not what, caused me to look up. |
raised my eyes and looked again at the
figure. AS | did so the resemblance
which had existed to the face of my old
friend suddenly vanished. The eyes
again became CLASSY, empty, and de-
void of speculation the life, the move
ment, which had animated the figure
died out Of it; and there was nothing
left before me but mere wood and
painted cloth. 1t was as if had seen
my old friend die twice.
"Up to that moment | had preserved
my faculties, if not from amazement
and trepidatioD, yet from the full sense
Of an unearthly presence, which now
rushed across my spirit in flood. The
excitement which had buoyed me up
deserted me. The lifeless eyes of the
figure vacantly staring seemed now a
thousand times more awful than their
previous supernatural life. | could
bear no more. Hardly knowing what
L ulu UOI W ubucl !" do BOlhb, oSab
gered from the room and from the
house."
Again Froissart paused; thought
he had finished his story, but presently
he resumed
MANY days passed before the ter
rors Of that night gave way to a calmer
if not less solemn feeling. Then a most
strange idea took possession of me and
left me not moments rest or peace Of
mind. What if the spirit should re-
turn? Something persuaded Inc that
il would return; that at some time.
which | could not foretell, the mystic
rious fire would once more kindle
in the CLASSY eyes, the living
likeness waken in the vacant fea-
lures, the startling hand extend
itself over the table, and | should play
yet another game of chess with my old
friend. Reasonable or unreasonable,
the persuasion took firm hold of me,
and possessed, as it still possesses, my
whole being. Not night has passed
since then but, under an uncomfortable
impulsion, have taken my seat, never
without thrill Of awed expectation,
before the table, and making the first
move, waited for the figure to reply.
Hitherto | have waited in vain. Last
night, as the nights before, it did not
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