Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-24

eeuiu ehdufe the suspense Nv vnS"''
~ am sure something Is wrong at
home, Jopes," said in agitation, "bus
no ono will tell mo what 1t Is"
"Oh, nothing wrong, | assure you,"
said Jores; nothing that know o."
But every body 10 ks q. n, as ii !
had not . right TO come back, as II !
had injured somebody by coming back,
ss II ! should end it out presently,
and be sorry ! had done 1t. Ny wife
is well, my children are all we'll, so |
am assured and nobody belonging to
me has done wrong or got into money
difficulties. it must be something
strange or unusual. Tell me what it
is, Jones'"
Jones twiIled his mastachc, and told
me ] must fancy things.
II fancy the strsngest things while
! am kept in TIE dark. Tell me the
truth, Jones. Has my wife-msrried
again? 2" | faltered, bringing my worst
surmise ruthlessly to the front.
"Morried again Good gracious
That old-shom Nothing Of the sort,
| assure you. What could have put
such a notion into your head?"
"She is not even engaged to be mar
iied?" persisted.
mot whisper Of it. Why, man,
you've not been dead--supposed to be,
l should say, for twelve months yet"
"Ihen what does il mean?n
"Look here, Rodney, hadn't you
better get home and find out about your
own affairs from your own people in
stead Of running about London asking
every body you meet what's happened
to you since you were last alive?"
"l'm on my way to my own people,"
| answered testify, land it's the odd
look Of everybody that makes me ask
these questions. | might be Rip Van
Wrinkle by the way I'm forgotten or
greeted by those kind enough to recol-
lect me-"
"Ah, well. it's an experiment, you
know, coming back in this sort Of
fashion,"
81 suppose | ought to have stayed in
Africa because some one happens to
have said that | died there?" | sug
gested scofiUgly.
"No, no." he demonstrated, 81 some
fellows might tell you il would have
been wisest; but | don't 90 as far as
that. You'll pull through, no doubt,
and live it down."
"Pull through my friends welcome,
| presume you mean, for can find out
nothing else that's wrong" | an
swered him in some indignation, and so
! left him.
went on to the club, no longer pre-
pared for the enthusiastic greeting TO
which | had at first looked forward.
What change a few months had made
in the national habits! People seemed
10 have forgotten how to shake hands in
England, and every man was so sb-
sorbed in his own affairs that the re-
turn Of friend from the dead hardly
awakened any interest.
As | entered my club the Rip Van
Wrinkle feeling increased. | seemed a
stranger there and an interloper. A
my sterious change had fallen over my
intimates. Laughing men looked
solemn, cordial men looked cool, curl
Gus men were unusually absorbed in
their own occupations. Some Of them
nodded TO me casually, more of them
did not lift their heads or turn my way;
a sort of silence fell on them all as |
went in, and a sense OF embarrassment.
Only one came forward to greet me.
$50 you've got back again. Heard OF
it this morning. Not killed after all.
DIoll mistake TO make. Regular hot
water and all that. But suppose it
pays. Most fellows have to wait till
they get nothing by it themselves.
You're in luck there"
lie was a man whom | knew very
slightly, and his manner seemed to me
impertinent. ! did not understand in
the least what he meant, but would
not condescend to inquire. | turned
round and walked out Of the club, for
tho sight Of one Of my oldest friends
with his head hidden behind an immense
newspaper, and a distinct assertion
"Nothirg is happening that interests
me" in the attitude Of his legs, was
quite too much for me.
At the door l met Lord Selcover
coming in. To my sstOnishment he put
up bis eye-glass and stared at me for
moment. Then he went on his way
without any sign Of recognition.
This was the worst of all, and the
most incomprehensiblc. The man who
owed me every reparation for his care
less desertiOn-the man in whose
service ! had suffered and was supposed
to have died, who ought to have met me
with apology, coDgratulation, and vel
come, cut Inc in the coolest and most
public manner at our first encounter.
81 could not demand an explana.
ton then and there, | was too much
mystifed and doubtful Of my own
senses. | remembered the advice of
Jonos, and hurried off to the station,
determined to risk no more encounters
until | reached home.
II.
travelled with strangers, and felt
glad that it so happened. A friend had
become an object of dread to me. Ar
rived at the home railway station | gas
pleased to find the officials as pleasant
and respectful as ever. One or two Of
my poorer neighbors also, whom | met
as | walked to the house, greeted me
with kindly locks. | began to feel
more cheerful, and to believe that had
left my OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES it vas
behind me.
Near tho house overlook and passed
the mortgage Of the place. ! remem.
bered that my son-in-law had said
something which implied that no had
given my wife no trouble in my alb
sence. stopped, therefore, to thank
him for his consideration. He took my
thanks rather oddly, and seemed em'
barrassed by them. | concluded that
he was o modester man than | had
imagined.
Arrived at my own gate | was sur
prised to see the air Of neatness and
prosperity about the establishment.
Some repairs had evidently been exc
cuted. The garden was in perfect or