Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-14

4
sian hymn that she Gang, addressed TO the nslng
sun, was full Of pathos and charm.
qa sa AFTER ss shs 's sDoa s .sssg, SS 8
the i steamer On tss quay a p ssa soas sssn os
in the air ah, We are cav awaited hefs sesd ffsna
! we must part, never TO meet again. A hurried
ad s61 nsis inca ai s.a "a e
People whom had Known Guy s for snort ssiss
After my companions had left, remember
little about the voyage down the Rhine, tip
toward the afternoon. when the conductor warned
me, asleep on one OF the sofas In the saloon, tnat
Derdrechi was close st hand. Here / met with q
disappointment. The porter OF the hotel was await
had come from Engl ,hd-my sister Bells fance
bad broken or otherwise damaged his leg, and my
mother had started with Der fof home early
Dover. Well, there was no need for me TO follow
them in haste. would 60 on to Rotterdam By
the steamer, ana take the boat for Harwch on the
following day. IL not till we mad left the OLD
town lar behind, and had entered the maze On
waters about kotterdain-crowded with steamers
and gay oarses-that I remembered that 1 was
yexatiously short Of money. I had relied on get
uns supply from my mother; and now found,
with very trffling margin. TO pay my fare nome
In general way there would be no particular
nadsp IN spending night out OF doors ana
overwhelmed with sleep, having been travelling
necessarily for several days, and eHged tor moth
ny 50 much as to stretch my limbs on comfort
aOie ped Well, there were, no doubt, many de-
cent places at Rotterdam where one could get
PED Tor couple OF shillings. / took the ICON.
ductor OF the steamer into condolences, and ne at
once gave me the card OF q kind OF boarding.
mouse, where the charges would be quite wltaia
Presently we were alongside the Boompjeo, that
pieaSantest OF qusyS with It's avenues OF trees
It's solid old-fashioned buildings, and lively, bust
vaded BY crowd Of porters. touts, and other non
uescrlpts and one OF the latter seized my port
manteau, and made me his chosen prey. gave
ga, jal" ne led the way to the shore, waving
his hand In the air a sixnal to somebody on the
quay, no doubt, that he had secured prize. Half-
a-dozen hands were held upin diIereRt directions
quay my ~as joined n By two otSsT men
passed along several narrow, tortuous streets.
we crossed a canal or tive OF dark and
o sOOg sDa a. last
aud stopped before heavy, massive door,
let into kind OF arched recess adorned
with carvings or floral and heraldic eInblems. The
door was opened by an old woman, with an elabor-
ateiy wrinkled face, who was busy with brooms
and mops and pals MY conductor led the way up
red distemper, and reminding one OF the compan-
lon-ladder OF a ship-up We went higher and
sas stairs ssSomSg 70 and
at last and, pushing open the door, my porter led
the Way into large, bare roonl--bare Of fur
and the paneled walls were adorned with fruit
and flowers, finely carved but much hacked and
defaeed. There were tables all along the room,
covered with oil.eloth, where one or two groups
seemingly OF emisrants, were sitting with bags Of
prOvender beside them, drinking beer out or huge
mugs and discussing bread and onions, cheese
and garlic, with much apparent relish.
10 one corner OF the room sat family group OF
care-worn, homely people, who seemed to be In
Ing stockings; another was at WORK with a sewing
machine; children were busy over their lesson
books, and pale and misunderstanding youth, In
making a
this last my conductor addressed himself, evi.
denty on the subject OF my sojourn there. Isnould
have Liked 10 joined the conversation, but the pale
youth spoke only Dutch. Thus was very much
at the mercy OF my nondescript porter from the
quay. who seemed TO be taking carte blanche as 70
In spectacles looked puzzled, undecided; but ct
last ne handed key TO the porter, VINO forthwith,
Ia triumphant manner, shouldered my portman-
teau and led the way up more lights OF stairs, ever
growing darker and sleeper.
Then we came to a really handsome chamber
panslled aud carved Ike the other, but much more
deliberately furnished: velvet coucnes glldsd
chairs, mirrors sconces clocks all kinds OF bric.a-
brac numbered the room, leaving Just space FOR
sive box pedsteads, each occupied by two epor-
nous feather beds These two last pieces OF furni-
ture attracted my attention most There was not
the yestise OF any kind or accessories In the way
OF sheets, pillows, or bolsters but the feather
beds were deiiciJ Justly soft and inviting Dismiss
Ing my managing porter with gratuity. which,
locked the door with the huge key and, kicking on
my shoes jumped into the middle OF the feather
beds. Next moment was fast asleep.
awoke with q start and a strange nightmarish
feenng about me. IL was midnight, and all the
elocHs in the room were Ginning the hour one
after another, In every variety OF tone. But late
as IT was, the narrow street below was full OF life
and noise. Never had 1 heard such bapel OF
SHOUTING and laughter; Street music. songs from
sailors taverns roar Oh voices everywhere
everywhere, that Is but in this particular house,
which seemed as silent as the grave.
My room must have been several noors above the
street: but the houses opposite were equally tan,
and every door oftnem was lighted up and wide
Just In face OF my window supper party was going
on, all In full dress with choice dishes, and nasks OF
sight made me hungry; ] was weak indeed ana
exhausted from hunger, for ! had tasted nothing
since breakfast, and yet had probably slept away
ali chance OF getting. anything to eat.
II was strange chamber, this OF mine; there
was no bell-pull or other me rs OF communicalin0
az s
even matches. There was just light enough from
the street 10 show me the way about the room,
body TO give me supper, or, any how. lighta The
room opened upon q narrow landing, and another
door should nave given entrance to the stairs but
Yet surely they were honest people, those down
below the mild young man in spectacles the IN
thief or murderer on their brows. That locking
up was accidental perhaps, or We will say q Gus
arm and sod listened nten ns az The
Not q sound was to be heard And yet-yes-as /
| listened I heard from far below the meas
ured tramp OF footsteps on the stairs. 1t
was ghostly, eerte sound, muf1ed and
soft, a. the footsteps mounted stage by
stage The sound scarcely increased; foot
steps mufled and soft, and yet with Q regular,
rhythmic beat, as II many were treading kind Of
military marcn. Perhaps they were ghosts after
all-the burgher guard out OF some old picture
marching to supper In their former quarters or
Remorandts night-watch, who had stepped
boldly out OF the canvas
The footsteps stopped at the landing Just beneath
ately below. After all, IL was perhaps only a
friendly party who had come 70 sup together
Anyhow, they could have nothing to DO with me /
rcturned TO my room, locked the door, and took a
seat by the window, feeling sense Of companion
ship and security In the noisy streets and the
lights from peoples windows. think must
have dozed In my chair. for when reused myself
| gone out, and the whole city seemed 70 Sleep
Three O'Clock rang out, most dismal and depress-
I Ing OF all the short hours. could hear no move
/ ment In the moor below: but then the timbers and
beams were thick and strong, and little sound
| could penetrate. Then I certainly heard q sound
dull, yet distant, as II number OF people sitting
| In company, had risen simultaneously, slightly
/ pushing back their chairs The noise somehow
! appalled, me. IL was as II jury had risen and
were about 20 deliver their verdict But what had
\ that 10 do with me?
But there was decided stir and movement BE-
! low, and creeping 10 the door TO listen, surely
heard footsteps ascending the stairs to my land.
enough The door OF the staircase was unlocked
and opened cautiously, and footsteps advanced
softly 10 the door OF my chamber. From my post
OF observation I could hear the slow, regular