Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-07-11
FATALISM.

Exquisite: the duck pie that the cook
had served that morning for breakfast
at the club! Too exquisite, in fact, for
my fricad Robert Mcrcer and | had
made such Il hole in it that, OH rising
from the table, we felt vague sensation
: OF slcepincss and congestion
"Will you take walk with mc2r
asked Robert. "Let us go to MI rooms.
want to show you two new pictures"
"All right"
1t was long since had had an oppor-
tunity of an hours stroll with this good
comradc, and it was source of regret to
me. 1t was but few years before that
he led au outdoor life, and one met him
: constantly. But suddenly he stopped
going to the races, TO the theatre, to the
+ club, into society, without any apparent
reason to explain this change. was
thinking of these things rs walked with
him through the Champs -Elysees
1t was one O'Clock. At that hour of
the day il was too late for the riders to
be out, and too early for the flow of the
elegant society cIuipaees toward the
Bois dc Bonlo3ne. The cold, deserted
avenue had the freezing appearance of
some broad country road Scarcely were
there few cabs here and there, the
drivers nuilcd up in red comfortcrs,
with their right hand, which held the
reins, thrust into their coat A file of dirt
carts. loaded with the debris of the EN-
position, VAS passing along. From time
to time. also, some sober and richly
cushioned landau, with footman on the
scat, and, inside, the long light hair of
children, aud the sharp profile of nov
erness.
We were walking very fast, oppressed
by the cold, smoking our cigars with
rapid paiis, and not saying much, when
with . common movement we stopped 10
look at superb bay cob, harncsscd to Il
tlbury, who was coming in our Gircc-
ton at Il gait that showed supple strength
and perfect rhythm. Just then we were
opposite lie Palaisc dc rIndustric, nj
most at the corner OF the Avenue Marirny.
AT the precise moment when the horse
was passing by us, he slipped with all
four feet, and fell to the ground heavily.
Passersby came running up. Soon
there was group, talkin. and gcsticu-
lating. At last the horse was cytricatcd.
raised up and led away by the bride.
The carriage, one of the shafts OF which
was broken, was hauled to the nearest
'carriagc- house by team OF oiiicious by
ISLANDERS, among them, of course, a
kitchen maid.
AS we moved off, said to my friend:
"A fine invention, decidedly. this wooden
pavement At fhc least frost. the slight
est dr.%zlc, these horses are unable to
stand nr. | have seen seven or eight
accidents myself, on this very spot,
within year.
Robert, turning very pale, answered
me in IL very strange voice, that was also
a little hard:
eff so many accidents happen on this
spot, 1t is my fault"
"Your fault You are mad -
mo; but morally am innocent"
And he continued, for my air of
amazement implied all possible interrora
lions for enlightenment:
"Ah, my dear fellow, how incidents
OF no apparent importance sometimes nm
set our whole lives! You must have
asked Yourself why have changed nv
way OF living. l am going to tell Won
the story, which has opened my eyes to
the invisible world
This phrase, and especially its conclu-
sion, flied me with some anxiety
whether 1T was the duck pic, or the fear
OF seeing Robert so mad, do not know.
but felt disagrecable cramp in my
stomach. With wandering eyes and con-
sracted brow he continued:
Coy OH rpmpmbnr ~ oNr,,a Co,,..::
his tragic death about Two gears and n
hall ago. On reaching home one night.
l found letter in which he announced
to me his intention of killing himself.
immediately hurried to the little hotel in
the Rue dies Saussaies, dismal den where
he had lived since his misfortune. mr..
rived too late; he had hanged himself.
While the servant went in search of
useless doctor and to notify the police. |
remained there, alone with the body.
which we had stretched upon the bed.
Around the neck very slight violet
streak, countenance that was almost
smiling, the chin thrown n little forward
AS l took few steps toward the maptcl
piece to light two candles, my foot caught
IN the rope that We had cut and thrown
upon the ground. curiosity seized me
"A curiosity that was mingled with a
sort of timid respect-to get Il closer view
to examine and feel this thing that had
killed. 1t was curtain cord, covered
with red worstcd, and looking harmless
enough; and while was handling it
thinking What it was this!' and filled
with that establishment which always
comes from finding so paltry and simple
the factors OF the problem of death, which
seems to us so gigantic, there came to my
mind that old superstition which makes
tho rope with which n man has been
hanged an infallible talisman of good
luck"
"Weli, you took the rope. But do
not see the relation"
"Waitl No, did not take the rome.
The police officer who was coming would
ask TO sec it, and should blush little
at this fit of superstition. But I cut off
n little niece of il two or thrno ipoba, =;