Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-10-26
DEATH AND A LIVING LOVE.
BY WALTER LITTLEFIELD.

D
moss 7 assembled the creaking, narrow
old stairway TO my office. Pauslng on
the landing moment Tor oreath l
glanced out through the dust-covered
names down upon the busy street pc
/ meath A few Streaks of bright july
sunshine struggled through the window
and fell upon the floor i'm long strips oil
duskv yellow light. Then | went on.
It seemed that it had never taken me so
long before TO climb those two lights.
All. but then | was younger-two
months Younger. l reached my door,
and the next moment l had turned Vhe
key and entered.
How dark everything seemed. could
scarcely see my hand before me, ana
moving cautiously along reached the
window and undid the shutters. In a
second the room was filled with llght
and | could look about me.
Yes. yes, the place is very much as
left il. There is the heavy antique
bookcase that had been my father ;,
and behind it's half-raised curtain l
catch sight of the sombre volumes OF his
school. Above on little shelf Is an ar
raw of vials, the labels of which bear his
handwriting. 1t was years since he placed
them there with his parting advice;
and vet, il seems but yesterday; ana
now he is gone. On the other side OF
the room stands my bookcase, and
through the glass doors l read the titles
of many books Of our modern school OF
medicine. and above, under an oval
globe. is my microscope. How wildly
recall the day, but three years ago,
when | had bought it with my "own''
money, the first money that | had
earned myself. As look over the room
a thousand recOllections pass through
nv mind of things long gone by, thou
sand forms and faces and faces troop in
endless confusion before my eyes, pic
lures appear and vanish and reappear
again: the breath that enters at the win
dow seems to viyify them, then it rouSeS
me, and with a sigh | drop into my
chair. and, with my hands claSped be-
| fore me, my head sunk upon my breast,
| remain mOtiOnleSS and in deep thought.
Suddenly l start. No, no, l heard
nothing. 1t was only the leaves ruStling
among the trees outside my window,
perhaps. And yet. there il is again.
All, l hear it plainly now. 1t is COM
ing nearer and nearer, that rustic again.
and at my door.
Slowly the door swings back on its
hinges, then closes again, as if one had
entered, yet l saw nothing. a strange
/ feeling steals over me that penetrateS
through every fibre of my body, feel
| ing of nameleSS dread; il eXertS itself
upon me and soon am completely in
its power. Now as look up start in
deed.
"Ah, yes, you have come. You
startled me- | did not know at first.
An. you come to see if l have kept my
promise. No fear of that, Mamie. Ha,
| Ina. you shall see; you will think ii beau
tiful as | do, perhaps, but you must not
| love it for it is mine now; mine, and you
no longer have any right to it. No, no:
YOU must not forget. 1t was your dying
wish. Hank. | remember your very
words: Mamie, love you more than
my life, and yet | can do nothing, moth
/ ing, but after | am dead promise me
that you will do that Yes, those were
your words. and have kept that prom
| Use. oh. so faithfully. You doubtful
no, that cannot be; and yet-well, | will
show you"
arise and approach the table on
which lies large handbag that | had
| set down there on my entrance. Spring
| ing back the clasps | open it, and draw
forth an object carefully enveloped in
linen.
Removing the wrapping with the
greatest care, piece by piece, at length
the object itself appeared in view, and
second later | hold in my hand a
human skull. 1t is Il small skull, and
of perfect proportions. The bone is
polished almost To reflection; the teeth
are set in perfect symmetry, and CLEAN
like the purcSt pearl. l hold it to my
| face and press my lips TO those teeth. |
/ kiss those stony checks and those hollow
cavcrnS. where once had burned the
lights that flashed into my very soul.
Still holding the skull tightly claSped
i'm my hands | sink back into my chair.
Two monthS-two ycarS-two cen
turtles. 1t is all the same.
Once more that strange feeling asserts
itself upon me and once more give way
TO its pressure. feel like one fascinated
by fatal charm. l lift my head. \
strange picture met my gaze.
The dusty old Office is Shrunk into 4
long and narrow room. Two rows OF
seats line the sides and there are many.
many narrow windows. looking through
which l behold rapidly shifting scenes.
There are forests, meadows, long
stretch of sand with the sea beyond, and
then the roofs and SteepleS of Il great
my eyes. Now am in that great city.
see 10 all-the broad. sunny avenues,
the stately mansions, the walks shaded
with palmcttoS, the carriages passing,
the children playing under the trees,
and above the pale blue sky. Yes, yes.
| remember | have called myself an in
valid. and now in this far of Southern
city. will enjoy life and will live as
fancy pleaSeS. go TO the theatre, | go
To the opera, there are midnight scenes
over the green table. there are luXur-
iouS drives in the park in the after
noon. when the sun struggling through
yaporS which arise from the river APP
pears like a blood-red ball. and cool
breath is waited northward from the
gulf. have letters, too. and | soon
find myself attending receptions, calling
at beautiful villas, or slipping tea in
some shady nook among the oranges
and palmettoS.
One night, amid the flowers and the
music of the ball she comes. She. for
whom have been waiting so long and
patiently; she. my ideal. Her dark eyes
search for second i'm those gray ones
of mine, for an instant her lingering
hand trembleS.
We have met; that is all
Yet again and again we meet. We
walk together through the old garden
by the Sulen river. The atmosphere is
dull aud heavy; the sun beats down with
unrelenting fervor; my brain seems
stined in the mStS of doubt and hope.
The sun sinks ont of sight behind the
leaden banks of copper-tinted clouds.
These sink with it, and suddenly