The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-01

lcNNl uttu ttIsch WIN MS lhcUpmrNh
stature, contrastei with those ~nO had been
standing beside him. VINO could the man
be, AMI what on earth was he waiting there
tor; 1t crossed my mind that this must Do
either one OF the dOmiu0ed incOgaiti who
had been following in the Passion process
ii 40. or else one OF the CapuChins from q
neighbOring monastery; but a friar would
hardly stroll in to listen 10 "a military band
and then stand stOck-still alone under the
windows Of the officers mess. With thC
mOmentary passing thought came the sound
of pretty loud talking. and occasionally q
laugh, from the litup anterO0m opposite
where 10 was plain some Of our fellows must
be. probably engaged az whist, loo, or some
other card game. Why, cannot tell, but
along with = feeling of indeinab.e r,-
pulsiOn toward him, an Impulse seized me
% watch the muficd stranger closely. and
at the same time an awakening conscious
ness that had better walk straight over
and ask the man what he wanted there at
That time of night As my gaze fastened il
self on the mOuOnless figure, whose head
seemed in the bright moonlight 10 be bent %
little % one side in an intent listening atti-
tsde. became conscious OF Kind of chill
and numbne,s creeping through my limbs.
with that horrible sense Of inability 10
move Harvard one occasionally experiences
in dreams when something dreadful is
going 20 happen which one wants to avert.
Yes. who ever the man was, most assuredly
he must be watching and waiting and lis-
lening for something or somebody in tue
mess-rOem. with that strained intentncsss
vet alb sOlutequ iescence of POSTURE But why
This vehement and altogether unaccount-
able forebOding of impending evil borne in
upon me.
These bethlnkngs, however, were all the
of d
still riVeted on the mysterious watcher,
heard several voices within the room cal
ling out in excited tones as though some
alteration were gOin- on. one voice above
all the others came with a kind OF -tFldent
sharpness through the open window. in
which il was easy to recognize D-'shard
aud distinct accent seem 90 hear the
words rdsping out now AS ] write. 81 tell
YOU dealt myself the ace of spades;' then
another voice. young As, "I'll take my
oath you dante and then a terrible impre-
cation from D., which viii not repeat.
invoking the Prince of Darkness 90 The
ruin Of his soul and body il what he had
stated was not the truth.
As the last words struck ON my ear the
tall cl0aked figure made AN instantaneous
movement, leaped mp with "a light. swift
spring TO The window sin hC vas etanlins
under. ANA disappeared through the muslin
curtains into the room, for ! Was unable 20
see further into 1T from my position. An
other instant, and am ear-piercing scream
rang QUA harsh, appalling cry az Of
miugle pain, rage and terror from one in
dire oXtremity-and 10 my horror and utter
amazement he i'm the cloak rcappeared at
the window with D. grlpped in his arms.
and half slung over one shoulder, apparent
| iy struggling desperately. one instant
both faces were visible in the mn0nli- ht.
DIS CHASTITY and couvulsed. the other
set back IN It's sOmbre hood and covered
with a black domino. from the eyelet, OF
which / was near enough % catch. as
fancied, "a hghtning-nash of neudish malig-
nancy ana eNultatl0u. Ere could collect
my bewildcred senses sufficiently % rush
across % stop them, which / did moment
ater. both men had vanished round AN
angle Of the building. After them
ria he'd, shouting To- the gate-scntry to
alarm the guard, bat on reaching The rear 0l
the block not "a soul was i'm sight. Out
turned the guard, and telling the sergeant
TO take file and search the inciosure for
TWO men fighting. he ran round 10 the
mess-rOom. Meanwhile, and before
could reach the entrauce.d or % the mess
the bell inside was ringing out peal after
peal and an Orlcer came tearing oul full
tit, nearly knocking me down. 'What i-
n.y. | burst out. &C.. here's c." tour
regimental doctor; ''is Dee in his ga after, ="
was the simultaneous counter question
aud away hc rushed toward the quarter
where Dr.. G. was located. ] ran into tbo
ante-rOOm, along with one or two of tine
mess walters. heiicf-skClter. And what "a
sight inside! There, huddlcd ln group.
with pale, scared faces. q whist table over
turned and q litter OF cafds strewn all over
the lOor. were some hali-lolen of ms come
rades of the til. STOPPING over The pros
traic form Of D., who lay mOtiOnlDs..
with lips apart. eyeblll. fixed and staring.
his head lying back. supported hy one of
our fellows. 10 was q terrible moment
The surg 'pu, c.. came in a minute after.
tore open ID -', WalstcOat aud shirt l
looked hard at him. knelt down and pat hi,
ear 10 the drawn mouth, felt about The rec
giOn, OF the heart and sh0Ok his head. Life /
was extinct
As for myself could hardly believe my |
senses. The man | had Just seen bodily /
carried on struggling IN the arms OF an un- /
known individual. lying here dead-itI
seemed an absolute ha.lucinatiOn, / was /
o taken aback tO ask q single question.
but as ny inquiring ewes went round The
'ircle o. assembled officers 1 could see ON
he cOunteRan.os OF all a certain cQnstraint
mingled with their horror, but not sylla-
Die was said. IL was plain there was a
%
the remains Of the Inflated D. were
TO spare room in the officer.
quarters, and there la.l out 10 await official
proceedings ON the morrow.
10 was not I'LL after the funeral that l..
earned what had caused the uprOar and II
liberation ia the messrOOm, which imme-
lately preceded the terribly sudden catas-
ropOe OF that memorable night. Aud even
4 this distance Of time, / tell the clrcum.
ktrft r.lff IA
nd diued with the regiment. and after the
and finished playing, he and some half +,
oxen subalterns sat down TO play yngt- .
t-un. The stakes were high. and il was {
sm9rked that D. turned up q remarka. 1
L. number of "naturals." " a not
'ng-I Joined ensign, had been dealt an ace
{ spades, and stood" Al the conclusion
the round, D, who was dealing again D.
lowed a natural the ace of which prov b
! 10 be the ace Of spades. This. oil
curse, was too much for young N,
'een ~ he was; ana though the tricks of ,
lo "heatheu Chlnec' had not then been ~
lug, the case was maniiestly something of n
e same Kind as that worthy's perform. e.
nee. Hence the indignant Iemunstrancc n
afted out 60 my ears in the barrack u
uare, followed by that awful OATH Where. q
pom, according 20 some Of the party. "a
omentary gust Of air seemed 20 shake the
rther WlnGoW-sash, and simultaneously 1
g card table was stirred-it was. they y
ID. like the tremor Of a slight earthquake
ock-and straightway D. threw his
ads up and fell back In his chair, gurg. an
x like one in tt. The rest | have told. ~
d lwill say no more upon this. Which OF or
Is prepared % east stone at an erriug ii
lther. le4swise when he is gone. IN
Needless 10 say, the officers of Her Mai so
vs. til were for long thereafter uncom- ne
My chary Of comforting upon outsiders nd
privilege Of honorary membership OF an
lr mess. And for many year the trag.
circumstances | have set down. with
haps somewhat imperfect recollection Mr.
minor details, fingered on in the regi. ior
NJ as kind OF tradition. 10 be talked ssooi
r on occasions, aud ampliied in various Tw
~. But as for s. (Of whom more
'ently) and myself we kept our impress a
Is. as far as possible, 20 ourselves, srl
igh something about them necessarily fach
led out through the guard and sentry / Nae
hailed, and from nay original state. ~
10 concerning the twain believe had %
50 palpably Ia the moonlight. .na