Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-24

this accursed world for whom 1 care a snap
of the ingersr'
He seized my hand with grasp of iron
snd wrung il.
We've been through all sorts of things
together, old fellow: we won't part nowi
We don't leave much. There are too many
blanks in the lottery OF this world to make
it worth living in. Life is Dead Sea
apple at best! Shall we stay to face the
shame, the disgrace, the pity, the -?
Harkr'
The boom of gun came sullenly over the
quiet harbor.
The mail was in.
l uttered an oath and strobe toward the
pistol case. Helmsdorf stopped me.
STEADY, old iellowr" said he. Lets go
10 work quietly. Look here!'
He led me hy the arm to the window,
which looked out into large courtyard.
'See! There is old Pensioner Williams
lighting the lamps He's a very methodical
old chap, and will be ten minutes at least
lighting them round the court. know his
mai bits perfectly; he will light all round the
court first, and last of all he will light the
two lamps on that post in the center OF the
yard.
Now. Ned, old fellow, listen to me. 1
shall 60 to my room and get my pistols
readv ! shall write 4 few lines TO say it's
nobody's fault but NV own, and to tell
Dolby | am sorry l let him in. By that
time the lamps will be nearly all lighted. 1
shall watch old Williams, and when he
lights the right-hand lamp of those two in
The center l shall 90. When he lights the
left-hand lamp you will come, too. We
might have bet" he added with CHASTITY
U'e~rimeut, (which lamp he will light first ="
There was pause.
,el-o EIo1r
Oh, the black despair in my young heartl
Yes" answered calmly, and we shook
hands orce more. We ielt we should not
me-. earth again.
"You remember the story of Clive?" cried
Helmsdorf, whose spirits seemed wildly ex-
cited. az sw he snapped 4 pistol twice at
his head, and when it failed TO go of the
second time he took it as a sign from heaven
that lie was preserved Tor something famous
Perhaps something of the kind may happen
10 one OF usi''
His manner changed suddenly. He seized
me by the shoulder and looked straight into
my eyes. l have never forgotten his look,
anu never shall. 1t comes TO my recol-
lection over the mists of years with the
reality OF life.
"Goodby, Ned" he SAID, at length, "till
them
He left the room and closed the door. /
heard him walk down the corridor TO his
room, which was only four or five from ME.
l heard his door shut and all was quiet L
looked out into the courtyard through my
window. II was dull, murkv evening.
The sounds Of the life and movement of the
barracks some distance beyond reached me
fIintlv, making the surrounding stiffness
more marked. The old penSiOner WAS NOV
lug his ladder to begin lighting the second
u. l.
Never in my life was L calmer. L went to
my pistol case and loaded NV pistols with
scrupulous care That finished. TOOK pen
aud paper and sat down TO write TO my
father
How often in after years, when the tortur-
ing remembrance of that horrible evening
comes before me, have | Shuddered to think
OF the black wickedness of my heart at the
time. No thought of my mother seemed TO
come over me; only seemed to feel sort
of selfish satisfaction in Furnishing my
father Tor his refusal to assist ne, and kind
of relief at the near prospect OF release from
my disgrace.
f'dv dear father" wrote, ';by the time
YOU get this YOU will have heard that l am
dead. l gave checks on the agents, think
ing you would be sure TO help me, as was
in trouble, and. as l told you, wanted the
money urgently. As l find from your letter
that you have not placed any money to my
credit, these checks will be dishonored.
"Ofcourse YOU know this means the loss
of NY commission, nv honor, and all that
makes life worth living.
81 do not blame you, as l suppose you are
saving what is true when you tell me YOU
cannot afford to help me. / see no way out
of NV trouble but this. 1 cannot face the
shame before me. Give my love to my dear
i L G.- ,an
son. EDWARD ENGLETHoRPE."
laid down the pen aaa looked out OF the
window. Old Williams had just finished
lighting tine last lamp In the court and was
advancing with his ladder to the lanp-post
in the center. My heart gave one thEob. l
took up my pistol and waited. He began
with the right hand lamp!
There was a sort OF buZZing in nv ears as
/ idly watched. My hour was then post
poned brief space. l siew him arrange the
wick, and then, with mis- taper, light the
lamp. Hardly had the fame shone forth
when / heard a SOUND like the slamming
of distant door, The singing in my ears
grew louder. Old Williams descended
his ladder, placed it against the opposite
rest. and ascended to light the second lamp,
tha; on the LETT. placed the muzzle of nv
pistol between nv teeth. What was the old
man iumbling about? Would it never light?
was ouite calm and motionless. l recollect
that could think quite distinctly. 1 de-
termined that l would not touch the trigger
till the lamp was alight, and sat grimly
watching.
But it never did light. After handling it
for some time the old man lifted the lamp
out OF its socket; it was evidently out of re-
pair. He took 1t down with him, shouldered
his ladder, and went away. leaving one lamp
burning only. Then there came upon me a
sudden and violent reaction. l laid down
the pistol and sat trembling in every limb
1 don't know how long 1 sat in the dark
helpless, half stunned with shuddering
thoughts which 1 felt powerless to give
shape to. At length 1 was reused by a
knock at the door.
mail letters, sir" said the voice OF the
post sergeant through the gloom.
rose mechs nically and opened the door,
There were two letters for ME. took them
and dismissed him. lit 4 candle and tore
open the first. 1t was from my agents:
"SIR-We beg to acquaint you that a draft
for e4OO has been placed this day to your
credit.
1--WE have honored the drafts PAYABLE to
Captain Holmes, Quartermaster Braham,
Messrs. Saccone S Co., and Messrs. De
Larios, leaving your account with tile bal
ance OF e127 Is Sd in your favor. We re-
main, sir, Your obedient servants,
HAMMOND & Co."
l opened the other letter. 1t was from my
mother.
.'Why, dearest Ned, did you not write
and tell me of your troubles? You know,
NV darling, how dearly love you. and that
l,Ii a.