Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-05-01
THREE GLIMPSES.

'How are youH"-indifferently.
f'You remember me?"
eyes"
"Sure?"
"Quite"
ssThat's odd. Satisfy me by mentioning
when and where we met"
midway across Brooklyn bridge, 2
o'clock in the morning, a year ago, when
you asked for light from my cigar"
''You have good memory for faces.
sir"
81 have; though in this case no better
than yourself"
"But I had reason for observing you,
for was to meet man did not know by
sight, and asking for light was merely a
signal. My cigar was not really out"
81 observed as much when the ash fell
off, and eyed you narrowly in conse-
quence."
sDid you, indeed Then the wonderment
diminishes.
"Will you take cigar?"
Thanks; and if you wish to return the
favor of year ago-a light"
1t was summer night; the two men had
casually entered a restaurant on Union
square when a mutual glance of recogni-
ton had led to the foregoing dialogue.
The first speaker, he who had had the
appointment on the bridge, was man in
the prime of life, and one who would have
been remarked for his handsome appear
ance in any gathering of male beauties.
An ingratiating smile played about his
mouth, an air of comfortable assurance
pervaded his person, his eyes moved leis-
urely, as if in expectation of customary
good news, suggesting ready disposition
to share any favors the gods might send
him-a man whom ninety-nine out Of a
hundred would trust at sight, and despair
of their senses when they found themselves
betrayed.
The other could make no pretension to
good looks, yet his was a good face, an in
telligent face, conspicuous by pair of
heavy eyebrows, pale complexion and an
expression which seemed wavering be-
tween sadness and merriment. He bore
signs of rough usage, but none of defeat.
Horatio-like, perhaps he had learned to
take fortunes Bullets and rewards with
equal thanks. His inferior attire, smooth
shaven face, when taken in connection
with the almost historical haunt where we
find him, would have led any one to de-
scribe him for just what he was-an actor.
81 can't help thinking, none the less"
the conversation, "that it is most sur
prising coincidence our meeting again in
this fashion and recognizing each other?''
And he turned look of deep inquiry on
his new acquaintance.
"Don't you?" he added emphatically, to
provoke an expression of opinion the actor
seemed dubious of venturing.
This gentleman shrugged his shoulders,
oh fI1r of c,pOlra from, hic nd
replied:
my opinion is that there is more method
in the chapter of accidents than we are ever
likely to give the author credit for. Ihave
almost ceased to believe in the thing called
chance. There is divinity which shapes
our ends, rough hew them how we may,'
excuse me quoting, it is a way have got.
But talking of our meeting a year ago and
remembering each other now, reminds me
of curious experience I had about that
time, and will illustrate my point. By the
way, it is a small boast of mine that I
never forget face, and sooner or later can
invariably place it."
81, for one, am not disposed to challenge
your faculty."
The actor acknowledged the compliment
with wave of his cigar, and continued:
"Well, sir, within three months I had
three glimpses of a girls face, each by the
veriest chance, as you might well say; for
few seconds of time, a few feet of space,
and the opportunities would never have
existed. Yet those three occasions were
three links in tragedy"
The professional man tilted his chair
back against the wall and prepared to be-
gin Fragments of their discourse had
caught the interest of several bystanders,
so his immediate companion was by no
means the Thespian's only auditor.
II was standing on Broadway with some
old comrades In art-funny don't see any
of them here tonight-lingering to hear
the last of pretty good story. The climax
was a good one, and / wheeled sharply
round, doubled up with laughter, and only
just succeeded in checking myself in time
to avoid serious collision with a lady and
gentleman on the middle of the sidewalk.
| raised my eyes and was about to, but
have misgivings that I failed to raise my
hat. But had ample excuse, for then
got my first glimpse at the face ! am tell
ing you about. All! what q glorious face
It was All bloom and health. Baby golden
hair frizzed over her forehead. Great blue
eyes full of original sunshine, happy as love
could make them. l went my way some
thing richer for peep at that face. tried
to compute the benefit that girl could con-
fer by just walking up q principal thor
oughfare. caught myself murmpring
Wordsworth before knew it;
Her hair was fair, oh very fair.
Her beauty made me glad.
'sBut, after all, what was she to me. ]
soon ceased to think of her.
SIT must have been five or six weeks
later when, rushing up town on business, l
found that string of horse cars on Broad
way had caused q block on Twentyvthird
street. In my haste I was lodging to and
| fro for an opening to squeeze by the car
| riage which stood upon the crossing, when
a movement of its solitary occupant caught
my eye and again revealed to me-yes, gen
tlemen, the same young lady, indeed, but
not the same face. It would be difficult to
tell you by what details / knew it again.
for it was coloriess and inanimate. 1t was
still beautiful, but wore an expression sim
Div appalling in the depth OF It's despair
Such changed | had fancied that face tbs
gar,len playground Of love a-,d hone if h.
become In comparison o desolate waste.
The golden hair remained, the large EYES
were there, but the look of dumb wretchea-
ness, of suppressed terror that glowed in
them made me shudder and forbade the
question what might be the cause. Next
moment the block was relieved, Che car
riage rolled away and pursued my own
affairs.
Il almost wish 1 had not begun this tale,
for the end is painfully sad. It was, if l
remember rightly, two or three weeks later
that I was returning one fine moonlight
night from Staten Island with boatload
of passengers, I, as usual, riding at the
stern. We had just made our South Ferry
moorings, and the usual rush had only
begun at the other end of the boat, when q
voice cried out, Look there, it's a woman
Turning back with the rest looked down
into the water, and there, bobbing about
on the choppy waves, with her poor dead
face toward the moon. saw her again.
She was not SO much changed this time. I
knew her at once. but probably would not