Evening journal., 1891-08-27
THREE GLIMPSES.

"W-w-welp'-withm much surprise.
"Humphr-with little pleasure.
"How are ur'-approachingly
"How are you9'-indifferently.
"You remember mep
Dyes
"SureY"
Quite
"That's odd. Satisfy me by mentioning
when and where we met"
Midway across Brooklyn bridge, .
o'clock In the morning, year ago, when
you asked for a light from my cigar"
you have a good memory for faces,
sir.p
II have; though in this case no better
| than yourself"
"But / had reason for observing you,
for / was TO meet man did not know by
sight, and asking for a light was merely a
signal. My cigar was not really out"
II observed as much when the ash fell
Off, and eyed you narrowly in conse-
Quence."
"Did you, indeed Then the wonderment
! diminishes
"Will you take cigarf"
'Thanks; and il you wish TO return the
/ favor Of n year ago-a light"
It was a summer night; the two men had
casually entered restaurant on Union
square when mutual glance of recogni-
ton had led to the foregoing dialogue.
The first speaker, he who had had the
/ appointment on the bridge, was a 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
peryaded his person, his eyes moved les-
urely, as If in expectation Of customary
good news, suggesting a ready disposition
to share any fayors the gods might send
him-a man whom ninety-nine out Of q
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, a 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
shaver face, when taken in connection
with the almost historical haunt where we
I
scribe him for just what he was-an actor.
81 can't help thinking, none the less, I"
resumed the first, who had rather forced
the conversation, that it is a most sur
prising coincidence our meeting again in
this fashion and recognizing each otherg"
And he turned look Of deep inquiry on
his new acquaintance.
Don't your he added emphatically, to
provoke an expression of opinion the actor
seemed dubious Of venturing.
This gentleman shrugged his shoulders,
shot funnel of smoke from his lips and
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 have
almost ceased TO believe in the thing called
chance. There is a divinity which shapes
our ends. rough hew them how we may,
excuse me quoting, IL is a way have got
But talking OF our meeting year ago and
remembering each other now, reminds me
of a curious experience / had about that
, time. and will illustrate my point. BY the
! way, il is small boast of mine that
never forget a face, and sooner or later can
invariably place it,"
Il, for one, am not disposed to challenge
I your faculty"
The actor acknowledged the compliment
4 with a wave of his cigar, and continued:
!, "Well, sir, within three months / hac
three glimpses of girls face, each by tn,
/, veriest chance, as you might well say; foi
a few seconds of time, few feet Of space
and the opportunities would never have
existed. Yet those three occasions wer,
i three links in a tragedy"
The professional man tilted his chair
back against the wall and prepared to be
4 gin. Fragments Of their discourse ha,
d caught the interest OF several bystanders
y so his immediate companion was by nj
q means the Thespian's only auditor.
Il was standing on Broadway with som
d old comrades In art-funny don't see AM
Of them here tonight-lingering to hea
q the last Of pretty good story. The climai
u was a good one, and | wheeled sharpl
round, doubled up with laughter, and onl
a. just succeeded in checking myself in tim
q to avoid a serious collision with lady anl
IN, gentleman on the middle OF the sidewalk
/, l raised my eyes and was about to, bu
v have misgivings that / failed to raise m
\, hat. But had ample excuse, for then
OIL got my first glimpse at the face / am tel
e. ing you about. Ali what a glorious fac
It was. All bloom and health. Baby golde
o., hair frizzed over her forehead Great blu
~ eyes fun Of original sunshine, happy as Low
~ could make them. | went my way som,
" thing richer for peep at that face trie
to compute the benefit that girl could COZ
-le fer by just walking up a principal tho
ne oughfare l caught myself murmurin
nu Wordsworth before knew il;
Her hair was fair, on very fair,
VI Her beautg made me glad.
os, "But, after all, what was she 10 me.
nd soon ceased TO think OF her.
- 1T must have been five or six weel
later when, rushing up town on business
found that a string Of horse cars on Broa
IS way had caused block on Twenty-thii
m street. In my haste was lodging to al
IS, fro for an opening to squeeze by the ca
riage which stood upon the crossing, whC
is a movement of its solitary occupant caug
es- my eye and again revealed to me-yes, ge
w., tlemen, the same young lady, indeed, b
a. not the same face. Il would be difficult
ast tell yoJ by what details / knew it agai
len for it was coiorless and inanimate. 1t W
re- still beautiful, but wore an expression Sit
INK ply appalling in the depth of its despa
In Such a changed had fancied that face t
in garden playground Of love and hope, it b