Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-01-24


swered me we had walked out of the
room and had reached the sunny
sidewalk of Broadway. Well-dress-
ed people were Fastening up and
down; carriages were rolling by; a
tall, comedy policeman was standing
on the corner; n group of men, with
big mustaches and coarse, hand
some faces, were talking and laugh.
ing on the porch OF a hotel opposite;
the shop windows were bright and
neat-it was lively scene. 1t move.
lnent aud hustle are life, New York
is very much alive.
II am considered fortunate per.
son, said Mowbray. II am twenty.
four years of age; am in posses.
sion of property to the amount OF
500, 900, and a member of the best
club, go to church Sundays, have
seat on change, and am engaged to
marry the finest Girl in New York.
I'm in sound health, and, in short,
I'm in the swim in every way. If you
took even money that I'd live to be
100, enjoy myself every hour of the
time, and went to heaven at the end
OF it, you would think you were play
ing to big luck. All the same, life, as
philosophers say, is mighty uncer-
tain. Come along and see
What are you going to dor"
asked.
Il am going to prove that time is
an Illusion" replied he, laughing
again. IF one looks back over his
career he can compress all its lead.
ing events within the limits of a day.
After all what's the difference? The
end comes, whether it he tomorrow
or century hence. The first thing
am going to do is to call on Mabel
Gracom. to whom | am engaged.
When that is over the rest will come
easier"
We had been walking up Fifth
avenue and now turned into a side
street, and in few steps stopped at
q handsome house and rang the bell.
We were admitted and presently a
beautiful girl entered the room.
The weird paleness OF her face, the
darkness OF her hair and eyes, the
rounded Wilderness of her throat,
the slender yet vigorous grace of her
/ figure, and the sweet fascination of
her manner made her q woman for
whose love man might gladly give
up all other ambitions. And this
was Mabel Gracom.
/ Mowbray stepped forward to meet
her He took her hand in his and
bent to kiss her. But before their
4 lips touched he drew back and DELHI
erately struck her across the face
/ with his open palm.
\ She staggered and gazed at him in
terror and amazement. Then ne
I spoke, and never have listened to
words OF insult and outrage more
biting and objectionable. The girls
face famed and paled by turns. She
was beaten down and crushed by
the weight of hideous mockery and
vituperation. But at length the
fire of maidenly Indignation famed
up within her and gave her strength.
She lifted her head and in few
naughty words bade him begone and
never see her face again. He bowed
mockinglv and we went out. "That
sets my mind at ease" he remarked.
"The rest will be child's play"
1t was morning of the follow
ing day and Mowbray and / stood
together on the corner OF street in
one OF the lowest quarters Of the
town. He took off his hat, passed
his handkerchief over his forehead,
and looked az me with smile.
4 "Well, it's all but over" he OBJ
served, "and | am much obliged to
you for your company. Though
four and twenty hours have not yet
passed you have seen me pass
through the downward career OF a
lifetime 1t has seemed to you a
melodramatic and ugly spectacle, no
doubt, but the only difference be-
tween me and other men is that /
have measured by hours what they
have heightened into years. Time is
veil that hides the insanity of our
lives from ourselves. Since yester-
day you have seen me abuse and
abandon the woman | love, destroy
all the securities that represent my
fortune, disgrace myseltirretrievably
in the presence Of my social peers,
annihilate my commercial honor and
credit, abjure and mock at my re-
ligion, and shatter my health. There
remaius but one step to take and
that | shall take"
"Why have you done all this?" ]
demanded
"The gentlemanin whose company
you saw me yesterday is the devil, F"
Mowbray replied, Though he was
disguised in one OF his numerous
incorporating costumes. gambled
with him, as 50 many do, and lost.
The conditions were that / was to
do as have done and to end with
this" As he said the last words he
snatched revolver from his pocket
and put the muzzle between his
teeth sprang forward to restrain
him, but was too late. He pulled
the trigger, there was an explosion,