Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-02
A NIGHT OF DEATH.

so much hail.
AT the club we huddled around the
fires and, warm though the rooms were,
.-s''l r"4omfortably every time n
strong gust would send the slect driving
against the window panes.
"Ugh!" said the colonel. looking at me
under his heavy eyebrows. and grasping
the lapels of his coat he pulled them to-
gether as though to shut ont the un-
pleasant feeling that seemed 10 prevail
in the air.
shivered sympathctically.
"a bad night, muttered the colonel
laconically, and he drew his chair closer
to the fireplace.
alt might be worse" he said, with an
attempt at chcerfulness; bat it fell Hat.
1t was near midnight. and Colonel
Montfort AMI had just returned from
the thcater to enjoy moments warmth
in the clubrOom. We had it almost to
ourselves, for The night did not encourage
late wandcrings.
rose TO my feet and stretched my
arms and legs
"Home:" inquired the colonel look
ing at his watch.
"Just rs we'll, said with a shrug Of
my shoulders; the gloom and dismal
ness of the weather seemed 10 have set
tied everywhere.
Colonel Montfort and | enjoyed u
suite of rooms in one Of the best fats in
ST. Paul. and led a nearly ideal exist
tence for two such old bachelors as we
We're
The colonel was an old southern man.
and had seen service in the Brothers
war" He had earned his rank by val
liant and distinguished service for the
Union forces. He was tall, well built
man, with n commanding presence, and
although past tho middle age carried
his years well.
|, on the other hand, although snugly
put together and possessed Of unusual
endurance, wGs greatly his inferior in
point of physique, and our friends at the
club were went TO alludc TO rs as David
and Goliath.
THAT comparison is unjnst," the
colonel said one day laughingly, "for
am sure neither OF us desires the others
death"
And we did not think then that one
ever would.
"And it is extremely doubtful that
this David will ever infiict death
wound to this Goliath" interposed n
friend.
We laughed at thcrfdca.
But the colonel rose with yawn, and
again looking at his watch donned his
wraps, and we went out into the slip
perry streets.
mot beastly cab in sight," grum-
bled my friend, rs we pcered about.
"And on such night tool" he added,
with grimace.
So we had to make tho best Of it, and
trudgcd slowly home through the slush.
The rain poured and beat upon us, and
the wind swirlcd pitilessly about our
muffled heads.
Ugh" said tho colonel with shake.
And "Ughr repeated |. But could
not shake off the depression that had
settled upon me with the slcet; and a
foreboding Of evil took possession of rue
that tried in vain to dispel.
was possessed of very sensitive
nerves, and this combined with the life
led and the influences that had sur
rounded mo since my birth made me q
coward in somo things. And never did
| feel such an undefinable dread, and
never were my senses so quick to make
mountains ont Of molehills as at the
times when my spirits were depressed
and my nerves Aade jangling 10y unto
ward weather. was vcritably Il cow
ard in the dark.
Usually when | got in well lighted
and heated room could shake this de-
preston off; but not SO tonight.
"You look excited. my dear Kane"
said the colonel as we flung ourselves in
easy chairs and stirred up the fire.
rose and went to the looking glass in
one end of tho room and started back
shocked as | caught sight of lay face.
1t was filled with tense, suppressed
excitement that had never seen there
before-hair actually appeared like
bristles upon my head, and under my
eyes were large, dark rings.
After my first start | laughed some
what awkwardly am afraid, and told
the colonel that had evidently been
dissipating too heavily of late.
He smiled absently and kept staring
into the fire.
"Well. guess III go to bed said
after a pause.
The colonel nodded without looking
up. and bidding him good night ! left
the cozy sitting room and made propara-
tions for reposc.
The coloi.s and | occupied separate
sleeping apartments, as our suite was
large. using the remaining rooms to-
gether. Until day or two ago We had
had a valet who attended to our wants,
but he had left us. and we had as yet
been unable to find suitable person O.
take his place. My room was quito large
for bedroom, but for that reason pre-
ferred it to smaller one, as was quite
stickler on matters of hygiene.
undressed and went TO bed. finally
heard the colonel leave the sitting room
and 40 to his own apartment. A littiO
later heard the springs Of his bed creal,,
md knew that he also had sought tho
arms Of Morpheus.
heard the clock in the hall strike one,
but was still as wide awake as was
an hour before My nerves, instead OF
becoming reposed, became more and
moro susceptible to the least jar. The
cracking Of an cmber in the fireplace in