The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-04-14
A NIGHT OF DEATH.

Vlgor all tne night A dr1zZle, half rain
and half snow, set in with it, and cut
the face of the unlucky pedestrian like
so much hail.
At the club we huddled around the
fires and, warm though the rooms were,
shivered uncomfortably every time a
strong gust would send the sleet driving
against the window panes.
ugh" said the colonel, looking at me
under his heavy eyebrows, and graspiDg
the lapels of his coat he pulled them to-
gether as though to shut out the un-
pleasant feeling that seemed to prevail
in the air.
shivered alphabetically
"a bad night" muttered the colonel
laconically, and he drew his chair closer
to the fireplace.
at might be worse" he said, with an
attempt at cheerfulness; but it fell fat.
1t was near midnight, and Colonel
Montfort and l had just returned from
the theater to enjoy moments warmth
in the clubroom. We had it almost to
ourselves, for the night did not encourage
late wanderings.
l rose to my feet and stretched my
arms and legs.
Homer inquired the colonel look
ing at his watch.
''Just as WELL" I said with shrug Of
my shoulders; the gloom and dismal
ness of the weather seemed to have set
tied everywhere.
Colonel Montfort and l enjoyed
suite of rooms in one of the best flats in
CT par11 on6 Io1 11naV1xy iHna1 xiOk-
tence for two such old bachelors as we
were.
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 a commanding presence, and
although past the middle age carried
his years well.
1, on she other hand, although snugly
put together and possessed of unusual
endurance, was greatly his inferior in
point of physique, and our friends at the
club were wont to allude to US as David
and Goliath"
"That comparison is unjust" 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 inflict a death
wound to this Goliath" interposed a
friend.
We laughed at the idea.
But the colonel rose with yawn, and
again looking at his watch donned his
perry streets.
''Not a beastly cab in sight," grum-
bled my friend, as we peered about.
"And on such night tooP' he added,
with a grimace.
So we had to make the best of it, and
trudged slowly home through the slush.
The rain poured and beat upon us, and
the wind swirled pitilessly about ouI
'muf1ed heads.
"Ugh," said the colonel with shake
And ''UghP' repeated 1. But could
not shake off the depression that had
settled upon me with the sleet; and 6
foreboding of evil took possession of me
that tried in vain to dispel.
l was possessed of very sensitive
nerves, and this combined with the life
led and the influences that had sur
rounded me since my birth made me 6
coward in some things. And never die
[ feel such an undefinable dread, anG
never were my senses so quick to make
mountains out of molehills as at thu
times when my spirits were depressed
and my nerves made jangling by unto
ward weather was veritably COW
ard in the dark.
Usually when l got in we'll lighted
and heated room could shake this de
preston off; but not so tonight.
"You look excited nv Kane,
said the colonel as We llung ourselves il
easy chairs and stirred up the fire.
rose and went to the looking glass il
one end of the room and started bacl
shocked as l caught sight of my face.
1t was filled with tense, suppressed
excitement that had never seen Their
before-hair actually appeared Xix
bristles upon my head, and under m.
eyes were large, dark rings.
After my first start | laughed some
what awkwardly l am afraid, and toll
the colonel that l had evidently bee
designating too heavily of late.
He smiled absently and kept starin
into the fire.
We'll, guess I'll go to bed" sal
after pause.
The colonel nodded without lookin
up, and bidding him good night l lei
the cozy sitting room and made prepars
tons for repose.
The colonel and l occupied separat
sleeping apartments, as our suite wa
large, using the remaining rooms t.
gether. Until day or two ago we ha
had a valet who attended to our want
but he had left us, and we had as u
been unable to find suitable person
take his place. My room was quite 1are
for a bedroom, but for that reason pr
ferred it to smaller one, as was quit
a stickler on matters of hygiene.
undressed and went to bed. Ifnall
heard the colonel leave the sitting roo
and go to his own apartment. A lit
later heard the springs of his bed crea
and knew that he also had sought t
arms of Morpheus.
heard the clock in the hall strike OF
but was still as wide awake as l "
an hour before. Ny nerves, instead
becoming reposed, became more a
more susceptible to the least jar. I
cracking of an ember in the fireplace
the next room caused my heart to lie
into nv mouth and almost sion beatiY