Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-31

cannot be water through which it looks?
But moment ago it was space Now
it seems as if the tide We're flowing
the steady and rel atless tide-and as
it flows its ceasele motion causes the
soft flesh TO tremb The eyes seem to
grow hollow, to fl lie away, leaving I'M
tenanted cavities, and as this happens
the quivering lips break into hooking
leer. A fierce breath from the unseen
river rises TO rapwith a hollow rattle at
the windows. The sound breaks the
spell.
Mortified at his own sensations, La
mar turned and hurried from tho room.
When DR.. Lamar rejoined the party
in the next room, he found Mrs. Maxev
in tears
Did you notice how affected she
was?" Ellen asked him in an undertone,
by WHAT"
by the singing of Schubert's Ave
Maria. Don't you remember, it was
the song that made her faint in the old
days? l have never sung it since. Some
how thought of it tonight, and imme-
diately we found her crying. And it
seems it was something her mother
used to sing.
"Ah! DR.. Bently was right then. 1t
was n reminiscence. "
There was a knock at the door. Max
ey answered it. He closed the entrance
to the rear chamber after him and turn
ed up the gas III the vestibule before he
opened it TO his visitor.
He was seized with Il sudden trem-
bling at the knees when he saw who that
visitor was Paler, ghastlier, more fu-
ncrCal than ever, the melancholy Dye,
whose woebegone hat and threadbare
coat exhibited still deeper shade OF
deSolation, stood upon the threshold
You again.
Sir, again.
In spite of all that 1 told you?"
Sir have borne your instructions
well in mind 1 have forgotten nothing.
1t remains for you to say whether you
will admit me or no.
Mr.. Dye did not look at MaXey when
he addressed him. In truth, he did not
seem TO have energy or spirit enough
left to raise his head, and he certainly
did not appear at al anxious to be in
Eited into the room.
The growing conviction that this man
was not the prime mover, but only the
instrument i'll the hands of moro pow
erful parsonage who kept himself al
ways in the background leapcd to a
most mature stage i'll the artist s mind
admit you'll he exclaimed, suppress
ing the tendency to loudncss i'll his
tones for fear of reaching the cars in
the adjoining chamber. That l shall
do most certainly, since yOu have come.
Walk in, Mr.. Dye, and state your bust
ness, and let us see if we cannot come
to something approaching Il mutual un
Outstanding. That is 4 point which we
have too long been 6odging about, Mr..
Dye, and l have Il very distinct idea that
it would be we'll for us to reach it to-
night"
The somber man raised Il look of mild
inquiry to the artists face. said SIM
ply, "As you will, and passed into the
parlOr.
Maxcy closed and locked the door and
turned ON two of the gas Jets.
Then he noticed th:.t Mr. Dye was
trembling. 1t was chilly evening, and
it occurred to him that the threadbarc
coat could not be very warm.
You are cold, man, - he said. Draw
up here by the fire. -
He placed chair as he spoke III front
Of the open CRATE. Mr.. Dye bowed
gravely.
Sir. thank you.
He had only looked at MaXoy himself.
He sat down with his back to the picture
and began at once TO warm his hands
over the Goals. He did not wait for the
artist TO question him, but Immediately,
with his most oratorical air, began:
Sir, You are doubtless exceedingly
surprised and, may l venture to add,
not inconsiderably annoyed by my reap
pearance in this house. When l went
away from here, sir, you adjured me,
upon pain of personal injury, never, OK
cept upon certain conditions, to appear
in your presence again. But at the risk
of that personal injury have once more,
and for the last time, come. Upon Il
former occasion l might have feared
you; but, strange and paradOXical as it
may seem. now that I am much weaker
and less capable of self defense l no
longer dread the violence of yOur re-
sentiment.
We'll, " said MaXCy impaticntly as he
paused, have yOu come hero to chal
lengc me? If not, please como to the
point.
Sir, you must pardon me, but [ can
not be abrupt. Before | come to the
point l want to prepare You for what
am going to say by recalling, perhaps
unnecessarily, a fact to your mind Sir.
told you on former occasion that
was q contemplate rascal. Bearing that
in mind, my business here tonight will
not very much surprise you. Lost to
honor and self respect and to every sen
timent which makes man man, you
will not be astonished when l tell you
what have come to tell, If, when l have
told it, you wish to throw me TO the
street and break every bone il my
worthless body, shall not resist you.
In fact, could not if l would 1 am too
weak. Observe, for instance, that.
He extended toward Maxey one of his
lean and sallOw hands. 1t shook like n
leaf.
THAT is the effect of the whisky. AS
long as money remains to me to pur
chase oblivion do not care for luck or
| the devil. l am one of those uncongen-
ial, solitary individuals who retire with
jug into an obscure place, lock tho
door and hide the key from myself. Aft
er have become maniac, a fool and
an inanimate brute by turns 1 emerge
again into the light, more emaciated,
| more broken down, one step nearer the
much to be desired rest that comes at
the end for us all A cheerful life, sir,
is it not?'
10 fY,r folal hlI7o Wi y
the bloodshot corners toward the star
tied artist, who vouchsafed him no re-
ply, and continued:
'Sir, you are saying to yourself: Is
this man seeking to excite my sympathy,
or what is his object? What possible
interest does he think I can have in his