The Portland daily press., 1894-08-03
The GAME Or LIFE.

Shining through cloudy sky, the last
rays of the sinking sun family lighted
room in which the gold frames, the
bronzes and the weapons hanging on the
walls broke the dim twilight with bright
reflections.
In the center of the room stood a woman
in a poor, plain gown. Poverty spoke
from her dropping mien, as well as from
the troubled expression of her pale face, as
she drew her thin mantle more closely
over her shoulders.
Her great, impid eyes gazed intently at
slight, gray haired man who stood, with
his back turned toward her, at one of the
long windows. Breathless silence filled
the room, and the roll of wheels and the
monotonous sound of hoof beats could be
heard from the street below. Sadness
deepened on the young woman s face. Her
lips trembled, and tears rolled slowly over
her cheeks.
With a weary, supplicating voice she at
last broke the long silence. "Leo, have
you no kind word for me? Have I really
come in vain2"
eyes, in vain,'' he answered harshly
81 have often told you plainly that we are
separated forever and that you have moth
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brought about your loss-against my will
and now you must bear it alone"
'sYou know how 1 loved you-like
brother and father both-and how gladly
I did and gave everything to make you
gay axd happy and keep the shadows from
your life. And you, for thanks, you left
me; left me to isolation, to an unhappy
old age; left me to follow an adventurer-
NV MI of ho1l he
had softly whispered, I love you But
now you have found out what this love
meant-sadness and sorrow. Is it not sop
A beautiful flush spread over the young
wife's face and she proudly drew herself
up.
eyes, Leo, sorrow, bitter sorrow, but
also unspeakable happiness. You can
not understand that, as you do not know
my husband. You have hated him from
the first and will not realize his worth.
He could earn better living for me, but
honor him doubly because no misfortune
can induce him to degrade his art. He
aims at the highest and will attain it
the great future after all his bitter strug-
giles. Believe me, Leo, my heart has al
ways yearned for reconciliation with you
Still, I should never have come here today
-but-but the child, Leo-my child is i'll. .
The last words broke from her lips like
panied cry.
Her brother shuddered, but still stood
at the window, gazing angrily out at the
dark sky.
The noiseless minutes passed, and stilb
he made no answer to the woman's plea.
She waited, eagerly but at last turned
and moved slowly away across the thicb
white carpet.
In few moments a servant came and
lighted the lamp. Attracted by the bright
light, the man turned from the window
and stared about him with astonished
eyes.
''Where isl passed his lips, but he
did not finish the question.
In the meantime the servant placed the
chessboard under the light, brought pol
ished box, which held the carved ivory
men, and started from the room.
"Joseph," called his master, IT will
never see that visitor again.
LAS you wish Herr Oberst," nodded
the servant and let the heavy portiere fall
behind him.
The man sat weakly down on a couch
and covered his face with his hands.
After sitting thus for awhile he raised
his head slowly and murmured: II am
growing old. Every excitement overcomes
me. In few years the 1nbidden guest,
with his scythe and glass, will overtake
me-"
He looked unspeakably weary as he took
his seat in front of the chess table and ar.
ranged problem with trembling hands.
Placing his elbow on the table, he rested
his chin on his hand and glanced medi-
tatively over the men. Somehow he could
not keep his mind on the game and his
eyes constantly gazed over the board into
space.
How she loves him, that = that -.
murmured he.
Shaking his head fiercely, he turned his
thoughts to the game again, but the ex-
citement was stronger than his will. An
inward struggle disturbed his peace and
finally caused him to fall into state of
dull relaxation. The chessmen SWAN be-
fore his eyes and became weird figures
grew IT, enormous size and diminished
again.
The lamplight f1ickered and almost died
out, filing the room with pale twilight,
In which black balls sending out many
colored flashes danced up and down. Sud
denly these balls burst and flooded the
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ran over the chess players limbs, for right
in front of the table stood sinister pres
ence, who held scythe in his bony right
hand and an hourglass in his left
Through the rents in his worm eaten gar
ments cleaned the white fieshless bones,
| He shook his Deaths head, from which
| huttered a single gray lock, and his empty
| eye sockets stared so horribly and his jaws
| parted in SO CHASTITY a grin that the old
soldier, who had stood fearlessly in the
thickest of many a fight, felt the blood
surdle in his veins.
''Death Death!'' gasped he, without
moving his lips or stirring
Death laid his scythe and his glass by
his side, drew chair to the table and
said: t'Come, old man We will play a
game together for your life"
Paralyzed with fear, Oberst stretch 20
out his hand for the color with which he
| usually played, but Death raised bony
| finger.
'sStop! That it my color" cried he and
| drew the black men toward him. AS if
by magic they moved in their right places
On the board
Life has the first move" Oherst heard