The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-26
THE GAME or LIFE.

walls broke the dim twilight with bright
reflections.
In the center OF tho room stood % woman
In poor, plain gown. Poverty spoke
from her dropping micn, ms well us from
tho troubled expression 'of her pnlc face, us
she drew her thin mantle moro closely
over her shoulders.
Her great, limpd eyes gaacd intontly ut
slight gray haired man who stood, with
his back turned toward her, ut ono OF tho
long windows. BrcatlIlcss silence filed
tho room, and the roll of wheels and the
monotonous sound of hoof beats could bo
heard from the street below. Sadness
decpcncd on the young womnn's face. Her
lips trcmblcd, and tcars rolled slowly ovor
her checks.
With weary, suppltcatinY voice she ut
last broke the long silence LEO, havo
you no kind word for nef Have really
come In vaini"
Yes, In vain," he answered hnrshly.
" have often told you plainly TINT VIC nrc
separated forever and that you have moth
ing to hope for from nc. You alone have
brought about your loss-ngainst my will
and now YOU must bear 1t alone"
You know how l loved yotHlikc
brother and father hoth-nnd how gladly
l did and gaze everything to make you
gay and happy and keep the shadows from
your life. And you. for thanks, you left
me; left me To isolation, to an unhappy
old age; lcft me to follow an ndvcnturcr-
and why? Because one night ut "a ball he
had softly Whispered, Il love you But
now you have found out what this love
mcant-sacnc.is and sorrow. Is not soy''
a beautiful flush spread over tho young
wi!c's face, ana sho proudly drew herself
up.
I
also unspcnkabc happiness You can
not understand that, rs you do not know
my husband. You have hated him from
the first and will not realize his worth
He could earn n better living for me, but
l honor him doubly because no misfortune
can induce him To degrade his urt He
aims nj the highest and will attain it
the great future after all his bitter strug-
giles Believe me, Leo my heart has al
ways ycarncd for reconciliation with YOU
STILL should never have como here today
---but--but the child, Loo-my child Is ILL., {"
The last words broke from her lips like
panied cry.
Her brother shuddorod, hut still stood
ut tho window, gazing angrily Out ut tho
dark sky
Tho noiscless minutes passed, and still
no made no answer to the woinnn's plea
She waited eagerly, but at last turned
ana moved slowly away across tho thick
wEito carpet.
In few moments u servant came oIld
lighted the lamp. Attracted by the bright
light, the man turned from tho window
and stared about him with astonishcl
eyes
where is''-pnsscd his lips, but no
did not finish the question.
In tho meantime tho servant placed the
chcssboHrd under the light, brought u pol
ishcd box, which held tho carved ivory
men, and started from tho room.
Joseph" called his master, IT will
mover sec that visitor again"
AS you wish, Herr Obcrst," nodded
the servant and let tho hoavy portiero fall
behind him.
Tho 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 murmurcd: II am
growing old Every excitement overcomcS
me. In few years tho unbiddon guest,
with his scythc and glass, will ovortalc
me-"
Ho looked unspcakably weary as he took
his seat in front of tho 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-
tativoly over the men. Somehow he could
not keep his mind on the gamo, and his
eyes constantly Eazod over tho board into
space
How sho loves him. that that" =
murInured no.
Shaking his head flcrocly, he turned his
thoughts to the game again, but tho ex-
citemont WAS stronger than his will. An
inward struggle disturbed his peaco and
4no11xy lat 90 e. r
dull relaxation. The oheesmen swan be-
fore his eyes and became weird figures
grew to enormous size and diminished
again.
Tho lampiight 1iokorod aud almost died
out, filling the room with a pale twilight,
In which black balls sending out many
coiored flashes danced up and down. Sud.
denly these balls burst and flooded the
place with green light Cold shuddors
ran over tho chess player Limbs, for right
In front of the table stood O sinister pres
enco, who held n scythc in his bony right
hand and an hourglass in his left.
Through tho rents in his worm eaton gnr-
ments cleaned tho white fcshless bones.
He shook his DEATHS head, from which
futtered u single gray lock, and his empty
eyo sockets stared so horribly and his Jaws
parted in 80 ghastly grin that the old
soldier, who had stood fearlessly in tho
thickest Of many q fight, felt tho blood
curdle In his veins
"Deathl Dcathr' gasped he. without
moving his lips or stirring.
Death laid his soytho and his glass by
his side, drew chair to the tablo and
said: Como old man. We will play a
gamo together for your life"
Paralyzed with fear, Oborst stretched
out his hand for the color with which no
usually played, but Death raised bony
finger.
stop! That it my color," cried no and
drew the black men toward him. AS If
hr. IL, -