Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-07
THE GAME OF LIFE.

Shining through cloudy sky, the last
rays of the sinking sun family lighted
room in which the gold frames, the
bronzcs and the weapons hanging on the
walls broke the dim twilight with bright
reflections.
In the center of the room stood a woman
in 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, limpid eyes gazed intently at
slight, gray haired man who stood, with
his back turned toward her, at one of the
long windows. Breathless silence filed
the room, and the roll Of wheels and the
monotonous sound of hoof beats could DO
heard from the street below. Sadness
deepened on the young woman's face. Her
lips trembled, and tears rolled slowly over
her checks.
With q weary, duplicating voice she at
last broke tho long silence. LEO, have
you no kind word for mef Have I really
come in vain?"
Eyes, in vain," he answered harshly
II have often told you plainly that we are
separated forever and that you have moth
ing to hope for from me. You alone have
brought about your loss-against my will
and now you must bear it alone"
"You know how I loved you-like
brother and father both-and how gladly
I did and gave everything to make you
gay and happy and keep the shadows from
your life. And you, for thanks, you left
nc; left me to isolation, to an unhappy
old age: left me to follow an adyenturer-
and why? Because one night at ball he
had softly whispered, / love you. But
now you have found out what this love
meant--sadness and SORROW. Is 1t not so?"
A beautiful flush spread over the young
wife's face, and she proudly drew herself
up.
Eyes, Leo, sorrow, bitter sorrow, but
also unspcakable 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, 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 tho window, gazing angrily out at the
dark sky.
Tho noiselcss minutes passed, and still
ho made no answer to tho wOman'S plea,
She waited, eagerly, but at last turned
and moved slowly away across the thick
white carpet.
In few moments q 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 is''-passed his lips, but he
did not finish the question.
In the meantime tho servant placed the
chessboard under the light, brought pol
ishcd box, which held the carved ivory
men, and started from the room.
Joseph called his master, II will
never see that visitor again"
''As you wish, Herr Oberst," nodded
the servant and let the heavy portiero fall
behind him.
The man sat weakly down on q couch
and covered his face with his Lands.
After sitting thus for awhile he raised
his head slowly and murmured: II am
growing old Every excitement overcomcs
me. In few years the unbidden guest,
with his scythe and glass, will overtakc
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
bis chin on his hand and glanced medi-
tativeIy over tho men, Somehow he could
not keep his mind OH the game, and his
eyes constantly gazcd over tho board into
space.
How she loves him, that ~ that" -
Nmurmurcd he.
Shaking his head 1ercely, he turned his
thoughts to the game again, but the ex-
element was stronger than his will An
inward struggle disturbed his peace and
finally caused him to fall into state of
dull relaxation. The chessmen swain be-
fore his eyes and became weird figures
grow to enormous size and diminished
again.
The lamplight fickered and almost died
out, filling tho 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
place with green light. Cold shudders
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
,nents cleaned the white, fieshless bones.
He shook his deaths head, from which
futtered single gray lock, and his empty
oyc sockets stared SO horribly and his jaws
parted in so CHASTITY grin that the old
soldier, who had stood fcarlessly in the
thickest Of many a fight, felt the blood
curdle In his veins.
Death! DEATH" gaspcd he, without
moving his lips or stirring.
Death laid his scythe and his glass by
his aide, drew Q chair to the table and
said: ''Come, old man. We will play .
game together for your life.'
Paralyzed with fear, Oberst stretched
out his hand for the color with which he
usually played, but Death raised bony
finger
"Stopl That 1t my color'' cried he and
drew the black men toward him. As II
by magic they moved in their right places
on the board.
4