The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-28
THE GAME OF LIFE.

bronZeS and the weapons hanging on tho
walls broke the dim twilight with bright
reflections.
In tho center of the room stood a woman
In a poor, plain gown. Poverty spoke
from her dropping mien, as well as from
tho troubled expression Of her pale face, as
she drew her thin mantle more closely
over her shoulders. !
Her great, limpid eyes gazed intently at
a slight gray haired man who stood, with
his back turned toward her, OF ono Of the
long windows. Brcathless 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 checks
With weary, supplicating voice she at
last broke the long silence LEO, have
you no kind word for mes Have 1 really
come in vainf'
ayes, in vain" he answered harshly.
81 have often told you plainly that we are
separated forever and that you have not.
ing to hope for from me. You alone hnv,
brought about your loss-against my will
and now you must bear 1t alone. :"
"You know how l loved you-likeI
brother and father hoth-and how gladly
l did and gave everything to make you
gay and happy and keep the shadows from
your life. And you, for thank, you left
me; left me to isolation, to an unhappy
old age; left me to follow an ADVENTURE
and whyS Because one night Mt u ball lie
had softly whispered, L love you But
now you have found out what this love
meant-sHdnCss and sorrow Is it not sop
A beautiful flush spread over the young
wife's face, and she proudly drew herself
up. \
ayes, 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 ut the highest and will attain it
the great future after AL his bitter strug.
giles. Believe me, Leo, my heart has al
ways ycarned for reconciliation with you,
Still, should never have come here today
-but-but the ell Id, Lco-my child il Ill. -"
The last words broke from her lips like
panied cry.
Her brother shuddcrcd, but still stood
Mt tho window, gazing Gngrily out ut the
/ dark sky
The noisclcss minutes passed, and still
he made 10 answer to the woman's plea.
She waited eagerly, but at last turned
and moved slowly away across the thick
white carpet,
In few moments servant came and
lighted the lamp. Attracted by the bright
light, the man turned from tho'window
and stared about him with astonishcd
eyes. ....
"Whcrc is"-passed his lips, but he
did not finish the question. ..-..
| In the meantime the servant placed the
chcssboard under the light, brought pol
1 ishcd box, which held the carved ivory
men, and started from the room.
Joseph" called his master, II will
never see that visitor again, y
: AS YOU wish, Herr Oberst," nodded
the servant and let the heavy portierc fall
behind him
! The man sat weakly down on couch
and covered his face with his hands
After sitting thus for awhile he raised
his head slowly and murmured Il am
I growing old Every excitement overcome,
I me. In a f,HT years the nnhtddEn guest,
with his scythG and glass, will ovcrtakt
/ me.
J He locked unspeakahly weary rs he took
his seat in front Of the chess table and ar
ranged a problem with trembling hands
= Placing his elbow ON the table, he rested
, his chin on his hand and glanced med
tatively over the men. Somehow he coult
+ not keep his mind on the game, and his
| eyes constantly Eazed over the board int
space
How she loves him, that - that" -
. murmured he.
1
/, Shaking his head flcrccly he turned hi,
thoughts to the game again, but the e;l
citcmCnt was stronger than his will. Al
= inward struggle disturbed his peace ant
! finally caused him to fall into state 0
I dull relaxation. The chcssinen swan be
o fore his eyes and became weird figures
/, grew to enormous size and diminished
a again.
The lnmplight flickvfcd and almost die
Il out filling the room with II pale twilight
y in which black balls sending out man,
:, colored flashes danced up and down. Sud
+ denly these balls burst and flooded til
i place with a green light Cold shuddCr
ran over the chess players limbs, for RICH
!. in front Of the table stood n sinister pres
II ence, who held a scythe in his bony RICH
!, hand and an hourglass in his left
" Through the rents in his worm eaten gal
lie shock his deaths head, from whic
iluttercd n single gray lock- and his empt
N eye suckuts stared SO horribly and his jaw
Isl parted in SO ghastlya grin that the ol
4 soldier, who had Stood fcarlcssly in I'll
% thiekcst Of many fight, felt the bloc
curdc in his veins.
: DEATH DEATH" gaspcd he, withOu
ia moving his lips or stirring.
Death laid his scythU and his glass h
81 his side drew chair to the table an
& said Come, old man. We will play
q game together for your life"
:, paraly2ed with fear, Oberst street.-the
| out his hand for the color with which !
r.. usually played, but Death raised a bon
finger
ii '.Stop That it my color!" cried he an
d drew the black men toward him. As
Is by magic they moved in their right place
Y On tho board
ii Life has the first move" Oberst hear
70 his fearflA opponent muttcr, and as
~ raised his arm Uyrr the able to move
Ia paNu q little White hand was laid hindc
h. inaly ~ his arm.
- Slagllcd, lie looked around and saw
beautiful little girl landing by his chat
9 Her facr was round and rosy, and Ii
. gsl,ca hair and hlHe eyes wcrc much lii
= his sisters when zhr was child
N May not plty ftr you" begged t
~ little ane, and thtn without waiting
an answer climbed into his lap and ma
y herself comfortable.
Death lAuEl4rd SO heartily at this p,
le Torrance thatune Of his loose teeth f
10 out and rolled 10 the middle uf the boal
- "Hp, no, yout tiny Lllr.'' he shouted. -
", you t!uk son can play against the OF
q invincbla master2" And he ratified
ua bones loudly 10 Tighten her, Life gip
at linn with astori-lna eyes, as thou
Ia she did not know who Death really was
~ THIS appeared to anger him tor he 70
cd, "Bcgin"
res, yes laughed Life, in pure j
Is, and moved piece So ioolishly d
al Obcrst'4 hair stood on end with fright
la. he feared that this first play would |
eli the game. But, strangely enough,
y though Life had played so incautious
H. Death seemed to be blind and made
ew use Of the advantage given him. Nc
nd over he played hesitatingly, as though
e., Il lie fY,rf