Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-14

ing only by clutchng at the timbering You
can ina CINE nothing more uncanny than the
feeling such an experience gives one The
Illusion Is never continued an instant after
you have discovered the error. but the solid
frame of wood and iron vanshes like a
bursting bubble and leaves you gazing into
the black throat of the yawning shaft /
have lost many ear and more than one
good workman by this mysterious phantom
of soulless matter, and, while l cannot ex-
plain the phenomenon, I know that ii takes
place and most certainly believe that it is
in some way naturalization of that per
sistent malignity which sometimes seems to
pursue men and dog their every step. and
which, I'm its more usual form of manifesto
ton, we are accustomed to eau luck" but
which is. to my thinking, much more per-
sonai thing.
When l first visited Leadvile the town
had already attained a considerable size
and during the few months of the year
when the climate permitted ladies TO honor
the place with their presence society was
very pleasant there. OF course. You know
that the mines catch the riH-raff of all
trades and professions, and in a place like
that, where elements SO very Objectionable
are likely to intrUde, the men who bring
their wives and sisters there are doubly
careful to whom they introduce them.
Cliques are formed which guard most care
fully against any but the best and society
is really much more select than in older
and more firmly esta blished communities.
had the good luck to be well introduced
cultured associates.
The circle was, of course, small one
and | soon became well acquainted with
every member of our little set. Wherever
/ went calling | found that one name was
sure to come up in the course of CONVERSE
ton, and although always spoken of in a
way that left no doubt that he would have
been a welcome guest, l never met the
owner of the name. 1t was always one of
the ladies' who asked the news of Arthur
Cinnabar, and whoever the gentleman of
whom she asked he was sure to have seen
Arthur within day or two and to say
something about his work.
The thing rather mystifed me. Who
was this man? If he was so we'll known
and near at hand that the gentlemen saw
him often why did l never meet him
And since he was evidently friend of all
of Them why did he never call on any of
the ladies, who seemed to take so fiatter-
ing an interest in his fortune and his
work? Moreover, why were they SO par
ticuIar to sneak of him as Arthur and
never simply as Mr.. Cinnabar? My idle
curiosity on the subject was famed by
every mention of the man, and grew with
every day that failed to bring him forth.
One evening, by a stroke of unusual good
fortune, l found the belle of the town
without her usual circle of admirers, and,
in great peace of mind, i sea ted myself to
enjoy my first tete-a-tete with her. After
the usual greeting had passed almost her
first words were, How is Arthur CHINA
bar?" / replied that 1 had never met Mr.
Cinnabar, and could not give her any in
| formation. "Oh, yes" said she, you came
| since" then suddenly checking herself
| she branched off on another subject in a
| way that made it very apparent that was
| not to be further enlightened.
AT the first opportunity after that took
| my most intimate friend aside and abruptly