Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-22

clair rudely. He was losing command
OF himself. what does II matter to
your
ITO me-not at all. To you-perhaps
much" was the strange reply OF Sed-
ley.
After this remark there was nothing
to be said. The gayety. If there We're
any, was hopelessly gone. and after
gloomy cup of coffee and a funeral
cigar. the party rose, prompted by
Sedley, who declared that he must 90.
why are you in such hurryT
asked Vernon, Hospitality.
Il have something to attend to which
cannot wait" he replied. II beg You
to excuse me. You know would not
leave the gathering were Ii not com
pulsory; but l must leave you. l am
waited for"
And as he pressed vernon's hand l
saw. by the peculiar expression OF the
hosts face. that he had noticed the
same odd feeling in Sedley's hand that
had struck me.
Sediey turned to Sinclair.
Goodnight. sir" he said. :" Hope
you may come to have more liberation
for the superstition of others. Good
night; we shall meet again"
As he took Sinclair's hand in his
saw that same strange feeling which
had struck Vernon and myself was
pervading him.
"Confound the fellowr' cried Sin
clair. when the door was closed be-
hind the gloomy guest. Hes nice
one to have at a cOnyiyial gathering,
He reminds me of those cheerful Trap
pists. one of whose customs is to have
a little friar at every meal, whose
duty it is TO say. at intervals: Broth
ers. we must all die GOod-by, and
good radiance. May the devil go with
him.
The words chung to me: May the
devil go with him. The devils A
strange farewell, truly, TO departing
guest.
Six months had passed since the
evening of the disagreeable dinner 1
have described. Business matters had
called me from the city the very day
after it took place. and they had been
of such nature as 10 keep me away
a much longer time than l had antici-
pated. l had heard nothing. or next
TO nothing. from home since my de-
parture. One of the very first things
that teaches man how little his
friends care for him is their utter in
difference to him the moment his back
( is turned.
( Well, as | said. had been away for
long time, and knew nothing Of what
had been taking place since my de-
J parture. One of the first men l went
4 to see ON my return was Vernon, and
| besought him to tell me the news.
bT. ss..N. n l.
nothing. 1t seems to me that you are
the one to tell the news-you who
have been roaming. We here have
existence with nothing to chronicle
and nothing to tell"
Nothing to tellt' l exclaimed. That
is always the cry of him who stays at
home. He does not realize that every
thing Is of interest to the wanderer-
everything scandal, births, marriages
and Deaths
"Deaths-yes," said he, thoughtfully
you speak of deaths. OF course you
know that Gerald Sinclair Is deadg'
Gerald Sinclair dead" said I. You
amaze me. Why, he was a young and
vigorous man, and the last | saw of
him he was in the most robust of
ASditAs vi Hhdt hAi
THE doctors called 1t pneumonia, .
replied Vernon. with short cough.
pneumonia? Well, well! They say
II is the bane Of civilizations; that our
heated rooms, carelessness in expo
sure, and ways of living encourage 1t.
Yet true it is that our grandfathers
scarcely knew Of 1t. So Gerald Sin
clair is dead. Poor fellow Why, Il
seems bur yesterday saw him In the
heyday of manhood. Let me see
when was it that I saw Sinclair last
Why, 1t was at that dinner you gave
the day before l went away.
Yes" assented Vernon, sit was an
unfortunate dinner. | shall never for
get 1t. OF course you know that Hud
son Sedley Is deadT'
"SedIey, too?'' / cried more shocked
than 1 cared to show. ''No, I knew
nothing Of it. What was the matter
with him? When did he die?''
"Why, he died the day after yor
left the city-the day after the dinner
you know, or the night before" added
Vernon, gloomily. I'm sure | dom
know. There was some talk concern
ing 1t. 1t was very extraordinary"
But tell me about it," | said: II an
entirely in the dark / know nothing
that mas taken place since my de
parture."
"Well," said Vernon. uneasily, ~ an
sure | don't like to talk about 1t. fol
it's a very strange affair. III maj
discusses it seriously he feels queer
You remember the dinner. Of course 2
II remember it very WE'LL
"Well, you remember the strang,
manner Of Sedley, his late arrival. hi
altered demeanor and his clamm,
handsf l can feel the corpse-lik
. clutch Of his hand in mine yet"
i, And Vernon inspected his hand IN
! easily, as IL he expected to see mark
upon it.
. Yes; go on"
'You know, too, that he and GeraI,
+ Sinclair had some wordy sparring. Il
: which Gerald didn't come off best. a
he generally did. I don't know tina
. Sedley said 1t in 50 many words, bu
e he certainly left the impression o.
4 most of our minds that Jack was &c
/ ing to die before the year was out
t 81 remember"
"The party broke up in short Orde