The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-24
PART III.

a thin fog, TO stream down from u
hioh and narrow window, my fellow
prisoner arose and resumed his walk.
And with a strange impatience waited
to see II daylight would confirm the
impression that had come upon me as
the dying candle-rays were fitting
upon the gloomy walls. But before the
day was strong there came footsteps
down tho corridors. The slide-window
in the door was opened, and the thick
voice of the fat jailer was poured in
upon us.
Boys. stirring about already? Don't
believe it's a good plan to stir about
much before you eat bite. Had an
uncle that broke q colt before break
fast and aged so fast afterwards that
hc died at ninety. Bring the wedding
breakfast this way, Nick. Our cook
got married this morning while the
water was boiling. Hah, how's our
hossthief this mornin'? Came in one
Of bein' a nightmare yistidy evenin',
eh? Yes, sir; durin' the off season OF
the year, when the boys amt got much
TO do, they'd as soon hang man as not.
But they don't mean no particular harm
by it,"
Thus he talked, while the turnkey
"spread" our breakfast; and he stood
tsere, his great round face filling the
window, until breakfast was cleared,
nnd even then he hung about until 1t
grew light enough for me to see him
wink. And this he did several times,
slyly looking at me and then at
IIaines. In his "squint" was legible the
fact that he had been intrusted with
the secret of my mission, and 1 cannot
say that II was an agreeable discovery.
l fancied that / could already see un-
conscious betrayal stewing through bis
hanging jowl, and, hardened as / was,
/ must have blushed, for grew sick
at the thought of standing exposed be-
fore that young fellow, meeting the
contemptuous look of his melancholy
eyes. Then the daylight had confirmed
the impression left by the dying candle.
The day wore along, and our ac-
quaintance made but slow progress. I
waited for his advances, but he made
none. When not walking, he sat where
the light was strongest, reading lead
colored pamphlet.
"What are you reading?"I asked.
"a fool thing"
"Who wrote it?" ~
"a fool"
"Ah, didn't know that piece Of my
work had found its wny into this place"
He laughed. Il suppose IL might just
as well have been yours, but it happens
to be mine-an amateur play printed at
my own expense"
HAS it been played?"
"Yes; had one-night run in the
phurch for the benefit Of the same"
"Was 1T a success?"
"Quite. Respect for the church debt
forbade anyone's leaving the house, al
though there was good deal of litter
ing when the moon got out Of order
burned the negro's fingers, and fell
down."
whats the name of the piece?"
"'The Detective"
al suppose you make him hero"
'No; a black-hearted villain"
Served him right" replied; and II
was well that he did not look up, for 1
felt slow shiver creeping over me.
AT night another candle was placed
above the door, and sitting in its yellow
glow he grew more inclined to talk
seriously OF himself. He had been we'll
educated, had tried to do number of
things, had done ill--had failed as n
country editor, had learned telegraphy,
and at last had settled down to lonely
midnight luncheon in the wayside
office of an express company, 1 was
sorry for him, for knew that hidden
somewhere a success might lie waiting
| for him. as il does for many of us; but
all. how long 1t leg waiting. and how
rusty IL has grown when sometime wa
find i'll His features, now that had
| become better acquainted with them,
were weaker, and this increased my
| pity; but was resolved TO do my duty,
l would win him IL could.
The days passed and he called me
Dick. We had read the same books.
In our admiration for the same book
or poem lies the first tottering of many
downfall. Ina similar taste we recoc.
/ nize our second self, and shrewdness
shuts it's eyes and dreams.
We talked about books, and those OF
his faYorites that had not seen pre-
tended 10 love. IL was night. and the
candle was burning above the door,
~ man must live with one self anil
write with another" he said.
I'VE all have two Selves" 1 replied.
IL know that have. One self does
wrong, and the other self, which is n
sort of indulgent parent. suffers over
it,"
lie looked at me and was silent. n
shadow fell across his facr lie looked
up at the candle aud said: "We'll soon
be in the dark"
1--WE are always in the dark" I
answered. "In darkness while we are
doing. and only step out into the ligst
long enough to look back and find that we
] did wrong while N the dark. Ix0nld