The Louisiana populist., 1897-04-23
Tn answer to nv invitauion, Mrs

Sell.
"Mr. Leunox," She said, speaking
hastily and nervUusly. "Iye just looked
in to ask you when you think you'll
be abe to pay me somethin' to go on
with. I'm not a ard woman, as you
know, but I've got bedridIen HIS
band and plenty Of little ones as well,
and | must think o them as we'll as
O other people. When can you settla:'
I tried TO speak calmly, as | replied:
VERY soon, hope. AT any rate, will
do my best. More than that, Mrs. HllX-
table, can't say"
She minnb.ed something, and was
about to retire, when she drew ont
from her pocket a small visiting cari
'"This must be yours, Mr.. Lenn0X,
she said, giving it TO me. Il picked
it up in the room this mOrnin after
maxim your bed. Good night"
l looked at the piece of pastboard.
Yes. 1t was one of my visiting cards,
and it reminded me of the days when
my worldly affairs had been very dlfter'
ent, and when people were glad TO have
me at their houses. long since | had
been without such luxury as a card,
and lit came upon me now as mes
senger from a far-Off and Well nigh
Forgotten period. Mechanically put
it in my pocket, and then eX'tinguishInS
the candle, l Went slowly down stairs.
A thick fog was making all things
pesi en'taal. and 1T seemed to over
whcim my entire being With disgust of
life and living l cursed my hard fate
thousand times, and in my heart there
rose a despairiHs prayer-a prayer for
death. This world was unendurable--
lett the either begin when it would, for
surely no AFTER existence could be more
awful than this.
My WAY to THE concert hall led me
thr0dgh the Strand, and near The Tem-
pie an irresistible impulse led me down
one of the narrow streets touching he
Embankment. Then l went and
leaned on the stone parapet and looked
down into the fog-covered stream.
AS looked, there rose in my heart
a sudden and Overwhelming desire to
end my LIFE then and there, and !
Climbed upon the parapet about to
fling myself down into the dark depths
below. | hesitated. The Old, Old
thoughts, which Hamlet has put into
words of wondrous beauty-wor'ls
which surely must represent the
thoughts of all them THAT have con-
tempSa'ted self-destruction since the
world began--were With me now, and
| said TO myself Suppose the hare
after should be more bitter than the
present-how then? how then?
drew back. A better hope sprane
up in my heart. would live on and
fight l.fe's battle to the end. Let them
who had committed deeds of shame
seek such an end as this-fOr me, whose
only desire for extinction was born OF
misfortune, a worthier end. And so
the better decision won the battle.
, 1t was great relief to pass from
: the gloomy London street into the
, cheerful and brilliantly lighted con
cert hall. Already great crowd hat
assembled, Tor the programme hek
some Of the worlds most famous
!, names in the musical word, among
, others that of Signor Luigi
r Although his name was Italian. ht
was as mrlcn an EnglisHman as nj ,
self; but, like many singers he hat
adopted the foreign title for profes
, siOnal reasons. had always been spe
c.ally interested in listening to Luigi
=, for many persons had told me tua
my voice resembled his-in fact, som,
v had gone so far to say that If he allt
:. | were placed in competition, l shoIl,
do better work than he. But Llls
was fartereu and courted, and Ob
tained his hundred guineas per song
while I-wel, those who have reas
= the preceding lines will know the diff
ference between us.
Luigi received tremendous recer
: ton ON this occasion, and sang tw
;, songs. He was rather late on the pro
= gramme, and when his performance
was ended, the bulk of the audience
. incdluling myself, rose to go. As
. passed out into the street l ran n
against a man walking rapidly. II
', apologized brusque[y, and catchin
I. sight of him under lamp, recognize
y tine singer whom l had just heard
;, Luigi.
II A curious impulse took hold of mt
l would ask Luigi to help me. Pei
haps in the hour Of his own triumph
Il he would hold out a helping hand
" the stlrmbler on the way. | ran ATTIC
v him and soon came up with hin
II Touching him TIGHTLY on the arm,
- said:
q excuse me, but may have a wor
: with you?"
;, He turned round very abruptly, an
!! said:
l. ''Who on earth are you? What d
You want?"
$ His tone was rough in the extrem