The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-06
A CHECK 10 DEATH.

-. :
IN tho center Of the room stood WON.
On In poor, plain gown. Poverty spoke
from her dropping rnien as well as from
the troubled expression Of her pale face as
she, drew her thin mantle more cloeely
over her shoulders. Her great limpid eyes
gazed intently at slight, gray haired
man, who stood, with his back turned to-
ward her, at one Of the long windows.
With a weary, supplicating voice she at
last broke the long silence;
LEO, have you no kind word for mep
Have l really come In vaini"
Yes, in yain," he answered harshly.
II have often. told you plainly that we
are separated forever and that you have
nothing to hope for from me. You alone
have brought about your loss-against my
willard now you must bear 1t alone.
"You know how loved you, and you
left me to isolation, to an unhappy old age
left me to follow an adventurer-and
whyP Because one night at a ball he had
softly whispered, 4 love you But now
you have found out what this love meant
sadness and sorrow. Is It not sop
Eyes, Leo sorrow, bitter sorrow, but
also unspeakable happiness. You cannot
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 doubiy because no misfortune
can induce him to degrade his art. He
aims at the highest and will attain 1.-THE
great future after all his bitter struggles.
! should never have come here today--but
but, the child, Leo-my child is i'll"
The last words broke from her lips like
panied cry. .l...a ...-
Her brother shuddered, but still stood at
the window, gazing angrily out at the
dark sky
In few moments a servant came and
lighted the lamp and placed the chessboard
under the light, brought polished box,
which held the carved ivory men, and
started from the room.
The man looked unspeakably weary as
he took his seat in fornt Of the chess table
and arranged problem with trembling
hands. Somehow he could not keep his
mind on the game, and bis eyes constant
ly gazed over the board into space.
The lamplight flickered and almost died
out filing the room with pale twilight,
in which black balls sending out many
colored flashes danced UP and down. Sud
denly these balls burst md flooded the
place with green light. .
Cold shudders ran over the chess play
er's limbs, for right in front of the table
stood a sinister presence, who held scythe
in his bony right hand and an hourglass
in his left. Through the rents In his worm
eaten garments cleaned the white, flesh
less bones.
Death laid his scythe and his glass by
his side, drew a chair to the table and said,
"Come, old man, we will play game to-
gether for your life"
life has the first move" Oberst heard
his fearful opponent mutter, and as he
raised his arm over the table to move
pawn a little white hand was laid hinder
ingly on his arm.
Startled, he looked around and saw
beautiful little girl standing by his chair.
Her face was round and rosy, and her gold
en- hair and blue eyes were much like his
sisters when she was child
MAY l not play for your begged the
little one, and then, without waiting for
an answer, climbed into his lap and made
herself comfortable.
Eyes, yes" laughed Life in pure joy
and moved piece 80 foolishly that
Oberst's hair stood on end with fright, for
he feared that this first play would lose
the game.
But, strangely enough, although Life
had played SO incautiously, Death seemed
to be blind and made no use of the adyan.
tage given him.
Oberst sighed with relief and even en-
tertained bold hopes of victory. He follow
ed the game SO closely that he scarcely no.
ticed that the burden In his lap grew con.
stantly heavier, and that the child had
grown to a beautiful girl.
At last Life overlooked single move,
and Death pushed his knight into the
opening. A second poor play, and Life lost
her queen-the most beautiful piece of the
game and its principal strength.
Oberst glared angrily at the now mature
woman saw her alter move by move, saw
the color leave her face and the wrinkles
appear one by one saw her eye dim and
the gold of her hair change to dull gray.
"Be merciful, cruel Death Let me take
back this one play. You will always have
time to win. / will not lose Just yeti
will not diep'
"Neverv" roared Death, glaring from
his empty eyesockets. "There is no hope
for you, useless Life You can do nothing
more in the world"
Oberst's heart almost stopped beating,
for he knew that his own life was the
stake of the game
He saw the end approaching move by
move, Death constantly throwing out that
fearful threat, "Check-a check to Lifel"
Life's king was in peril, and there were
but two possible moves-a wrong one,
which would lose the game, and right
one, by which the king could save himself
behind the three remaining pieces
These three pieces beckoned the solitary
king and seemed to have human faces
one the features of lovely child, the seq
ond sad faced woman, and the third
a man with u thoughtful, earnest ex-
pression-the face Of that hated creature
on account Of whom Oberst had lost his
well loved sister.
Which would she playP If they were on
ly both good But. look She grasped the
king and pushed him toward the danger.
Gus square.
In malevolent glee Death laughed out
right.
BY powerful effort Obcrst freed him
self from the charm which held him.
" For heavens sake, not that play-the
ctheri" he cried, and, throwing his arms
over the table to prevent the play he |
knocked the figures to the floor
|
The sleeper awoke from his CHASTITY |
drnom and starad ahnut with xpi1o nropn1