The Press., 1898-08-25

were bowling yourfhoop in Kensington
gardens. And most of the story is very
wearisOme. but the fact is interesting
that was actually in the mirage. -
"What was it1ike?''
cit was a city'of ghosts. They moved
silently about the gray, ghostly streets
They wore the,costumes of all ages and
all countries. 1t hadia weird and bizarre
effect. When / first came to conscious
ness in the mirage, the first thing that
/ saw was city man, silk hat, frock
coat, expanded waistcoat, all the same
gray tint, all shadowy. He was talking
with the ghost of beautiful Egyptian
woman. They spoke in whispers. Ev-
cry one spoke in whispers.
Ibid any of them speak to you?''
Eyes; hesitatingly at first, just as
strangers do among the living. They
told me that was dead, that all these
cities Of the mirage were cities Of the
dead. They floated and drifted through
the air, settling down now and then ON
the sand, as q bee might alight ON q
flower, passing onward again through
space when any living being approach
ed them. Every ship that is sunk sails
again through the sky, manned by its
drowned crew."
"You are saying this seriously?" she
asked
"Ouite. I know the scientific ex-
PLANTATION that the ship Is merely the
image of vessel out of sight. dare say
the scientific explanation is true, but
cannot believe it because have expert
enced the other thing. Twas just as Ger
tain Of the existence of the shadow city
and of myself as a shadow in its midst
Of the buildings saw, the streets trav-
ersed, the people to whom / spoke. /
was just as certain Of those things and
Of the fact that ] was dead as am now
that live, that am in this particular
room, that touch your hand.
She drew her hand away. watching
him, half frightened.
"Why," she asked, "did you not tell
me about this before?'
"It seemed useless The story is in
credible to every one except myself. Be-
sides, it is little uncanny. / thought
1t might scare you. -
Now she laughed again, but rather
uervously.
~ am not SO easily frightened, but
you must not go on believing it.
"Belief, " he said, lis not matter Of
will. Twas there in the mirage for some
time. ! have the most distinct recolleo.
ton of it. ! could take my sketchbook
and draw yoa pictures of it. -
"What was it like? What did you do
there?' she asked,
"There was no work and no amuse-
ment, One neither ate nor drank; nei-
Their slept nor made love. The houses
were not really iphabitated; they were
like ghosts Of houses, perpetuated
through some strong human association.
The doors stood open. Sometimes one
wandered through them, but one did
not live in them. Most Of the time one
wandered up and down the streets, feel
ing no fatigue, unconscious Of heat or
cold. 1t was all dead; everything was
dead. There was not even very much
talking; when one spoke one spoke of
the past
He broke off his account suddenly.
SNOW" he said, "let me tell you
about something more cheerful"
He told her story after story of his
travel, all that was most amusing and
most commonplace. Her laughter and
her color returned, but at the end of the
stories, when the silence came, she
abruptly said;
"Go on! Tell me more about the mir
age"
"You have heard enough, he said,
land, besides, the rest is not very pleas.
ant"
at don't care for that" she said
"you must tell me. want to hear it
am not bit frightened. !"
And then for an hour he went ON
with the story. When he had finished,
she made him take his sketchbook and
draw for her some of the faces that he
had seen there. She held the book in
her hands and sat staring at them in
tently. Suddenly she dropped the book
and shivered.
ST have to do all that you ask, (" he
said, "but do not think l should have
let you have your own way in this
thing, You are really frightened
He stepped across the tiger skin to
her and stood by her, resting one hand
on her hair. He remained thus for a
moment, motionless. Then she sudden
~ sprang up with loud scream and
rushed away from him, covering in
one corner of the room.
"Don't touch me, she cried. "Don't
touch me; don't look at mel You have
been among the dead BARRY Pain in
Black and White.