The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10

he had gone OF Vienna, and there one day had
been found dead IN hacte with q curious stab
his brothers. death affected Charlie. He was in
New. York at the time and had been studying
had given il up, sought new pastures. and cut his
old acquaintance right and left Then he had
gone away TO the country no one knew where,
for a short time. He returned TO New York and
in three days had hastencd 10 Europe. All this
! went over in my mind, but my thoughts were
Where do you dine, old mann" Charlie asked
suddenly. breaking the long pause,
Nowhere" l replied. "Tha, is I have not
Come dine with me"
Why, thanks, | will"
Cummings was smiling. I remembered that
smile very well. II generally ANTICIPATED some
little humorous anrcdote or recollection some.
thing that had appealed TO his artistic side and
Charlie could talk his thoughts out loud better
II say, Denny" II noticed that my name had
returned 10 hml, will you ever forget" And
here charlie detailed ono Of the adventures Of the
inyablc. | could hardly imagine he was the INC
man, All at once, however, he stopped in the
middle 81 q sentence and drummed with his fingers
well we'll we'll" he said. 1T must have been
devil OF a mystery 90"
70 recall his thoughts to what he had been saying
There was no response, and Charlie hurriedly
arose.
Come old chap let's 60 and chase some food :"
he said, in his old manner
| followed him out Of the courtyard and down
the street 10 n little restaurant that I knew well
The tables had marble tops, leather cushioned
scats ran along the walls. and mirrors stretched
from The low nainscoiing up 10 the ceiling, Queer
women. in brilliant colors, and unchnny, ragged
headed men, students and writer's and poets,
Snd devils and gay, bickcred or laughed with
their I, elections d ublnR and trcbling about them
in the angles Of the mirrors.
There was only one person in the cafe when
We entered The dining room was farther back
/ recognized the high hulging forehead, tho
death head face the notify, struggling beard
Of Paul Nrrlainc mu.d.rcr Of instincts, rcro,.
der 81 the beautiful | had never met him. al
though once he had been pointed out To me in n
place where mere curiosity leads no ono twice
feeling, ] had never wished Ia place myself In q
position Ia be subject Ia the insults which this
man seemed AT liberty to throw ~ tho'c who spoke
to him
Bu,, wonderful TO relate the oct looking up
caught Chnrleseyc and smiled smiled eagerly:
Nh. mon amt he exclaimed, in tone Of
thorough welcome rising from his corner
Charlie stepped forward. II they had been
two friends who had exchanged thoughts along
Of Ncrlniuc's imAg nation. The welcome could
not have been more true ur heartfelt They
gTasgged each others hand, across the table.
with snarl and ngrunt sat down at The table.
Now. speak French; thai is, ne French Of
the stranger, but could No more follow the con.
vcrsalion than | could follow the debate 81 m
Indian council The DRINKS were ordered aud
Charlie drank hnlf hands width Of absinthe
neat, and as II II were the lighirst French wine
and the older man measured glasses with him
! observed HON ~ were they characters in play
| even studied the reflection If the hack Of Yer
LANES head IN the mirror a great head. broad
and noble
At last I cnugh, the substance of their talk
] am neither Squcamish nor old fashioned, but I
declare upon my soul | shuddcred. | could
stand 1t NJ longer
Are We dining together" interrupted. pulling
rude remark, bn, he checked himself '' '''"'
'Of course" he said, come
Ncrlaine arosc lie bowed politely 10 Chnrli.
as II somehow the latter had obtained commnnJ
Of his respect Twas forgotten In the parting
as we seated ourselves nj n table
We'll he Sold in answer 70 me he touches
ms nav hinnush 'heE eau MN master You
knew well II showed my curiosity. I would
defeat myself 80 began Ia talk about old times
We drank champagne with our meals and after.
ward brandy such brandy Won can gel no
wnS'r ISc'p p az mi ps'IuSr CAFE y was
n fever that rashcd the skin as might inripient
poison touched II sparingly, but II /, had been
the last bottle on earth and harlic the thirsiics;
fierce delight
His tongue was gradually looscncd, and b.fo,.
We III our cigars, he was rambling highily-
jumping from one subject 10 another Carefully
! sought TO bring him back 10 the last days in
%ad pushed mack from H nbs Then np Shai f
u
"pid you ever a man guillotined!" he asked
suddenly nprupos Oi nothing
NO, but was a surgeon witness at an electrical
killing ut hanncmorn, returned
say. tell me about IL" Charlie put in eagerly.
I've been To all the executions here" lie called
Al lcas, SIX oil on his fingers
hal seldom talked on this subject, hut Char
lies lncrcS, appeared 80 earnest that began
described the process Of placing the electrodes.
and So forth, and az looked acr rs the table /
saw that Cummings had assumed the position
81 the victim IN The great woodcn chair hts head
and the eyes h'n 'atH tht ha!flpwrr'i lids shit.
ing ing from sid to ,de !, was quite horrible At
Enough ui this gruts mcncsS Com. talk
Of your-cf | said
f. aroused aud leaning both elbows on the
table spOk' IN = low voice half inariCulatr
IN You'll listen and aiterward forrct-Ill
tell YOU little tale. II may be- strange, OF new,
choose, you know liuI one thing, don't inter.
rupt ~ make comments. promise me-"
'Tnn know after left college" Charlie wen,
on 81 tried To- settle down" II might be fair 10
stale tha, had NJ, known this
ihrn ioi!onei silence OF minute, Charlie
81 his little fingers over his sunkcn eyes At
last he SPOKE again. ! had To lean forward TO
catch what he was saving:
II was very fond ui my brother We were
much alike savr tho speech L mean in feature
and when ! heard tha, h. had been, murdered,
damnably. roitcnly, murdered. | could not sleep
! drank for ~ Nv arms. from wrist 10 elbow
were scared with III" markings of HE ncrdl"
ran the gnmul -cucainc. laudanum mnrphinr
onc day hNokc, 81 In speak. in a hospital |
was strapped down. much as the man YOU were
telling me about Just now. | stayed there for
some time, and slowly rrgainri my strength
You see. said Charlie par"nthrcally. ana |
Was AFRAID hr had Sldcirhciri his IDEAS my
Will has nry"r left me- | could star tomorrow
and sit with a fishing r,d IN my hands on the
banks Of the Sc,nr bottle If c,ld tea beside me.
for the rest Of my lie Man | could de- it, and
never touch thing, but bread and cheese, |
could live IN a tub. Il ! made up my mind 10 do
u Well listen, | determined when | left the
hospital To give up everything The doctors
told me | must II | wished Ia hvr--thcy know
little about that he snccrrd $50 | went to the
Adirondacks ] rowcd and padded and lived
IN tho woods. ! grew strong and keen on life
] built castles IN no end | imagined returning
and showing people what ! could do For six
months ! touched nothing in the way oi stinIu-
lhnlS ! had put morphine away forever Il
wish now 10 God had not.
Well Charlie wnS speaking slower now and
breathing harder u returned Ia town II was
late in the spring, or better, early summer
went 10 my hotel You know the one mean "
Indeed remembered II, and how often W. had
sat there on orr college vacations md watched
those wonderful nympAs trying I" draw the sun
Drowned Sntyr down into the water.
1T WAS beautiful day and went up into my
room To dress | had not had black coat ON my
back for months ! observed IN the glass that |
was looking very we'll and suddenly II crossed
my mind that my. abS,inrnc" On drink was