The Afro-American advance., 1900-03-10


Tonight l am not going to do so, be-
cause you seem like friend-the last
friend / have-and one does not tip |
ones friends But kindly take this
little purse and in it put the tips of
other men, remembering me-
but are you going away, Mr. VIII
kinson?"
NO, Dixon, don't know that Icoul |
say was going anywhere. Some folks |
would think 1 was about to take |
long journey. But it seems to me that |
l am making myself stationary. 1t |
depends upon how you look at il,
Dixon. Good night"
Good night, sir lift can be OF
any service 10 you
mo, no! Good night"
1t was strange that the world would |
keep up its unseemly roar when u
man sat preparing himself for death!
Why did the streets not grow quiet?
They would certainly be quiet before
dawn, He would wait till there was
silence. A soul ought TO have that
much consideration shown it when it
passed from being.
The young man sat in his most conn
Portable chair in the darkness Of his
room. He could not endure the glare
of the lights, and the sight of ma
terial objects distracted his thoughts.
He endeavored to forget the things
that tortured him-tried the eXperi-
ment of concentrating his thoughts
upon one idea, and that idea, oblivion,
To be eXtinguished-what more could
a weary man desire? To forget the
betrayed trust, and entailed misery,
the bad judgment. the foolish prod
igality, the uneager love, the self-seek-
ing friends, the easy scorn, that was
the best thing. And in the grave Was
forgetfulness.
The night passed feFerishly. lie had
no idea whether il was hours or min
utes that were passing. lie was mere
ly waiting for the noise to cease, and
presently there was silence,
Now" said he, and lifted a glass in
his cold and steady hand. But some-
thing came between him and the faint
light from the distant street lamp.
There was an unexpected darkness at
the window. lnvoluntnrily he with
held the glass from his lips. A second
later a masked man stood in the room.
He could not see Arthur who was in a
black shadow. But Arthur took note
of him-of his height. his width of
shoulder, of the position of his arms.
and then with a cry that was half a
laugh he sprang at him. A deep. mar
ticulate sound, almost sob. cams
from the mans throat. He made an ef-
fort To reach his weapon. His arm was
pinioned to his side. The strength of
the young man who had attacked was
peculiar and unnatural. like that of
mailman, and as he wrestled and
clutched and struggled he laughed.
The mask came off, and the two
looked each other in the eyes.
The burglar shrieked.
"You're crazyl" he gasped. white
and Mortified.
evil you go?" asked Arthur. "Say
you will go and I'll let YOU loose"
The man made a sign, but Arthur
would not trust him lie was unarmed
himself. and the man had weapon.
He had no intention of losing his life
through mere lack of caution. so he
backed the burglar TO the window, and
with one terrible push sent him head
long through it. Listening and still
smiling he heard the heavy fall on the
pavement below.
ats only 30 feet" said he aloud. "It
ourhtn't to hurt him much"
Then he sat down in his chair and
tremhlcd violently.
"That was certainly n narrow es-
cape" he said to himself "How II was
that he didn't get the drop on me 1
don't know
His foot hit against the clinking
pieces Of the shattered wine glass. and
he recollected his intention Of few
moments before. Then the humor Of
the situation struck him. He threw
back his head and laughed till the
crippled burglar heard II and dragged
his injured body away as rapidly rs he
could
81 think tn toddle back 10 the fight
ing line" unused Arthur Wilkinson.
''No one need know was a dcEerter
I'll stand by my guns-if there are any
which the enemy hare not taken. And
! meanwhile I'll send another letter IN
old EHinger. I'll ask him 10 come here
and take pot luck with me-play I'm
his son-tili better DAYS come. He'll
give me good advice III win ont f've
got To. And | will. As for Winnifred.
wouldn't IL be more decent of me to
leave her 10 some one who viii love
her better? We can live without each
othertoo easily. Winnifred and /. Then
to work. 10 work. to work "
The moon came up and was flooding
the room Arthur looked az II appre-
ciatively.
''You are pretty" he said to Cynthia.
In his most complimentary tone. He
took a drink of water. What Is there
In all the world so deliciofs?" he COM
nlented. Then he undressed and looked
at the warm rotuHdfy of his young
body with something akin to rever-
enee.
~Tf'sa mystic temple" said he. Who
am I that I dare devastate IL 90 And
then he aang himself on bis knees and
breathed In eontrition:
surely the hand Of Providence was
here"
He slept like child. and sometimes
In his sleep he laughed like one who
has q pleasant dream.--1h hicago Trib-
] una.