The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-26

a whirligig Of figures in the dark spsc
between. In front OF me upon blurro
cNpSBse which 7 knew for the opposit
bank OF the river was Multitude OF tin
tHinkling stars and stationary. or movin
vaguely about on the darkness, like me
searching with lanterns, were The re
lights Of passing steamers. On eithe
side Of the river long rows of lamps fiun
steady CLEAN upon that hauid street
high above them swung the enermoI
lantern Of the tower and far down Nh
great waterway the signal hzht hsshe
against tile sky swiftly, mechanical
showing the entrance 10 shirs I'm tn
channel Here and there ON the dim sur
face of the river troubled bolts Of iigh
were floating like lamps washed ont q
sea Behind me, turning suddenly. I ssv
the moon, A great yellow moon risini
behind the chimneys and sdding%ts shsr
20 the general illumination " was "a 4
the streets and tho heavens were 50 NAM
blazing ways lighting the wanderers .
two worlds 20 the rim of the great divin
ing cup OF the sea i'm whose uncertain sur
face they might discern the phantom
shapes and figures of futurity.
suddenly. as 7 turned 10 20 down the
hill. | became aware of two figures sa
vancing toward me. an old woman, hare
headed and making \ moaning sound al
she walked. and with her As IL seemed
guard upon her, . small hunchba Cd
man. ! recognized them as the landls a.
OF The Revers Return and her son. anc
as they came nearer I could hear thai
tho moaning sound which came from ths
old woman was In reality the rapid utter.
anee Of words. Without looking 81 any.
thing round her she cried Let me e
after my old lad | tell you! IN not stop neer
and him on the other side Of the world
oh, my poor lad. I'll follow you-I'lI And
you somewhere-I'll come 20 the world
end after YOU"
Here the hunchback caught her BY the
arm and endeavored 10 distract her at
tention. Come back home. mother. he
said. How can YOU find hin, in the wide
world you that never was out OF this
place In your life? Youll never find him
on this side the grave He's left YOU for
good and let him go-curse him.,
How canI 20 home? returned the old
woman, distracted for a moment There's
no home for me except where my old lad
is--htm going astray somewhere in the
world, and perhaps on the sea this very
night! There's people in the world thstu
tell an old woman the road. Oh my
poor OLD lad. how could YOU do n 20 me,
But III follow you. I'll follow you"
Come out OF the street, mother, re-
peated the son.
~ wash Ntil uoNF hN me- cNntlnue0
the old woman. I've heen q married wo-
man for 40 years and wish was dead
before 7 see this day
And SO do l. returned the sen: but
you must make W your mind To do with
out him. Come home. now. mother, and
let him 20 where he wants. You've got a
son left
" 1T isn't husband cried the old we-
man. My poor old man. wherever have
YOU gone to-? And with that they turned
into an alley and saw them no more
AS | stood hesitating az the end Of the
street, which was one of eyeless ware
houses, with lamps hung on the wall and
inches in which outcasts were lurking.
two women came up the hill and stopped
not far from me. That's what comes OF
q man that never opens his mouth, said
ono angrily. I'D sooner have a man that
knocks YOU about bit than one of them
that YOU never know what they're think
Ing OF. To leave his lawful wife. and
them married 40 years And she's never
shed tear nor she won't 90 home She's
In the streets. saying she'll GO
after him aud find him and she a woman
OF 65! oh. them wicked Mormons!'
AT that word, as II ' remembered some
sin Of my youth. the thought Of the bill
ous stranger Of the night circle startled
me. hit me with such a sense of eataS-
lrophe that 7 turned and spoke 10 the
woman, What is the natter | asked:
what has happened?' Confused ny my
sudden attack their story was incoherent
'nd fantastic 20 degree. but amounted
70 this; Unknown to all possibly even
insuspected by himself some inexplicable
Ind fatal tenacity Of purpose had never
'eased 10 exist i'm the brain OF the old
Scot. The passion. which seemed 10 have
'lept for 90 years, had been by the chance
'isit OF the Mormon missionary wrought
o such a height that without word he
lad gone his way. leaving home and wife
't the age of 20 taking with him the saw
rgs gathered 40 many years before. vov-
'ging to discover In that America cf
'romise The fulhlment OF his youthful
lroam.
For msnv davs this incident haunted
no. but there was a good deal % sickness
hat year, and through tho pressure az
ther thoughts and much work n outline
sd begun 10 fade, when. one dsy. .
right day with = blue sky. went - IN. |
tage to see the American steamer sai 1
amused myself for the time IN the keen |
lert stmcsphere. watching that meet,
's plscs ~ al nations The tide
'ss rushing with the speed ~ mill |
llice. aud the tiniest SCRAP ~ = sail was
isible on that buoyant path The huge /
essel hove about the stage blowing \
Iovly With tho action ~ the tide like |
,thersd horse imuatient 10 start IN mid
hannel tho small river steamers hurried
antiug about their business sreat liner
eth men at work In her rigging Law =
ead veinht of tho water. and = Tine ~ /
argos. uneasy With such = swell ~ water
meath then, we're towed ~ the ouie,
ock bv th~ screaming tuE On the stare
self watched the crowd outside ,he
arriers. The folk IN line ~ the deck ~
10 vessHl the trim stoves eSicsrs NJ
q, like hgures IN = chnd's iov. then re
irniug on che roafvav above ths rivar
saw TIE scere from higher level.