River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-03-20
UNDER A
LAMPPOST.
By Eneric HuIrue-Bean7an.

THE fog of November evening had
| lifted, making way for the cold
and clammy touch of night.
Godfrey Bellairs, pausing halfway
across the London bridge in an aim
less walk, leaned on the parapet and
shivered, keenly conscious of the dis
comfort of the atmosphere.
He was thinly-even meager1y-
clad. Has single-breasted coat was
buttoned tightly over his chest and
the collar of it was turned up; the
coat was aggressively threadbare-a
very eloquent testimony to the condi-
ton of tbs wearer; it's sleeves had
shrunk, exposing a long expanse of
wrist, unadorned by linen cuffs and
the edges of it were frayed.
But if his attire did not sufficiently
testify to the fact, one glance at Geof-
frey Bellairs' face-with it's sunken
cheeks, its hollow eyes, it's unshaven
chin, it's haggard, weary expression
was enough to proclaim him instantly
u traveller on the high road of destitu-
ton. Indeed, he was already within
more than measurable distance of this
goal.
He had truly sunk low. The pre-
ceptiOn of contrast between what he
was and what he had been smote him
with a sudden inclination to break in
to mirthless laugh, but the laugh
was as suddenly checked upon his lips
and he started forward with a quick
exclamation.
A hanson had driven rapidly to-
wards him, when, as it seemed with
out warning or reason, the horse had
SHE'D at passing obstacle, and, TAX
ing fright, would have broken the
next instant into wild gallop, had
not Godfrey Bellairs, by prophetic
instinct, taken in the possibilities of
the situation before they had time to
develop themselves, and, acting on the
impulse of an old athletic habit of
earlier days, sprung forward and
seized the horses bride as it passed
him.
For yard or two he was dragged
along beside the animal; but the
weight of his body brought il to a
sudden standstill beneath a lamp
post, close to the pavement. The
whole incident had begun and ended
within the limit of few seconds, and
the horse stood motionless, while the
driver on the box called out his gruff
thanks to the man who had, at con-
siderable risk to himself, averted a
possible accident.
Bellairs did not heed him. There was
a lady seated inside the hanson. He
bent forward, prompted by an old
instinct of courtesy, to address to
her a polite inquiry.
81 trust" he began, chat YOU are
not" then he stopped midway in
his sentence, for the light OF the
lamppost shone full on the face OF the
lady. She was young, pretty and
richly dressed.
"Eleanor!'' he exclaimed.
1t may have been the cold night air,
or the fright occasioned by the be-
havior of the horse, that sent little
historical SILVER through the lady at
the sound of his voice. Or it may have
been the sudden utterance of her
name by one whom she had imagined
a stranger.
She leaned quickly forward as Geof-
frey Belairs stepped back, and gazed
uneasily at the man standing under
the lamppost, with his coat collar
turned up and his cap pulled over his
eyes; strange, half-frightened rec
ognition leapt into her face as her
glance rested upon him at an instant
with mute amazement.
''What! Is it you, Geoff?" she ex-
claimed in low voice.
He was already turning away. She
put out a OBTAINING hand, delicately
gloved, as though she would have
tried to stop him. He noticed the
gesture. and by an impulse-almost
of defiance-turned again and faced
her.
''Yes-it is I,'' he said.
"Geoffrey-Capt. Bellairs!" she
murmured, with eyes still half in
credulous and cheeks flushing.
''I hope you were not hurt?" he in
quired formally.
She hesitated for the fraction of 6
second, then for reply threw open the
folding doors of the hanson.
''Will you please get imp she said
in tone between imperiousness ant
entreSty.
Rellairs glanced swiftly at hil