The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-24

course, those blus-eyed, goiden-haired
moonlight-on-the-lak nights; but.
someway, 1 don't stand in with them,
My favorite night is the pronounced
brunette-the darker the better. To-
night is one of my kind, and she's
growing more and more like it all the
time. If it were not for depriving you
or the theatre, I'd rather Just drift off
now in the deepening gloom till swal-
lowed up in it-lost utterly. Come with
me, anyhow"
Gladly" L answered, catching some
thing of his own enthusiasm; ST my
self prefer ii to the play
II heartily congratulate you on your
taste" he said, diving violently for my
hand and wringing it ''Oh. it's going
TO be grimly glorious,-a depth of
darkness one can wade out into, and
knead it in his hands like Dough-
And he laughed, himself, at this gro
tesque conceit.
And so we walked-for hours. Our
talk-or, rather. my friends talk-iuiled
and soothed at last into a caImer flow,
almost solemn in its tone, and yet fret
ted with an occasional wildness of ut
terance and expression.
Half consciously l had been led by
my companion, who for an hour had
been drawing closer to me as we
walked. His arm, thrust, through my
own, chung almost affectionately. we
were now in some strange suburb of the
city, evidently, too, in. low quarter.
for from the windows of such business
rooms and shops as bore any evidence
of responsibility the lights had been
turned out and the doors locked for the
night Only a gruesome green light
was blazing in little drug store Just
opposite, while at our left, as we turned
the corner, a tumble-down saloon sent
out upon the night mingled sound of
clinking billiard balls. discordant
voices, the harsher raspings of a violin.
together with the sullen plunkings of a
banjo. =
L must leave you here for a min
ute, said my friend, abruptly breaking
long silence, and loosening my arm
ne druggist over there is a patron
or our house, and I am reminded of a
little business I have with him. He is
ABOUT closing, too, and I'll see him now.
as may not be down this way again
soon. No; you wait here for Ine-right
mere, and he playfully but firmly
pushed me back, ran across the street
and entered the store, Through the
open door l saw him shake hands with
the man that stood behind the counter
ana stand talking in the same position
LOT some minutes-both still cIaspfag
hands, as it seemed: but as I noecbano
seemed to be examining the .
hand or Mr.. Clark and working at if
as thouSh picking at a splinter. in the
palm-l could not quite determine what
was being done, for a glass showcase
blurred an otherwise clear view of The
arms OF both from the elbows down
Ihen they came forward. Mr.. Clark
arranging his cuffs and the druggist /
wrapping up some minute article he |
LOON from an upper showcase ana
handing II to my friend, who placed if 1
IN the pocket of his vest and furnefl
away At this moment ny. attention
was withdrawn by an extra turnult of !
leers and harsh laughter in the saloon
from the door of which. even as my
TREND turned from the door opposite !
drunken woman reeled. and. stag
sering round the corner as INV friend 1
,aine up, fell violently forward on the
pavement, not ten steps in our advance
InStlhcuVeIy, we both sprang to her
All, and, bending over the senseless
lgure, peered curlously at the bruised
ihG oleedlng features My friend was
renDllhg With excitement. He cIutched
wildly at the limp form. trying. b1,t
lalnly, to lift the woman to her feet
WY don't you take hold of her2'' he
whispered, hoarsely. "HeIp me xvitb
ler-quick! quick Lift her up," 7
'oeyed without word, though with
huddef or aversion as drop of bof
hood stung me on the hand.
NOW draw her arm about vo1r
way-and hold il so,
IND now your other arm around ber
Valst-quick; man, quick, as You vour-
en- VIII want Gods arm about Won
vhen YOU fail. Now. GOMEZ" And
WIN no other word we hurried with
ur burden up the empty darkness or
he street "a
l was utterly bewildered with IL All
ut something kept me silent. And 81
: hurried on, and on. and on. on.
curse directed by my now wholly refi-
silt companion Where he was esiny
NAT ms purpose was, could hn+
asueiy surmise- I only Recognised
lat ms intentions were humane, which
az. was emphasized by the extreme |
autlOii ne took 10 avoid the two or
Iiee Iate pedestrians that passed us I
II our way as we, stood crowded =,
behind a low SboJ
nee in an entry-way. and once ar the | !
istant rattle of police whistle We {
urrled through the blackness of a mar
DIV ailey INTO the silent street bevoDd |
M on up this we passed. until ar las ,
paused at the gateway of a cottaq-a /
n our left On to the door of that ~, !
emf, my friend first violently jerkiug I
le DelL- then opening the door with : I
lgnt key. and with me lifting the still l
snseiess woman through the han into | ,
dinIS hsnted room upon the right | 1
~ laying her upon clean white bed /
lat glimmered in the corner IL +
'ached and turned the gas on in !
aring jet. and as he did so. This Is / +
y home, he whispered, land this :
oman is-my motherl" He flung him { v