The Washington times., 1903-02-22
Reooections and Experiences of Old Days U1pteasantY
Brought Up by Ur}0eLoonle Caller.

life.
He opened his pocketbook and counted
his money. Then ne looked about for his
great coat and hat. They were in the
closet where she was. Twice he went
to the door. taking the key from his
pocket each time. but twice the courage
to open the tomb failed him and he
shrank away to the farthest corner Of
the room. looking back as he went as
though he feared a presence behind him.
He sat down again for a moment at his
/ desk to get himself together; then, ris-
| ing. crossed the room slowly. unlocked
/ the closet door. and swung il wide open
II was too dark for him to see to the
farther end. even had he tTied-he didn't
/ try. % Reaching within he snatched his
! coat from its hook and took his hat from
/ the shelf above. Then he closed the
door quickly and locked it, With an
/ other effort he opened the door into the
/ outer Office. and passed out, mumblins
/ good night TO the Waterman
! AS the street door swung TO behind
him he drew a long breath. and. turning
/ his coat collar about his ears. hurried
away toward the river A cold. drilling
/ he was glad; il kept the streets free
/ from pedestrians. On. down the narrow
street, he pursued his way almost at
| run. AT dark corner some one touched
I his arm. He spraDg back with cry II
was only a beggar, shivering in the rain.
| shaking him of. he went on. slipping
on the steep incline, stumbling in the
dark.
4 Near the river he entered a dingy
dramshop and got flask of brandy. He
crossed the bridge and listened. shud
deringly. to the hungry tapping of the
water below him At the further end he
paused. and turning. looked back across
the river to the lights Of the town
Slowly his eyes Travelled up the hill un-
til they rested upon a cluster OF lights
which. blurred and indistinct through
the rain. burned high above all the 9TH
ers-the lights which encircIed the great
tower OF the Higgins Building He re-
membered well the night when first they
burned there. How full OF self-sufficient
pride he had been; what pleasant
thing life had seemed, and what an easy
thing success II had been but a few
nights before his second marriage. and
he had given his friends a banquet-his
last social appearance as a bachelor"
AS he gazed and thought. a great
longing suddenly possessed him TO look
once more upon the woman he had
wronged. but whom in his hard way he
loved A horror of his future fell upon
him-that future when he should be a
skull1ing wretch. fleeing from justice.
fearful Of the daylight. watching and
listening in the darkness OF night. ever
within the shadow Of his crime. ever
stumbling upon the brink of detection.
And with II all-above il all-there
glimmered, toe. in his dull soul a flame
OF pity for the woman whom he was
leaving. disgraced. nameIess. penniIess
Yes, he would go back; he would sec
her once more.
With logged energy he retraced his
steps across The bridge, and began JC
climb the steep bluff of the town.
= A narrow ray of light shone from the
window of room in his hOuse-the
room in which they had been in tbs
\ habit of sitting together when alone. He
q fancied he saw the woman there. and h
. crePt noiseIessly along by the wall o.
p the house, and crawled up the steps o.
n the veranda. upon which the room OF
@ ened.
The window shade was lowered He
: got down on his knees. 50 that he coulC
> bring his eyes to a level with the space
between the curtain and the sash !
fire was burning in the crate. and il
; front Of il sat the woman. with al
; open book resting on her knees. her anx
\ ious eyes fixed upon the fiekerinl
. flames before her. She was waiting 70
e him. vaguely wondering at his delay
= and at the sudden changing of his plans
4 Waiting for him, and he dared not g
Il in to her! He could only crouch out
d side in the darkness and watch he
+ steaIthiIy. and then stink away throug
e the night into Oblivion.
s A wild sense of regret for her, min
gled with a selfish despair at his ow
: los. or the great house. his social pres
l. tige. and his mock responsibility. surg
ed over him, and a groan tore itsel
4 from his lips.
Is She heard him and started from ne
lie chair IN an instant he. too, was upo
Z. his feet. tiptoeing his way toward IN
n. steps. As he reached them. the grea
e hall door was thrown open. and a foo
l. of light caught his retreating form
TO while a woman's voice called question
Id ingly. anxiously:
IS John, Is that you?'
* He turned toward her. mumbling.
i Did 1 startIe you. WAS just con
0. ing in.
~ She came to him. and drew him il
& side the house. glanCing wOnderingly
"a his pale lips and shifting eyes
he What has happened?" she aske
ID Are you ili?"
1t Nothing has happened ! have zee
or worried and overworked today. ] am n,
e. iIl-only tired"
ID She looked at him anxiously. AZ
s. helped him to get of his hat and Goa
VI which were soaked with the rain
he why. you walked home this W
r ! night" she exclaimed.
re Yes. 1 walked home" he returns
hi / hUskily.