Year: 1879

From Batkwood's Edinburg Magazine.


Continued from Thursday.)


For long time saw nothing of the old
gentleman. His name vanished from the
advertisements of the theatre, where
Faust had been only stop-gap. The
winter season passed away, and spring
was passing-the season passed away, and
spring was passing-the season in which
the fancy of the young man turns so easi-
" loveward But to what love? In those
days had little to do. save to observe the
tricks and oddities Of my neighbors. |
was an amateur of unconsidered gestures,
Il delicate discrimnator of the tendencies
and twists of noses. | was quick at the
recognition of the people even in a crowd
For such student, there is no field so de-
lightiul as the park To the park at noon
in the early summer ileck lazily the fash
ionable, the beautiful, the eccentric. Sud
denly. after Il month of east wind the folk
ofLondon awoke with amazement to the
fact that the chimncy-cowls had been turn
ed completely round. They rubbed their
dull eyes. but could not rub out the mar
vel. With what creaking and groaning
must those monutonous and depressing
monsters. which had stared all one way
until mankind had forgotten that there
were four quarters of the heavens-with
what Jerking and metallic wailing must
they have accomplished that momentous
revolution under the silent and astonished
stars. Morning saw them turned towards
the northeast: II soft air blew from the
southwest. lisping of Africa. waiting swal-
lows homeward. fragrant of violet banks
all colors were straightway dccpened and
softened men forgot the sky's hard blue,
inirequent amid hailstorms, and look up
gratefully at a soft, deep, bright heaven,
where little ileeces were n drying after
the storm. They saw, too, with newly
awakened ewes that the horse e-chestnuts
and thorn-bushes were lightly clad in fresh
raiment, and that the elms were touched
with green. There is nothing more beau
tiful under heaven than the first green on
smoke-begrimed London trees when the
west wind is blowing. 1t is like the sing
ing of Ophelia amid murderous thoughts,
or the smile of Victor Hugo for Il child
But these are of those wayward fancies,
against which am warned by more ra-
tional persons. They belong to that idle
period of my life in which was no better
than fanciful observer of human quaint
ness, and before obtained that post ofin-
spector of infant samplers which am as
sured will be the making of me.


But enough of myself. | was but one
of those who hoated westward to the park
and felt the new sweet wind caress my
eyes. The day was delightful. and even
the most elevated persons seemed pleased
to see each other. Very exquisitely
dressed men almost smiled as they nodded.
As looked dp the row. it seemed full of
dark masses of cavalry, while hither and
thither between the slow moving, stately
squadrons fitted a light horseman, or
girl on a bright chestnut came bounding.
All the chairs beside the way were filled.
and before them n crowd were moving,
pausing, staring They were so busy
looking ut each other. and holding them
selves for Inspections so occupied with
recurring thoughts, one Of the sit of her
bonnet, another of the hanging of his coat
tails; so fearful of missing celebrated
parsonage or being missed by a desirable
acquaintance so eager to see the last new
eautv,-that the sky need not have made
haste to be so softly blue, nor the trees to
put on their new livery. Yet nature full
filled her modest task of breathing every
where and through all shrivelled hearts
bountilul peace and the stirring of vivid
ioy. As for me, | walked on air, pleased
with the gay throng and with my observa-
ton of their manners and the little lines
Oh passing faces. | was walking slowly
when my eye was caught by peculiar
motion cf figure beside me. | was on
the left of the row, and close to the ponies
of the beautiful Lady Manuel, who had
stopped her little carriage that she might
speak to Captain Milvane. Twas respect
fully interested in the droop of the lady's
head, as she bent towards the gallant gem
tleman, when my eye was diverted by the
movement, half .iaunty half nervous, of
which have spoken.


| stopped, and instantly recognized the
back of the old gentleman. The back was
very tightly buttoned into smart coat,
and had stiff, almost boarded, appear
ance about the waist. The glossy hat
above it was set little on one side the
trousers showed sharp line descending
straight to the bright heel and eloquent of
early days. 1t was a well-made-up and n
prosperous back. a back which would in
crease the hopelessness of the unfortunate.
~ i WIS .Hotiii- It's Nliht tiN
glossy hat came off with a flourish. A
handsome phaeton was passing quickly up
the park. instantly recognized the driv
er, who was sitting up with an expression
of profound Indifference, and allowing his
beasts to travel as they would. 1t was my
neighbor of the playhouse. He seemed
unconscious of the old gentleman salute !;
but beyond him bonnet was visible for Il
moment; inferred that woman had
nodded.


The old gentleman looked after the ear
riage as il he were not unwilling to adver-
tise his connection with so irreproachable
vehicle. lie had replaced his hat at an
angle little more iaunty he patted his
collar, touched his cravat with his finger
tips, and swung round to continue his
stroll. As he moved he caught sight of
me. was sure that he saw me, for the
color came with suddenness most unusu-
al in an old cheek. and there was an un-
natural stiffness about the head and neck
as he stared intently far away towards the
Knightsbridge barracks. had moved
towards him, but stopped abruptly. 1t
was clear that my study of the old gentle