Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 269: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

260 Thence he took ship to Yucatan, and he spent a month in Merida. Thence to Vera Cruz and Mexico: and then on and on, until somehow he found him- self in San Francisco. But that was too near home, and he was not sufficiently far away from John Ashton—and Hope—so he sailed for China and Japan. His habits were regular. He in- dulged in no excesses of any kind. He made no friends, hardly acquaintances. Fellow travelers regarded him at first with displeasure, and then with interest, for he was cordiality itself when ad- dressed, but never once began a con- versation, and always brought to a close as soon as possible, one that was introduced by another. After that came other countries of the east. He passed considerable time in India, and he hesitated a long while in Egypt. He went to Turkey, to Italy, to Algiers, to France and to Paris. In the latter place there were weeks and months of indecision. He had not yet determined what he would do in that future of which he had as yet scarcely thought; but one day he took the train and journeyed to the coast, crossed the channel and went up to London. The morning of his second day in London brought with, it a troop of ghosts. His face was drawn and hag- gard and whiter than ever, for it was the anniversary of the day which pre- ceded the night of events so tragic in his life. | He rose early in the morning, break- fasted, and started out for a walk. It rade no difference to him in what di- rection his footsteps took him, and he wandered on and on until he was in the country, and on and on still farther, until he entered a village, and recog- nized the streets of Greenwich. He paused several times in the main thor- oughfare to watch the street fakirs at their games, studying the freaks of the educated dogs, and the saber swinging THE ARGOSY. of the retired dragoon with serious in- terest. It was noon when he arrived at the Old Ship inn, and he dined on white bait in the open air, lazily and absently watching the tan colored sails as they floated up and down the Thames, envy- ing the rugged boatmen, wishing that he could change existence with the poorest of humanity around him, won- dering how much longer he could en- dure the life that he had lived for an entire year. In that manner passed several hours, until the afternoon was far advanced, and he bethought himself of returning to London. Presently, when one of the little side wheel steamers drew up at the wharf at the foot of the street, he got aboard and was carried among the maze of craft which crowded the water of the famous river. The boat landed him in the vicinity of London bridge, and again he walked o1 and on until he found himself at Pic- cadilly Circus. There, he paused a lit- tle while, and again strode on to the top of St. James Street, and once more halted. It was dark now, and only the street lights illuminated the scene, but that was sufficient to enable one to recog- nize friends as they passed. Ashton was thinking out the prob- lem of returning to New York and sur- rendering himself to the law. There was no happiness in the aimless, wan- dering life that he was leading, and during the entire day he had been won- dering if it would not be better for him to go back to the scene of the crime that he believed he had committed, and give himself up. He had about decided that he would do so, standing there on the corner, gazing upon the swarm of humanity that was passing and repassing, but without seeing it. Suddenly he was roused out of his stupor by feeling a hand upon his arm, and hearing a voice pronounce his name. He had not heard it in so long ECOMRRIC Oe CO