Show Life vs Death SEATED in a large arm chair near a fireplace in which a fire burned cheerfully cheerfully cheerfully cheer cheer- fully is a man about thirty-five thirty years of age Time however has not dealt lightly with him for his hair and beard are grizzly-grey grizzly and deep furrows in inh h his is cheeks and forehead plainly indicate indicate indicate indi indi- cate that although he has not past the prime of life yet care and trouble have made him old Drawn up before him is a small table tahle upon which is a chess board and a set of ivory men fantastically carved He Heis Heis Heis is intently studying an imaginary game gameon on the board before h him m. m Other thoughts apparently interrupt his game from time timeto to time for he frequently sighs and passes his hand across his forehead Then as if he were angry for letting other thoughts interrupt he would compress compress compress com com- press his lips and again resume ethe the study of the game before him I 5 I jc The fire had now died down and the room was filled with deepening shadows but still he sat there seemingly absorbed in n the ch chess ss Suddenly the room was flooded with an unearthly light A cold shudder ran over the players player's limbs for right in front of the table stood a sinister presence who held a scythe in his long right hand and an hour-glass hour in his l left ft Through the rents in his worn garments gleamed the white fleshless bones Death laid his scythe and glass by his side drew a chair to the table and said Come old man we will play a a. game together for your life Life has the first move the chess player heard his fearful opponent mut mutter mutter mutter ter and as the man raised his arm over 1 the table to move a pawn a little white hand was laid hinderingly on his arm Startled he looked around and saw a beautiful Ii little girl standing by his chair Her face was round and rosy and her golden hair and blue ees eyes were r. r f much like those of his sweetheart of long ago Wont you let me play for you lisped the little one and then without waiting for an answer she clambered into his lap and made herself comfort comfort- able Yes yes laughed Life in pure joy and moved a piece so foolishly that for foran foran foran an instant he trembled with fright for he feared that this first play would lose the game But strangely enough although Life had made his first move so incautiously Death seemed to be blind and made no use of the advantage given him The player chess-player sighed with relief and even entertained bold hopes of vic vic- tory He followed the game ame so closely that he hardly noticed that the burden in his lap grew constantly heavier and that the child had grown to a still more beautiful girl At last Life overlooked a single move and Death pushed his knight into the opening A second poor play and Life ost the queen the queen the most beautiful piece of the game and Its ts principal strength The player chess-player glared angrily at the now mature woman saw her alter move by move saw the color leave her face and wrinkles appear one by one saw her eye dim and the gold of her hair change to a dull greyBe grey f Be merciful cruel Death Let me take back this one play You will al always always always al- al ways have time to win I will not lose just yet yet yet-I I will not die l I Never shrieked Death glaring F from his empty There is F no hope for you useless Li Life e. e You Youcan Youcan Youcan can do nothing more in this world His heart almost stopped beating for he knew that his own life was the stake of the game He saw the end approaching approach approach- ing move by move Death constantly throwing out that fearful threat check a check cheek to Life r I rl l 3 Lifes Life's king was in peril and there were but two possible moves moves moves-a a wrong one which would loose the game and a aright aright aright right one by which the king could save himself behind the three remaining pieces These three pieces beckoned the solitary solitary solitary soli soli- tary tary- king and seemed to have human faces one faces one the features of a lovely child the second of a sad faced woman woman woman wo wo- man and the third of a man with a thoughtful earnest expression the expression the face of that hated creature on whose account he had lost his beloved sweetheart Which would she play If only they were both good But look She grasped grasp grasp- ed the king and pushed him toward the dangerous square In malevolent glee Death laughed outright By a powerful effort the player chess-player freed himself from the charm which held him r For heavens heaven's sake not that play the play the other he cried and throwing his arms over the table to prevent prevent prevent pre pre- vent the play he knocked the fi figures ures to the floor The sleeper awoke from his ghastly dream and stared stated up with wide opened eyes He was alone The men chess-men were scattered over the carpet A hor- hor stricken or-stricken servant rushed into the room My hat Michel and my coat Make haste and come with me Be quick A few moments later when he lighted his master down the steps he saw tears in his eves eyes and heard him mutt mutter r No it is not too late I can still be of use usein usein usein in this world and give others pleasure check checka a a check to Death C. C F. F Marshall |