I touches all things with destroying hand ; and if seem now and then to bestow the bloom of youth , the sap of spring , it is but a brief mockery , to be surely and swiftly followed by the wrinkles of old age , the dry leaves and bare branches of winter .
And yet there are places where Time seems to linger lovingly long after youth has departed , and to which seems loath to bring the evil day .
Who has not known ?
Who has not seen somewhere ?
Some such trite reflection -- as apposite to the subject as most random reflections are -- passed through the mind of .
Arriving at late the previous evening , had been driven up from in , from which had been able to distinguish only the shadowy outlines of ; so that this morning walk was first opportunity to see by daylight .
was dressed in a suit of linen duck -- the day was warm -- a panama straw hat , and patent leather shoes .
In appearance was tall , dark , with straight , black , lustrous hair , and very clean-cut , high-bred features .
When paused by 's desk on way out , to light cigar , , glanced at the register and read the last entry : -- " ' , , . '
" One of the bigbugs , reckon -- probably in cotton , or turpentine . "
, walking down , glanced about with an eager look , in which curiosity and affection were mingled with a touch of bitterness .
saw little that was not familiar , or that had not seen in dreams a hundred times during the past ten years .
There had been some changes , it is true , some melancholy changes , but scarcely anything by way of addition or improvement to counterbalance them .
Here and there blackened and dismantled walls marked the place where once had stood , for 's march to had left its mark upon .
were mostly of brick , two stories high , joining one another after the manner of .
Some of the names on the signs were familiar ; others , including a number of Jewish names , were quite unknown to .
A two minutes ' walk brought -- the name had registered under , and as shall call -- to , the central feature of , from both the commercial and the picturesque points of view .
Standing foursquare in the heart of , at , a " jog " at left around , which at this hour was well occupied by and from and empty drays awaiting hire .
was unable to perceive much change in .
Perhaps the surface of the red brick , long unpainted , had scaled off a little more here and there .
There might have been a slight accretion of the moss and lichen on the shingled roof .
But , with four-faced clock , rose as majestically and uncompromisingly as though had never been subjugated .
Was it so irreconcilable , wondered , as still to peal out the curfew bell , which at nine o'clock at night had clamorously warned , slave or free , that it was unlawful for to be abroad after that hour , under penalty of imprisonment or whipping ?
Was , still alive and exercising the functions of , and had age lessened or increased the number of times that performed this duty for during temporary absences in the company of ?
A few moments later , saw in -- a stronger reminder than even that war had left its mark upon , with which Time had dealt so tenderly .
was open on all four of sides to .
passed through one of the wide brick arches and traversed with a leisurely step .
looked in vain into the stalls for , and felt a genuine thrill of pleasure when recognized the red bandana turban of , .
did not speak to , however , or give any sign of recognition .
threw a glance toward a certain corner where steps led to .
On had once seen shot while being taken for examination under a criminal charge .
recalled vividly how the shot had rung out .
could see again the livid look of terror on 's face , , the resulting confusion .
, recalled , had been tried and sentenced to imprisonment for life , but was pardoned by after serving a year of sentence .
As was neither nor , could not foresee that , thirty years later , even this would seem an excessive punishment for so slight a misdemeanor .
Leaving , turned to the left , and kept on course until reached the next corner .
After another turn to the right , a dozen paces brought in front of .
turned the knob , but the door was locked .
Retracing steps past , entered .
Not at all impressed by the melancholy suggestiveness of task , was whistling a lively air with great gusto .
Upon 's entrance this effusion came to a sudden end , and assumed an air of professional gravity .
" Good-mawnin ' , , " said , lifting cap politely .
" Good-morning , " answered .
" Can tell anything about 's hours ? "
" has be 'n a little onreg ' lar sence de wah , ; but gin ' ally gits roun ' ' bout ten o'clock er so .
's be 'n kin ' er feeble fer de las ' few yeahs .
An ' reckon , " continued solemnly , glance unconsciously seeking a row of fine caskets standing against the wall , -- " reckon 'll soon be goin ' de way er .
' dat is bawn er ' hath but a sho ' t time ter lib , an ' is full er mis ' ry .
cometh up an ' is cut down lack as a flower . '
' De days er life is three-sco ' an ' ten ' -- an ' is libbed mo ' d' n dat , , by five yeahs , ter say de leas ' . " "
' Death , ' " quoted , with whose mood 's remarks were in tune , " ' is the penalty that all must pay for the crime of living . ' "
" Dat 's a fac ' , , dat 's a fac ' ; so dey mus ' -- so dey mus ' .
An ' den has ter be buried .
An ' does ou ' sheer of it , , does ou ' sheer .
conduc 's de obs ' quies er , . "
left and retraced steps until had passed , toward which threw an affectionate glance .
A few rods farther led past , with square tower , embowered in ; past , and a painted wooden figure of in a recess beneath the gable ; and past , once , in front of which political meetings had been held , and political speeches made , and political hard cider drunk , in the days of " Tippecanoe and too . "
intersected at a sharp angle in front of , forming a sort of flatiron block at the junction , known as , -- perhaps because auctions were sometimes held in the good old days .
Just before reached , came down from the direction of .
When paths converged , kept on down behind , it having been already intention to walk in this direction .
's first glance had revealed the fact that was strikingly handsome , with a stately beauty seldom encountered .
As walked along behind at a measured distance , could not help noting the details that made up this pleasing impression , for mind was singularly alive to beauty , in whatever embodiment .
's figure , perceived , was admirably proportioned ; was evidently at the period when the angles of childhood were rounding into the promising curves of adolescence .
abundant hair , of a dark and glossy brown , was neatly plaited and coiled above an ivory column that rose straight from a pair of gently sloping shoulders , clearly outlined beneath the light muslin frock that covered them .
could see that was tastefully , though not richly , dressed , and that walked with an elastic step that revealed a light heart and the vigor of perfect health .
face , of course , could not analyze , since had caught only the one brief but convincing glimpse of it .