, 1874-04-11

| the search for herbs in tho foroat and since
then no news had been hoard of her. Only
I three OF Tour days later some wood-cutter8 who
were descending the mountain found, = few
| steps from the cavern, her sickle and apzou.
1t Was evident to every one that the skele-
ton which had fallen from the cascade, and con-
| quenty, was no other than that OF Louisa Mul-
| Ter. The poor young girl had undoubtedly boen
| drawn into the gulf by the came mysterious
influence which aesed daiiy upoo ueakeT beingsl
''Whct was tbe influeace2 No oue knew.
| Bat the inhabitants Of Spinbronn, supexsdtou5,
| like all mountaineers, asserted that
TIE DEVIL pWELr III THE CAVERN,
| and terror vas accordingly experienced By Al
| who lived near.
lone afternoon in tue month OF July, 1902,
my cousin Was making new classification OF Luis
insects. among which we're several new ones he
| had caught the day before I WAS near him,
holding in one hand the lighted taper, and in
tho other needles for piercing the specimens
Sir Thomas, seated near tho window, his feet
upon stool, was smoking cigar and regarding
Us With q thoughtful air.
~ was great favorite with Sir Thomas Hav-
erburch, aud often accompanied him in hts walks
and drives over tho mountain; he wns amused
with my childish attempts to chatter in English,
and he would mike of me in time, he said, q
yerisable gentleman.
"Wlen he had ticketed all hiB butterflies,
Doctor Weber opened tho case Of his largest in
Bects md said: Il captured Yesterday mag
nifcent horn-beotle, the grand {ucanus cevr1.s !;
It has this singu1arity, that the right side is
bifurcated in five branches. It is = rare speci-
men,
'4At the eamotine gavo to him the needle,
and aB be pierced the insect before fixing
it upon the cork, Sir Thomas, until then imznova
Bile, arose and, approaching case, perceived
the
CELEBRATED CRAB-F1sH OF GUIANA,
which he regarded with feeling OF horror, which
was imprinted in striking manner upon his
forid countenance.
t'Behold!' he cried, 'the most frightful
thing in the world. Only look nt it! It makes
me shudderi'
Indeed he was trembling, and sudden pal
lor oyerspread his face.
"Bah!' said my tutor, this ia the prejudice
hood, and the Impression remains. But If you
consider this crab-flsh with large microscope
you will DO amazed at tho perfect finish Of its
organs, at their admirable dispostion-atltheiz
elegance, evcn.'
'''It disgusts me! interrupted the Cona1no-
doro, grutlly. 'Pah!'
'sHo turned it about on his hand.
"'oh! don't know Why he said. : It always
makes my blood run cold!
f'Dr. Weber began to laugh, ond !, who shared
the feelings of Sir Thomas, cried:
"' Yes, cousin, you should throw this villain
Gus thing away. It is sicken1ns-it spoils all
the others
9*sLitsle boast!' be said to me, while his eyes
shone. Who obliges you to look at it? II it
does not please you, you may SO elsewhere
"Evidently he Was angry; and Sir Thomas,
who had gone to tho window and was looking
out, turned quickly around and, taking ma by
the hand, eaid in the kindest Of tsnes:
{" Let your tutor, Prantz, keep his crab-fah;
ne love the trees better-the green grass. Let
Us 60 and take wolk!'
Eyes, cried the Doctor, and return for sup
per at o'clock Then, raising hia voice: '*You
nre not offended, Sir uaTerburch2 p
1.-THE Commodore turned around and smiled
gayly; then We mounted his carriage, which
awaited him IS usual 1t the gate. Sir Thomas
wished to drive himself; 80, disnissing his
servant, ho seated ma beaide him upon the
Eamo Eea., and we started for Rothnlps. As
the carriage moved slowly along tho Bandy
L STRANGE MELANCHOLY
seized upon my soul. Sir Thomas also Eas
grave. He perceived my sadness and said:
'' You do not love those horrible fish any
moro than I, Fraatz- But thank Heaven. there
are none Of them IN this country. The ono
which your tutor has in his case came from
Guiana. 1t lives in largo marshy forests, which
are constantly filled with hot Vapors, With burn
ing civilizations this temperature is necessary
for its Afe. Its wob, or rather its vnss sweep
net wholly envelopes = thicket- It clutches
birds rs our spiders cotch aes.+ But ch.ec from
your mind these disgusting images, and drink 9
cup Of my good Burgundy:
Then raising the top Of the second seat ho
took from the STRAW sort Of gonEd. from
which be turned into q leather-cup full bump
er. When I had drank my courage returned
and I Was ready to laugh at my former fear.
Tho carriage, drawn bY small horse OF the Ar
dennes, slender and nervous, crcpt along the
sandy road, which lay before Us almost perpon-
dicular. Millions Of insects buzzed in the buahes.
At our right, not 4 hundred steps from us, tho
dark edgo Of the forests Of Rothalps extended.
lighted by occasional patches of bright~colored
trees and shrubs at our left fell the waters OF
more distinctly could We see the silver foam,
which, Us it dropped into the abyss Was painted
deep azure. The noise of tho falling waters
resembled the noise Of tho striking Of the Gym
balls.
II was faecinated by this spectacle. Sir
Thomas, loanins forward in his seat, his knees
on level with his chin, abandoned himself to
his habitual reperiea, whilo the horse, slowly
picking his way along and laying his bend upon
his chest to serve IS counterpolse to the car
Soon We attained 3 less dangerous summit The
view wan magnificent; the lmmouse perspective
dazzaed our o;ea- Turning our hends, we saw,
not far of. the
THE CAVERN OF sPISBnoST.
The bKusl,wood ovelhAngi1g it MAS Of vivid
green, and the water, which before falling upon
the plateau below flowed over bed OF sand and
fiat pebblos, WIS 90 lnpid that NO might have
believed it to be glass It misty ynpoEs had not
covered its surface.
1.-THE horse stopped moment to breathe.
Sir Thomas, arousing himself, looted for soms
moments upon the surrounding country.
"'Au is quiet said he. Then, after an in
slant OF silence: II you we're not hero. F1antz,
T think I should like to batho in this basin.
50 But, Commodore, why do you not do it I
should enjoy ramble about here. ! sec some
Aowers-1 will gather bouquet for my couain.
In an hour will rotu1n-'
Very well, Frantz, that is good idea. Doc
tor psetends TINT drink too much Burgundy
this mineral water will counteract its effects.
This little bathing place pleases me-
Then jumping to the ground and fastening
tia horse to the trunk Of birch tree, be waved
hiB hand as il to say to me. You may co.
az saw him scat himself upon the moss and
draw of his boots. As / withdrew, he turned !
and cried:
"s In an hour, Frantz.'
nThese wero his LAST words.
".
"An hour after returned to the place. The
ho-se, the carriaee, aud the clothes OF Sir |
Thomas alone met my gaze. The sun had sone
down. Darkness was gathering around. Not |
song OF bird under tho LEAKAGE; not the hum |