The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-06-15

ing his eyes he fixed them upon me
with an expression so intensely famil.
lar that I started back from him
amazed. A likeness, q shadowy re-
semblance fingered there a moment;
then knitting his brows In pain he
spoke and the illusion vanished.
"Can you assist me'" he asked fee.
bly,.
"One good turn deserves an.
other replied, endeavoring tospeak
playfully. "what shall ! do' Are
you hurtf Did you fall?"
"No, no. ] am subject To these
spasms Of the heart. There is only
one remedy. Are you brave enough
to procure il for mei"
"What is il? Where shall go'" |
asked rather doubtfully; for the clouds
we're growing blacker every moment
and the trees were swsying violently
in the wind.
"A few yards below you, behind
that ledge Of rock. IL cave. You
win find there book and a phial. ]
never 90 without them. I hoped to
return in time to prevent this parox.
ysm, but hearing some one shout l
fastened up the ascent too rapidly for
my strength. The phial contains an
elixir which will soothe this horrible
pain and give me energy enough to go
home
A cave, What cavey Not Old
Pegs. Gracisus heavens! Could l
venture within the dark abode Of that
witch Of the mountain What had
he been doing theres Aud yet il was
to come to my relief that he had in.
Cured this suffering. Whatever the
result must make the effort.
II will co." said. leaving my pros
trate companion in the same attitude
there being nothing else that | could
do for his relief
Down, down | clambered till reach
ed the ledge of rock he had pointed
out. Then bearing to the right |
kept steadily upward till the black
opening appeared. My courage be-
gan to waver and advanced cautious.
ly, looking and listening. But the
roar Of the wind by this time made il
impossible to detect any other sound;
and ncrving myself with the thought
of the f.llow-creaturc whose sufierings
l was trying to relieve, ! gained the
entrance and walked in. The aper.
ture yawned wide enough to admit
several persons standing erect.
For some yards the floor was dry
and thickly encruste,l with earth. Not
far from the mouth was a campstool
upon which lay book, apparently II
manuscript, aud small phial Of col
orless liquid lightly rested beside it.
CHANGING hastily around | saw
rough mat which bore the impression
Of human figure and was doubtless
the rude couch of the unhappy ne
grcss. Near this was an oven cou-
tanning lew Irish potatoes burned to
crisp, and beneath il smoul,lered n
pile of warm II hes. lnvoluntarily |
thought of the Hag Of Vesuvius and
almost expected to see the fox and the
snake advance upon me.
But it took only a moment 10 OBJ
serve these evidences of recent habita-
ton. Fastening away with the phial
| retraced my steps with no draw hacks
except the gust which, ever increasing
in fury, caught up the leaves in a
whirlwind and tossed my hair reck-
lessly about. my hat having been
abandoned since it had served the pur-
pose of cup-bearer.
Have | been long?" snxiously
inquired a.. weary aud breathless. ]
gave the phial into the hands 50 eager.
outstreiched.
Without reply he drew the glass
stopple and drank Of the contents.
Closing his eyes then for several mo
ments, saw the color mount to his
cheeks and lips and the light hash
from his whole face. Raising his
head and looking at me with revivlng
animation his iase Was almost fearful.
" beautiful and like. VII! 81 like
familiar picture tn my fancy.
Pardon me, but is not this Miss
Lisle. the new guest of the HALF" he
courteously asked when the absence of
pain restored his sense of etiquette.
1T is; and we have met before, Mr..
Delorme," | replied.
"Yes-I have not forgotten. l WAS
endeavoring 10 manage II troublesome
charge that morning
He now arose and leaned for sup
port against the huge rock near which
he had fallen while watched him,
forgetting all else.
"How came you here alone. Miss
Lisle?" was his next question.
II am lost, | fear" said my
party and are separated hopelessly,
and all through my foolish habit Of
day dreaming. know not where