Bismarck tribune., 1881-10-07

/ W0uG IOGQQ COKhIu tuo .Da4A, auu 6VMo
one pointed, out to me the curiosities of the
place e-where the witches assemble onW Wal
purgisnacht, the Devils Well, the Devils
Pulpit. Rough stones of volcanic strata,
thrown up years before, strewed the bare
and rugged mountain top. In one place
they were heaped about in great masses,
among them was hollow called Sckneefels,
where, in the winter, the snow is said to
be thirty-five feet deep.
Among these barbaric rocks found Syl-
via Whitworth. asked her how she had
dined.
II dined here" she said, as if her rocky
seat had been her boudoir table. ''There
we're so many people in the hotel, all ugly
and old; and can't eat when l face ugly
sights. My-my courier brought me my
! dinner"
The sun was setting IN pomp and splen-
dor; From our high point OF view we We
could see all the simmer and color and all
the va1ying tints of glowing August sun
set.. l pointed it out to my friend; she did
not turn her head.
Il don't care for views, she said gently;
Il have seen so very many, and am tired
of them"
looked in her face. Her eyes had caught
some strange lustre from the beautiful
cloudland of color about us; there was a
vague disquiet in her manner, a futtering
in her voice. It seemed to me that she
was under the mastery Of some profound
impression.
The warm night crept onward. We
were alone, quite alone under throbbing
summer sky, with the clouds in the heav-
ems around us.
Instinctively, when spoke, I spoke in
whisper
How near we are to heaven" muir
INJURED, Sin this big Oh place? How far bet
ter than heaven it is to be with you, like
this!'
A soft, warm breeze passed over our
faces, and blew some struggling curl of her
loosened hair across my lips; her soft cling
ing drapenes lay close beside me; her pres
ence seemed to grow more and more COM
pelling.
She smiled slow languorous smile a
smile that intoxicated and led me on. She
laid her hand upon my arm.
''Heaven," she said, in low rapt whis-
per, "heaven is whatever We like to make
for ourselves on earth; when we die we 60
out--so! snd she pouted her two perfect
I think, she continued, "that life only is
ours, I sometimes wish to do more with
my days. crime or good, or wickedness CT
virtue; it would not matter to me, if I
could but enjoy it, whatever it was."
"But,"I whispered, awestruck, "crime
is found out, and then comes punish
ment,"
'sThere are some c,imes," she said,
(which leave no trace. What trace does
ship leave in the sea five minutes after she
has passed over it?"
To this profound reasoning I replied
nothing. Just then her surly courier ap-
proached; they talked excitedly for few
moments, and then she turned to me:
"This is pleasant? I hear there is no
room for me-the last room was given to
you-not corner left anywhere; and l am
to sleep la belle etoile."'
Of course this was impossible. Willing
ly I gave up my room, and the courier
lounged away.
For few moments we sat silent, when
suddenly upon us there sank darkness
as swift and as obscuring as curtain. It
was one Of the strange atmospheric
changes of the Brocken. In breathing
space it seemed as if the bright night had
turned to a rolling black mist. groped
for Svlvia's hand; took it-she was not a
bit frightened my clasp warm and
yielding. drew her up from her low rocky
seat, and ,placing my hand upon her arm,
tried to remember my way back to the no.
|
us; laundering promise of great heat
throbbed through the air. I could hear
my companion on's hurried breathing.
II wonder if we are all going to be kill
ed?" she said, quietly.
Just then she stumbled over stone. I
threw out my hands to save her, and she
fell forward, literally into my arms.
For one moment of madness held her
close in wild embrace, kissed her per-
fumed hair, and her eyes and her wet lips,
rapturously. The next moment she was
lying passive in my arms, and sobbing
like child; whilst I endeavored, with every
excuse and with every prayer could
think of, to reassure her. We found our
way at last to the door, and lead her,
still shuddering up to. my room and implor-
ing her to forgive me, I said good and
stayed outside while I heard her close
the door and lock it. I then repaired to
the drawing loom, where an impromptu
couch had been prepared for me.
I never saw her again.
The next morning when all the tourists
turned out to see the sunrise, could dis
cover her nowhere. I inquired of mine
host, and learned that Mrs. Whitworth had
departed before sunrise with her carriage
and courier.
I went to my empty room ,and discovered
that Mrs: Whitworth had taken with her my
despatch box, containing all my valuables
I made no inquiries and told no one of my
loss, for had just enough money about
me to take me back to Hamburg; and Syl-
via, with all her faults, had infatuated me.
Inever met her again, never made any
search for her, never sought to learn who
and what she was. It was an episode which
took great hold on my imagination, and,
though an expensive one, I never regret
ted it.
It is now twelve years ago, and I have
often pondered over that day. have come
to thousand different conclusions; ;but one