Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-03-20
Silyer-fiashing
Surpes of San Salvador :

But turn aside-and there, beneath,
far beneath, lies an abyss like that of
which Milton has sung in sublimest
mortal strains.
| paused upon the brink. and shud-
dering, | gazed downtown ! The
thick and funereal volumes of tortuously,
ascending smoke came seething upward
as from cauldron. 1t escaped from a
myriad crevices in the rocky, PERCEPTIONS
sides; it poured forth from behind pro
jections, aud united with the vast mass
which came sublimely upward from the
unfathomable depths
Here, upon the sandy, rocky edge,
where sui phur, and crumbled lava, and
pumice-stone, were all mingled together
to form horrid soil, here | sat and
looked down. From the scene beyond,
from that glimpse of earth, which made
it seem like heaven; from that vision of
all that was most lovely and all that was
most overpowering to turn and gaze
into a volcanoes awful depths what a
change!
Involved in thousand thoughts | sat
there, thinking myself alone, when a
sudden grating struck my ear | was
startled exceedingly, and turned around
The place where | had been sitting was
peninsular projections f the cliff which
formed part of this internal chasm Upon
the narrow strip of land which joined it
to the other clitfs-upon the isthmus-
saw mild-looking, middle-aged gentle
man approach me-
He was dressed in plain black clothes,
and in his hand he held light stick.
i beg your pardon, signor, said he
in polite manner, and with great soft
ness of tone; i beg your pardon for in
trading myself upon your company.
But it is not often that | see any visitor
so far up.
My dear sir beg you will make no
excuse, replied; i was just admiring
this scene below
All! yes, tbs glorious sight
'Glorious say rather terrible one
Terrible, perhaps, to you; but do not
be surprised if | say that to me it is
lovely, absolutely lovelyr
And as he spoke smile of bewitch-
ing beauty crossed his features.
i suppose your tastes are different
from those of many people, signor.
have not such feelings But may
ask you if you are often here?
oh, yes | live here, he replied,
waving his stick around. i live here.
thought that he meant me to under
stand that bis home was on the noun
tain where very many villas are stu
ated
And should suppose, continued,
than you are often on the summit
oh! yes, | am here always
Always what STANCE fascination it
has for youl'
1t has it has, said the gentleman
Oh! fearful and his voice grew low
and hollow-'a terrible fascination
| was silent
i will tell you; said he, sitting close
" by my side and turning his eyes full
toward mine, i do not wish you to in
form any one Promise me that YOU
will not
/ had not noticed his eyes before, bu
l saw now that within their depts ther,
cleaned strange and sinister light.
| promised him, and at the same tim,
/ uneasily drew back farther from tn,
edge.
Well, then, signor, said he, | an
king here! | rule Mount Etnal'
Yes? | answered, little alarmed a
his words, and attempting to smile.
Yes, / am king here. In me you Sc
the being who causes the lava to pou
fourth and overwhelm the regions below
/ have lived here for centuries. Tn
spirits of the deep obey me. Seer
He leaped up from the ground. Their
was fearful fire in his eye, his nostril
were dilated, his pale face became a
white as marble, and as bloodless. say
that on either cheek there glowed dee
red spot.
See! he shrek wildly I'D loudl,