The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22
THE STONE OF TERROR.

MRS. LAUST IHOMP5uNs
IAN reorfrs have written to.tell him to
meet you at eight o'clock precisely at Mere
Marthe's. Don't fail to keep the appoint
ment. He II . charming fellow, aud Mere
Marbles bouillsbaisae is the best in Mar
seilles."
While I was still expressing my thanks for
this kind attention the train began to move,
and my good friend Monsieur De Carve aud
were forced to exchange q last grasp OF the
hand in . hurry, which was perhaps forum.
ate for both OF Us We.had been travelling to-
gether for year and various adventures and
contretemps had sndeare1 Us TO each other
He was the bsst fellow in the world. and
felt suspicious moisture invading my eyes
o. looked for the last time upon his honest
brown fscs. i
Then, a. the train rushed out OF Nice,
looked at the letter of introduction which
he had given me, and which he had so kind.
~ fores sslled By writing ia advance to the
friend to whom was to present 1t.
"Monsisur ls Lieutenant Henri de Barre,
Marseilles"
dc Barre ~ good fellow and brave fellow,
and one who had acquitted himself we'll in
the Franco German war, which had termi-
mated only two years before my story begins
bat beyond the fact that he was q young
naval officer, of good Prevencsl family. !
knew nothing about him. When I reached
NarssilIes however, and-afser finding that
~ I'D
Mere Marines, L found that he was well
known to that worthy. who Was loud In his
praises. such an excellent jeune homme!
So distingusl 50 bravel 20 good Such a
family, the De Barresl Such dist ction !
such elegancel Did monsieur know? But
no; NJ. ie Lieutenant would tell himself,
doubtless. Mean while would monsieur have
his bouillsbalsse now, OF walt tor NJ lie Lieu
Monsieur would wait. certainly, but he
venturned 10 hone that NJ le Lieutenant
would come soon, a. the fumes Of the oouil
labaisss we're most appetizing, and surprised
already al that he had heard Of Mere Mar
Mere Marths smiled With much con descen.
sion and pleasure at this speech; aud an
nouncinx that she must go and superinteud
the boui.labaiesa herself, she departed.
Every one who goes TO Marseilles should eat
bouiIiabsisss. aud does eat it. Bot every
one does not know Mere Martbe modest
restaurant Ia the Rue Clochette. Elk Iu;.
sitsly neat quaint, and appetizing is every
thing there. and the beuillabaisse 10 ''of q
psrfsction.p - dear De Carve used to say.
which Ia absoi utely sublime. To this hour
across Thousands Of miles Of land and water,
seem to smell its savory fumes. But that
10 to recount Henri do Barre's strange story
had not long TO wait for him on that first
evening. Il had hardly finished reading the
menu fog the day, when quick firm step
made me look up. and / saw young mau
approaching me with letter in his hand
He wors the uniform OF French naval of
door, and that and an unmistakable sea go.
ing air caused me to recognize him Instantly
We had o pleasant dinner together, talking
OF our friend De Grave and the African Jour
ney which he and had Just completed, and
then of politics and .nings In general. The
night was falling before We finished dinner;
and when LIGHT Was brought, and We beg
70 smoke, caught myself once or twice
glancing ct my companion with Q good desl
Of astonishment and bewilderment His was
handsome face, broDzed by exposure. and
markedly French in aspect; ayoung face
too-he could not have been more than
tWenty-six at the utmost; but was / mis-
taken? No-yes. Was his hair quite white
or was 1t only very blonde? moved once or
twice. In order not 70 attract mis- observation
and yet 1T the same time To see him better
and tbs second time did so he looked at me
with frank smile and said. touching his
hair, .Itts quite white"
my indlscretion.
'Oh, No vous dersngez pas" he answered,
laughing. ..Du reste, have had no great
affection in my iifs-st least no private af
fiction" o.
at 10 hereditary in some families" oh.
served. I6ii8 -
"What?-this prematurely white hair?
Yes, / know 1t; but not in mine. 1 am only
twenty-six. and my hair has been white 90
snow for two years"
'sMere Msrthe-" began.
''Eaid that had q romantic story to tell, !"
interrupted Henri de Barre. laughing. "Of
course she did The dear old soul has known
me ever aimee was in petticoats. and takes
my blanched locks to hssrt as IL were son
of her own. 1 dare say she could tell my
story better than do myself"
He paused pulled his cigar In silence
for moment or two, and then said. AZ have
always bssn surs that it Was the Stone OF
"Whatg'' said. rather puzzled.
The Stone OF Terror, the Peak of Terror;
can not pronounce is name in German
Du rests. have sworn to myself never to try
to speak their internal language"
"Ahl the schrec kens;ein," ] exclaimed.
10 DoI10 uOoucQ nave hlW8yo kuOWD
Il was the Observation-Disclosures else
Other people have thought differently, Gen
eral Journsye among the rest my own
Aimee (my wife, / mean), the physicians
They have taid il was the solitude, the
phyucal suffering. the hunger, thirst
know not what. I know better; it Was
that awful peak" and ne shuddered slightly.
"You were IN Alpine climber. suppose,
answered,
sJsmais dsia yiel No, no. Mountains
are oil very we'll. suppose-very grand-but
do not care for them No, never in my life
have sst foot on any Alpine height or pass,
and never shall"
s'But then how Was 1t possible"
ITO see the Stone OF Terror? Al, my
friend, you can not think now ghastly i'll
looks when one sees il alone in the pale
dawn. hays seen IL"
He paussd, lighted his cigar anew. and
pulled it for few moments. / confess that
I bezsn TO doubt his sanity, and Ifsncy that
10 detected my doubts. for he dispelled them
By IN honest. open. yet arch smile, which
~ nacuIfarIV bis own.