Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-03
THE RIVAL LOVERS.
Story of Thrilling Adventure on
House-Top.

N'"" S'Poio Va lHolNiC ~ 10 q
large room, with eight windows ex-
tending from floor to ceiling You ac-
company the car of the elevator as far
as it goes in its upward journey, and
then there are several PERCEPTIONS
flights of stairs to be climbed. Once
up, and you are well repaid for your
trouble by the glorious outlook over
land and sea- All Newport lies at
your feet
In old times the cupola was favor
lite resort for newly married couples
They used to get themselves out of
breath scaling the steep stairs. and
then they would sit by the windows
gazing forth, incoming and spooning
by the hour.
The other evening a trip was made
to the cupola to ascertain if possible
the whereabouts of the becalmed
yachts that were sailing or drifting for
the Citizens cup. The octagonal room
was deserted save by the presence of
middle-aged man of powerful proper
tions, who sat in a cane-chair gazing
toward the sea. occasionally refresh
Ing his visual powers by peek
through binocular glass. Conversa-
ton arose over the probabilities of the
termination of the race. and one topic
led to another until the stranger OBJ
served:
''This is my first visit to Newport in
many years. | came here to the cupola
as soon after my arrival as possible,
for the place possesses q strange inter-
est to me-"
There is nothing wildly fascinating
about the bare, plastered, cobwebby
octagon. and the speakers manner
implied that the varied landscape did
not attract him. He was, therefore,
asked what was the particular attrac-
ton that gave rise to his desire for an
immediate visit.
81 saw something up here that would
make your hair stand" he replied.
at was my first visit to the town, and
lpassed several weeks at this hotel.
found out the cupola, and / enjoyed
climbing up-there was no elevator
then-to look off into the moonlight
while | smoked
''One night l had an adventure
which | will never forget. Neither
would you if you had taken part in it.
Do you see that ladder?" he exclaimed,
pointing to an unpaInted stair to a
trap-door in the roof used to reach tho
halyards of the flagstaff on the top of
the cupola. ''Well, something pos
sessed lhe to climb mp there and look
OFF the top of the lantern. The night
was close and sultry. and all of these
windows were open, with nothing to
prevent any one from walking directly
out unless they had care Observe
what a descent there is! The long,
steep roof has nothing on it to prevent
one from sliding with terrible speed to
The edge, and then the fall to the earth
would be at least eighty feet.
81 went up to the trap-door and
found it fastened. Returning slowly
down the ladder, and pausing when
down little way to take few whitf5
of my cigar, saw something in white
coming up the flight of stairs leading
TO the cupola from the attic story be-
low. The time was past midnight,
and the moon was obscured by clouds.
so that every thing was indistinct, but
was enabled to determine that the
white object was woman, and that l
had often seen her face about the house
during my stay. She moved noiseless-
ly along and approached one of the
open windows and stood leaning her
head against the frame on the side
Il felt myself in an awkward posi-
tion. l did not like to make
noise for fear might startle the young
lady, and the thought flashed across
my mind that she would be terribly
frightened and, perhaps, fall out of the
window. So | concluded to keep quiet
until she moved away from the danger
Gus spot before speaking to apprise her
of my presence and going down. leav-
ing her in full possession of the cupola.
She was in full evening dress of white
muslin, or something of the kind, and
there were some disarranged flowers
in her light hair. She was ex-
tremely delicate, of the pale
blonde type with little
red spot on either cheek, but she had
been very gay during her stay at the
hotel, and the men about the house
called her the prettiest girl of the sea-
son. There were two young men in
constant attendance on her. One was
from the South somewhere, and the
yarn in circulation was that he was
engaged to her The other admirer
was good-looking fellow from New
York. l believe.
The girl remained by the window
but few minutes when heard foot
steps on the stairs. and the youngman
who was not regarded as the accepted