Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-06-27

way to the sea with ripple and SONG
but dark. sullen. muddy stream.
moving sluggishly along. as though
clogged with revenge and bitter MEM
cries. But bark! further on I hear a
tinkling murmur, but here the stream
lies in the grewsome shadow of Brau-
Wylleen. No wonder!
''See Naples" L e., Brau-Wylleen.
''and die" SO the good people of Weir
Heights told me, as. sojourning in the
little Southern city for sweet health
sake, inquired its points Of interest
They were few and far between, and
Brau-Wylleen, isolated, desolate.
crime-stained and deserted, lay ten
miles distant; had I known this l
would hardly have mounted "Black
Dick at so late an hour. The spirit
of adventure was strong upon me.
however, and even as the night fell
heavily about me had no thought of
returning until after going through
the ole house
With SILVER of disgust I turned
from the stagnant, noisome stream,
and, cropping my way back. went half
way down the weed-grown path to see
if "Black Dick" was all right I
caught the CLEAN of his bright eyes.
and, hearing me, again he whinnied
coaxingly. This resolved me to bring
him into the yard and tie him close to
the house. How glad he was, the noble
brute, to feel my caressing hands. and
when led him to the foot of the
stone steps he would have mounted
them and followed me as a pet kitten
would had l not kindly but firmly
told him no" l always talked to
'.Dick" just as l would to you or any
other dear friend, for know he always
understood.
Dear fellow. how wistfully he looked
after me as ran up the dark steps,
covered here and there with still
darker stains-so suggestive-ugh!
THE key you will find in a niche in
the wall near the door," This 1 was
also told at Weir Heights.
Cropping among tangled vines and
leaves, though it was midsummer, the
wall felt icy to my touch. and so clam
my. l found it at length, the great
hideous. rusty thing, feeling in the
darkness (for l could not see it) like
an instrument of torture.
With great difficulty I found the
key-hole, and then it seemed full of
rubbish, which felt like paper and
leaves.
At first the rusty lock would not
yield, but finally the great door
creaked on its worn hinges and swung
inward noisily.
There was iuttering and scurrying
across the floor and from the walls
about me, and a damp, musty odor
greeted my nostrils. 1t was we1l for
me that my hostess insisted on my TAX
ing my small travelling sachel. which
Inow held in my hand, for in its differ
ent compartments were things needful
In an emergency. A small night lamp.
matches, small flask of liquor, q
guide book, needle case. thread.
scissors and a thimble, and a good
lunch. Thankfully I p 'essed the
clasp, opened the sachel and found
match.
As struck it the great door swung
heavily to with a sharp bang. The
lock clicked. but thought nothing of
it then. heard a snort of surprise
from "Dick." and then 1 hurrledly lit
my lamp and held it above my head.
What a vast, grand old room! Rare
old tapestries hung from the walls,
festooned in their moldy draperies
with cobwebs and dust Here and there
paintings in massive gilded, furnished
frames hung upon the walls. with
dust and mold so thick upon the faces
thereon none might tell the features.
The floor was of tessellated marble,
whose beautiful mosaic was nearly
hidden by the ravages of time and
dust
Huge pieces of furniture were placed
in admirable confusion about the room,
and velvet rugs of a now indistinct
pattern covered the floor in front of
each chair or couch.
The windows were curtainless, but
solid wooden shutters, iron-bound,
kept out all prying eyes. Placing my
lamp (Which gave but little light in
these huge dimensions) upon the tall
lacquered mantel-piece. Hooked at my
watch. Seven o'clock. I had no
thought of fear, but feeling of awe
crept over me as the moldy tapestries
waved to and fro. without a rustic,
probably from broken spot in the
masonry of the great walls, where,
too. piteous moaning of the wind
kept crying.
Calmly, amidst the dead and gone
''Brau-Wylleens" looking down upon
me, able, no doubt. to see through
dust-covered eyes. I sat down on one
of the massive chairs and ate my lunch,
for l was desperately hungry. Though
not lacking in ideality or romance. it