Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-12-06
DEAN ADDISON.

~ n
1t WIS Il | ns stretch of Southern sea-
coast on which gazed. Galveston Bay
to the right, with the waves on the bar
brra Ing one over the other, in curling
crrsis of foam. | Inherited much of my
Uncle II sbrcok's love for the queer and
eccentric in architecture; and this odd
old tower, with It's high round room,
lofty window, and splendid sea view,
was my especial and never wearying de-
light While l sat there one evening,
dreaming as was my wont, the glimmer
of a lamp shining from the upper window
of a cottage on the headland arrested
NV attention.
Somehow, that little window had
singular fascination for me, and l wove
many wild romance al out the tall in
mate of that little room, whom l had
once met on the e:,ch, but only to no.
tce that he was striking Y and strangely
nan ,lsome; the one quick glance he
gave me | could never quite forget, and
lis memory was the true secret of my
interest in the Gotta e on the headand
An hour went by without my needing
its departure, hen I was suddenly
aroused from my reverie by a gentle yet
powerful hand, that fell on my shoulder
rs noisele,slv as the touch of spirit.
The broad 81 eet of moonlight falling on
the window ledge and half across the
floor made the room almost as light as
dav, and standing close beside me, in
the soft clear brightness of its rays,
stood the tall stranger | had encountered
on the beach A sickening horror crept
coldly to my heart Insane! l read it
in the strange unwaverng stare of those
large handsome troubled eyes, that
were as blue as the sea at my feet, and
as bright as the stars overhead. l read
it in the weird smile that alternately
lighted and darkcned his face like q
coming and going shadow. This was
the secret the cottage had guarded so
carefully. could not sTeal nor stir,
and sat there before him frozen into a
statue of astonishmeut and fear. His
hand fell from my shrinking shoulder
to his side-a strong shapely hand as
ever welded pen or sword, and l
breathed freer,
"Do you love the sea?"
| struggled to repress the shudder
creeping over me from head to foot, and
nodded an affirmative.
Il know you do" He smiled, and
his voice was remarkably low and sweet,
Il know you love the sea, and when
saw you watching from this high tower
l fancied you NIGH be waiting to catch
a glimpse OF those phantom shirs which
the poets sing about. am waiting and
watching for them, too, for they say
they are freighted with wisdom, such as
no man has ever known; and when see
the white sails afar out on the deep, I
think it must be the richly laden ship of
science coming royalty into port bearing
the unexplained wonder of the worlds
creation.
He sighed and looked wistfully at a
group of stars shining beyond the sill
very pathway of the moon, as if it were
cruel Of heaven to place them there, and
refused him the KEY who so longed to
unlock the mystery of their course
In order to obtain better view of the
constellation he changed his position,
leaving three feet of space between me
and the door. my only possible way of
escape, comparatively free. The wild
determination to rush past him and gain
the door was quickly put to flight by the
triumphant self confident look he flashed
upon me. l could not escape in that
direction. The hope died utterly within
|, al,
heaven alone can tell how he came to
KNOWN the familiar manner of one
long accustomed to speaking it.
mo, no. Miss Margie Hasbrook; you
can not run away, nor do anything to
avoid me. Were you to call ever SO
loudly no one would hear you, or come
to your assistance. You are in my
power, and your life is mine, if so
choose to take it.
What he said was horribly true. My
only chance for life was to conceal my
terror and humor to the utmost his ex-
travagant flights of fancy"
"Sit down, said, pointing to chair;
"and, as you know so much concerning
the stars, please tell me all you know
about them. am an ardent lover of the
planets, and should delight in little
conversation regarding them with one,
like your> elf, learned in their history.
"Would you-would you, indeed?"
His face lighted up wonderfully, and
the large azure eyes sparkled with re-
kindled enthusiasm. One might have
taken him for an enraptured poet. but
not maniac, in his present quiet mood.
For two long hours listened to the eX-
pounding of his grave scientific theories,
which, lunatc as he was, showed him
to be II man of education, and one we'll
versed in the study of astronomy. Per-
haps he was only harmlessly mad, and a
little kindly persuasion might induce
him to depart without exciting his
anger. I would try it, anyway; and,
sezing favorable pause in his nara.