The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1891-07-17

next day the snow exhibits The foot
prints Of the skeletons fieshless feet.
Therefore it is called the Spirits
mountain and it being All Saints day
| wish to leave them in full possession
OF their hunting grounds"
At the conclusion of the tale, after
passing the mountain and crossing u
bridge spanning a struggling stream,
they neared a gloomy and somber
chapel. AS they approached they
! heard an organ play the rolling, muf-
fled music of the funeral service. No
n could be less superstitious than
Inez Comiers, but as she listened to
the rolling as of muffled drums a
shudder stole over her. "If l believed
in evil omens | should certainly say
this is one" she thought, Struggling
her shoulders.
Bernino also grew suddenly silent,
. and only a few words were exchanged
between the cousins during the. re-
'mainder of their journey, which led
| through green fields and in drives
beautiful, but now grown with
weeds and SO arched with trees they
looked dim and cavernous in the
dusk.
A few hours later the entire house
hold of the count of Comiers was
gathered about the huge fireplace, re-
lating, as was the custom on All
Saints night, horrible tales and le-
gends, wherein ghosts and COLLINS
played the chief part, while, far away
IN the distance, was heard the dreary,
monotonOus ringing OF the church
bells.
There were two persons who did not
participate in the general converse
ton. These were Inez Comiers, who
was gazing thoughtfully into the fire,
and Bernino, who was watching the
reflection Of the light in her beautiful
dark eyes.
AMy beautiful cousin" he suddenly
exclaimed, breaking the long silence,
1--WE will soon part, perhaps forever.
l know that those lonely districts with
their rough, warlike habits, and their
simple, old customs, do not please
you. | have often heard you sigh,
perhaps at the thought of a lover in a
foreign land" 4e>~~ a.
Inez made a movement of cold in
difference, while her lips curled scorn-
fully. A whole character could be
traced in those lines.
perhaps you miss the gay life you
have heretofore led" the young man
FASTENED to add. 1.-THE cause may be
me or the other. 1 fear l shall soon
lose you. Before we part l wish you
would accept this jeweled diadem
from me as a memento. How lovely
would it adorn your dark hair. To
day is a day for gifts, SO will you not
accept this?"
Inez bit her lip and silently reached
out her hand to take the proffered
gift. The pair became silent, and
again were heard the voices relating
weird tales of witches and spirits, the
winds bowling and the church bells
slow ringing.
After a pause of several minutes the
conversation was continued.
"And before All Saints day is past
will younot also give me some souvenir
OF YOURSELF" Bernino asked, earnestly
searching his Cousins countenance.
This suddenly lit up with a strange
light?
"Why not9" she cried, and passing
her hand to her right shoulder, she
seemed in search of something, and,
adding with an air of childish feeling:
''Do you remember that jeweled but
terfly [ wore today"
Eyes, certainly"
"Well-but l have lost tit isgone,
and l thought to give it to YOU as q
memento."
you have lost it, and wheres"
asked Bernino, s%pringing up with hope
and fear blended in his c~ountenance.
Il do not know-perhaps upon the
Spirits mountain"
Upon the Spirits mountain he
nuttered, paling and sinking back in
lis chair. "Upon the Spirits mount
He then continued in a low broken
"You know, for you have certainly
heard it innumerable times, that l am
the king OF hunters. AS l have
lot had the opportunity, like my an
OF earning an lmperishable
lame upon the battlefield Ihave turn
ID my attention toward the hunt, a
small likeness OF the battle. To that
have given the strength of my youth,
the courage and fear1essness Of my
ace. The rug at your feet was the
covering OF wild animals slain by my
land. know their haunts and hab-
is. have fought with them by day
md by night, on foot and mounted,
alone and with companions, and no
,ne can say that / have ever Stunned
Another night and l would
;peed away to find this trinket with a
light heart; but this night-this night
should seek to hide it Am
,fraid. Hank. The bells sound. 1t
las now rung to prayer. The spirits
II the mountain are now lifting their
death skulls from their graves
the spirits-the sight Of which caus-
IS the blood of the bravest to freezein
49,. L. 49,. -l,+o g