Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-09-25
SENA JULIA.

Although the clock in the tall tower OF
st. Mary's had long since tolled out the
hour of midnight, the brilliantly ligh ted
windows of the Travellers club presented
q bright contrast to the gloom of the sur
stores, and when little later the
servant extinguished the other lamps, the
lights in the smoking room still burned
with undimmed radiance.
A little circle of half dozen men were
gathered around the great fireplace in pos
lures more comfortable than elegant, and
were listening with breathless interest to
a man who was leaning awkwardly against
the side of the chimney.
His hands were thrust in the pockets OF
his i'll fitting trousers, and his lank figure
was emphasized and thrown in relief by
The light tints of the wall behind him. He
was not a handsome man, yet
there was an expression Of manliness in
the strong face and a suggestion of strength
in the broad shoulders and deep chest that
never failed to attract and charm one.
A silence now fell upon the little group,
and for some moments nothing was heard
except the cracking of the pine logs upon
an armchair in their midst came the re-
mark:
81 say, Tom, that last story of yours was
awfully jolly, and that, but, crit had no
in it, you know"
Annerly looked up and smiled.
"My dear fellow" he languidly inter
posed, "my own life has never contained
bhe slightest thread of romance"
''None of that" resounded from all sides.
"But if you really want a love story I'll
give you one secondhand" he finished, ap-
parently unmindful of the interruption:
When l was in Geneva some weeks ago
met an old acquaintance and fellow tour
ist, Graf Won Alburg. We took our supper
together and grew quite confidential over
our cigars and chianti afterward.
At first l was too much absorbed in the
flood of recollections which our meeting
called up to notice his reserve, but I soon
saw that something was weighing upon
his mind. Curious to find out what it was,
and debating with myself as to whether
| should speak to him about it or not,
The count suddenly looked up. He gazed
at me in some hesitation for a little while,
and then said slowly:
"Annerly, know well that I can rely
upon your Judgment, and I want your ad-
vice am going to tell you my story, and
want you to weigh all the facts carefully,
and then tell me what you would do, if you
were in my place, will your"
After few seconds thought, | an
,wered eyes" There was a short pause,
Turing which the count pulled furiously
away at his cigar, and then he began:
7 fro
mountains, and toward
evening found myself at Erlachan, which
nestles against the precipitous side Of the
,all Schneeberg. The approach to it is
ong and steep, and was well nigh ex-
aausted with my climbing, for had made
Ill haste to reach the village before dark
ness set in.
sit was, therefore, with a grateful sense
If relief that entered the warm inn, and,
aside my knapsack and belt, sat
Town to the supper which was soon ready
Tor me.
'My pleasure, however, was of short
duration, for hardly had l gotten warm
and begun to appease my hunger, when q
peasant entered the room and asked hur-
riediy for the Herr Doctor.
"'He left for Auvergne this very after
noon,' said the innkeeper, but, dear heav-
EMP he exclaimed in surprise, as he saw
5he man totter and almost fall, what is
5he natter"
"'The people at Sena Julia have fallen
sick with the plague but nature, SO long
repressed by the mans force of will, here
asserted itself, and he sank heavily into a
chair.
"'Gott. he is dead; yes, deadp ejacu-
lated the terrified landlord.
"Dead! Nonsensel He has tainted,
for saw that it was merely swoon. But
where is this Sena JuliaT
"'Sena Julia? Why, it is some six
miles from here, over the mountain, and
might as well be a thousand such night
as this
Nevertheless. there is but one thing
to do, and that immediately
"'And that is??'-
"sTo go at once | replied decisively,
casting look of deep regret at the interior
Of the bright little inn, and signing as !
saw the pipes and ale which the landlord
had set out on the table. But you know,
my dear Annerly, that like to do what l
have to without any delay, and SO, without
more ado. began to don my jacket and
leggings. the landlord meanwhile putting
some food and other necessaaieE in my
with many mournful shake OF
the head as he pictured my dangerous jour
ney over the top of the Schneeberg.
Il stepped to the door and opened it. 1t
was torn from my grasp and slammed
against the wall.
"'You see it will be useless shouted
nay terrified companion. You will neyef
reach that cursed hamlet alive
"Picking up my little pocket lantern,
The light of which WIS burning steadily be-
Meath its powerful reflector. I stepped out
into the darkness. 'Diable,' nuttered the
worthy landlord"
81 shall never forget that awful night"
said Graf, fitting back in his chair with a
very mournful look, whether the result OF
The miserable chianti OF of sorrowful recol-
[ections it was hard to decide. Bring us
some cognac, waiter"
"You see," he said to me half APOLOGIZE
eally, 'fit always has a bad effect on me to
speak of that--that-yes, that damnable
night"
He waited a moment, and then, as l
said nothing, he resumed his tale:
'To describe my journey is easy; to de-
scribe my suffering is impossible. But
there is an end to all things, good or bad,
Sc rung the old proverb; and SO it proved
ia nay case, though it was more unex-
pected than pleasant. For of sudden
had a sensation of dizziness and feeling as
Il were walking in midair, and sc was.
Looking quickly at the ground ! saw
The earth giving away beneath my feet,
and realized in fash how desperate was
my situation. / was in landslide"
"Cognaei' shouted the count exciteA;y,
bringing his Est down upon the table
with a force which made the glasses rattle
md the people at the neighboriHg tables
stare at him cariously.
The waiter FASTENED to fill his order,
tor the appearance OF the excited count
was something ferocious. Then realizing
where he was, he settled down into his
chair, lit cigar, and muttered sadly: My
nerves are getting in sad condition; yes,
certainly. Well, where was l? Oh, in the
landsiide.
II thought It was never going to end.
But it did. A crack GA the head, a tumble,
and was senseless.
"When ! opened my eyes the sun was
shining brightly, and it was quite warm.
A. first | could remember nothing, but
gazed about me in a dazed sort of a way,
only that sharp pains ware dart
ing mp and down my side, and that l waa
intensely thirsty.
81 started to rise, but couldn't, for it
gave me such pain that for moment
thought | would faint. So, making the
best Of bad matter. / lay back again and