San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-10
words.

NS-=S the pleasant i'm
NY preston for a
favorable omen. The heavy door swung
back almost Immediately, and he was
confronted by a tall porter in dark
green cloth and gold lacings, whose
imposing appearance was made still
more striking by the magnificent fair
beard which flowed down almost to his
waist. The man lifted his heavy
black hat and held it low at his side
as he drew back to let the visitor en-
ter. The latter had not expected to
be admitted thus, without question,
and paused under the bright light
which illuminated the arched en-
trance, intending to make some inqui-
nv OF the porter. But the latter
seemed to expect nothing Of the sort
He carefully closed the door, and then,
bearing his hat in one hand and his
gold-headed staff in the other, he pro-
ceeded gravely to the other end OF
the vaulted porch, opened a great
glazed door and held it back for the
visitor to pass.
The Wanderer recognized that the
farther he was allowed to penetrate
unhindered into the interior OF the
house, the nearer he should be to the
object of his search. He did not know
where he was, nor what he might
find. For all that he knew, he might
be in a club, in great banking
house, or in some semi-public institu-
ton of the nature of library, an
academy or a conservatory of music.
There are many such establishments
in Prague, though he was not &C
quainted with any in which the inter-
nal arrangements so closely resembled
those OF Luxurious private residence.
But there was no time for hesitation,
and he assembled the broad staircase
with firm step, glancing at the rich
tapestries which covered the walls at
the polished surface of the marble
steps on either side Of the heavy car
pet and at the elaborate and beauti-
full iron work Of the hand rail. AS he
mounted higher he heard the quick rap
ping of an electric signal above him, and
he understood that the porter had an
nounced his coming. Reaching the
landing he was met by a servant in
black, as correct at all points as the
porter himself, and who bowed low as
he held back the thick curtain which
hung before the entrance. Without a
word the man followed the visitor
into high room of irregular shape.
which served as a vestibule, and stood
waiting to receive the guests furs,
should it please him to lay them aside.
To pause now, and to enter into an
explanation with a servant, would
have been to reject an opportunity
which might never return. In such
an establishment he was sure OF find
ing himself before long in the pres
ence of some more or less intelligent
person OF his own class, Of whom he
could make such inquiries as might
enlighten him. and to whom he could
present such excuses for his intrusion
as might seem most fitting in so diff
cult a case He let his sables fall
into the hands Of the servant and fol-
lowed the latter along short pas
sage
The man introduced him into a
spacious hall and closed the door,
leaving him to his own reflections.
The place was very wide and high
and without windows, but the broad
daylight descended abundantly from
above through the glazed roof and il
Illuminated every corner. He would
have taken the room for conserva-
tory, for it contained forest OF trop-
ical trees and plants and whole gar
dens of rare southern flowers. Tall
letonias, date palms, mimosas and
rubber trees OF many varieties
stretched their fantastic spikes and
heavy leaves halfway up to the
crystal ceiling, giant ferns swept the
polished marble floor with their
soft embroideries and dark
green laces, Indian creep-rs, full of
bright blossoms, made screens and
curtains of their INTERVENING foliage;
orchids Of every hue and of every ex-
Otic species bloomed in thick banks
along the walls. Flowers less rare,