Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-18

the Jews quarter. Overhanging passages are
built out over this dim lane, as though to faci-
ltate the interior communications of the dwell
ing and in the shadow beneath them there is a
small door studded with iron nails which is in
variably shut. The main entrance takes in all
tho scant breadth of the truncated angle which
looks toward the monastery. immediately
over IL is q great window. above that another,
and highest of all, under the pointed gable, a
round and unglaZed aperture, within which
there is inky darkness. The windows of the
first and second stories are fanked by huge
figures of saints. standing forth in strangely
conlorted attitudes, black with the dust Of
ages. black as all old Prague is black, with the
smoke OF the brown Bohemian coal, with the
dark and unctuous mists of many autumns,
with the cruel. petrifying frosts Of ten score
winters
He who knew the cities of men as few have
known them, knew also this house. Many a
time had lie passed before it by day and by
irregular walls. behind those uncouih. barbar-
Gus sculptured saints who kept their intermin-
able watch high up by the lozenged
he Mould n,6 NOW H. ans
enter too; and in some corner of
thai dwelling which had long possessed
mysterious attraction for his eyes. he would
find at last that being who held power over his
heart that Beatrice whom he had learned to
think of as dead. while still believing that
somewhere she must be yet alive. that dear
lady whom. dead or living, he loved beyond all
others, with great love, passing words.
CHAPTER IL
The Wanderer laid his hand boldly upon the
chain of the bell. He expected to hear the
harsh jingling of cracked metal, but he was sur
prised by the silvery clearness and musical
quality of the ringing tones which reached his
ear. He was pleased and unconsciously took
the pleasant impression for favorable omen.
The heavy door swung back almost immediate
ly, and he was confronted by tall porter in
dark green cloth and gold lacings whose im-
posing appearance was made still more striking
by the magnificent fair beard which flowed
down almost to his waist. The man lifted his
heavy cooked hat and held it low at his side as
he drew back to let the visitor enter. The lat
ter had not expected to be admitted thus, with
out question, and paused under the bright light
which illuminated the arched entrance, intend
ing to make some inquiry 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 proceeded gravely to the other end
of the vaulted porch, opened great glazed
door and held il back for the visitor to pass.
The Wanderer recognized that the farther he
was allowed to penetrate uphindered 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 lind. For all
that he knew he might be in club. in great
banking house. or in some semi-Dublic insti-
tuition of the nature of a library, AN academy,
a conservatory of music. There many
such establishments in Prague. though he was
not acquainted with any in which the internal
arr 1angements SO closely rcsembled those or a
luxurious private residence. But there was no
time for hesitation and he assembled the broad
staircase with firm step, glaDcing at the rich
tapestries which covered the walls, at the pol.
lshed surface OF the marble steps on either siue
of the heavy carpet and all the elaborate and
beautiful iron work of the hand.rail. As
he mounted higher, he heard the quick rapping
of an electric signal above him, and be under
stood that the porter had announced his COM
ing. Reaching the railing. he was met by a
servant in black, sas 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 fol-
lowed the visitor into high room of irregular
shape which served as 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 servant,
would have been to reject an opportunity
which might never return. In such an esJab-
llshment, he WAS sure of finding himself before
long IN the presence of some more or less INTEL
lgent person of his own class, OF whom he
could make such inquiries as might enliGhteu
him, and TO whom he could present such ex-
cuses for his Intrusion as might seem most
fitting in so difficult a case. He let his sables
fall into the hands of the servant and followed
the latter along short passage.
The man introduced him into spacious hall
ana closed the door, leaving him to his own re-
fections. The place was very wide and high
descended abundantly from above through the
glazed roof and illumined every corner. He
would have taken the room Tor conservatory,
for il contained q forest of tropical trees and
plants and whole gardens Of rare Southern
flowers. Tall letonIas. date palms, mimosas
and rubber trees OF many varieties stretched
their fantastic spikes and heavy leaves half was
up to the crystal ceiling. giant ferns swept the
polished marble with theif soft embroideriey
and dark green laces, Indian creepers, full of
nrignt blossoms MADE screens ana &c curtains sol OF
and Of every exotic species bioomed in thick
banks along the walls. Flowers less rare, violets