San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-01-13

Vi resin RAl5kGuGu III iAAV GAAAA - . a.
Rocks lay about on all sides in
crumbling heaps and the little noun
tain path wound in and out up the
steep sides OF the slope on whose
summit though invisible as yet the
tower stood.
Suddenly a turn OF the path
brought it into sight rising up
straight and strong. its battlemertts
and gray walls outlined against the
dull gray of the sky.
In the midst of pile OF ruins COW
cred with lichens and bris:ling with
tall Wild grasses stood the last yes
nge OF the old feudal days OF the
Chateau d Alaspret
Miss Ethel slightly out OF breath
after her climb. stood looking toward
the east where the first lights Of the
dawn played over a purple sky and
the clouds seemed like flakes OF float
ing pink.
ARE we in time?n she asked
Mr. D'HerbIe bent his head thought
fully.
There are a great many clouds
he sighed. Il IN afraid the sun will
be hidden
All she said and no one could
! have told whether she said it in
tone of regret or Of hope.
They advanced together few
steps They found themselves hes
itating almost in front OF the central
keep which led into the dark shad-
ows of the winding staircase. She
cast a shy glance at her knight.
Do you really want 10 climb up
there? l think we can see quite we'll
enough from here" He turned upon
her reproachful look that was both
anxious and penetrating.
Are you afraid. Miss Ethel? That
IS not right" g.
His remark stung her pride. She
would show him that she was not
afraid of anything. neither of him.
nor herself nor OF the probematic
future that the sunrise was to deter
mine for them So she began bravely
TO climb the dark staircase. D'Herble
following her.
They climbed up and for a long
time in semi-darkness only exchan q
ing the most trivial remarks and then.
suddenly the full daylight nearly
dazzled them.
They passed out on to little plat
form and Miss Ethel flushed with
her exertion. uttered a cry OF delight
at the expanse Of country bsfore her.
A tremendous circle of hills. val
leys and woods surrounded them.
That triangular mirror of glittering
metal far below them is the ocean
seen through the long vista of val
ley.
The east grew roster. The clouds
were ablaze with purple color5, They
looked as If they were lighted by gi-
gautic embers OF some glowing forge.
The silence tended TO increase that
feeling of mystery and thoughtful
spirit of religious poetry which comes
from the dawn and spreads over the
earth.
Ar said the two voices together.
The sun had Iust shot his first CLEAN
through break in the clouds They
dispersed aud fled away so rapidly it
looked as if giant broom was sweep
ing space Then the great disk OF
the sun in his glory rose in the midst
of the rose-colored sky.
Ethel" sighed Mr.. DHerble. He
saw her shining with beautiful
splendor bathed in the living rays OF
the sun.
She seemed to him the central
beauty of the landscape vibrating
with life and light Her naughty
loneliness was softened with a tender
grace. and tears were gllstening in
her pure eyes.
Look. he said. the sky is
clear"
And. indeed. not a cloud was to be
seen. The air was ablaze with light;
the sun was slowly rising IN the sky.
The sea of mist that surrounded the
tower could be seen melting away and
evaporating And the circle in which
they stood seemed TO absorb the col
ors and lights with all the rich
spleudors of the woods the corn
fields and the meadows.
\ fresh and laughing youth was
tOtfgtAA VI LAAD Cat III anu III INC SUI
touch of the wandering breeze.
Scarcely percepdble mists rose from
the roofs of the cottages below. Then
the Augelus sounded out; others an
swered back. faint and sweet like the
song Of the larks. The birds were
beginning to wake; lie was active on
all sides.
Then in the warm glow of light
which seemed to fold them in a circle
of gold Miss Ethel Simons placed her
firm little hand in that of Mr. d Her
BILE. He drew closer to her and she
made no resistance while these two.
b etrothed on the tower by the dawn
in face OF the sun and the world, ex-
changed the solemn vows OF eternal
love and registered it with first
kiss Courier des Etats Unis.