The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-10-12
CHAPTER v.

As regards the family romance, / have
| lost good many entertaining details
from mere neglect in writing them down
| at the time. But it will he a long time
before l forget the afternoon my Cousin
Sinfire spent with me in the laboratory
last week.
1t was partly purpose and partly acci-
dent. John had asked me to talk with
! her in his behalf, and 1 was not averse
from fathoming her mystery if l could,
but 1 doubt whether anything would
have been done if hadn't happened to
mention Saprani. The Indian name
caught her ear, and she began to ask me
questions. In 10 minutes had her con-
sumed with curiosity. At first had no
intention Of admitting her to the sacred
precincts of the laboratory. Indeed no
human being has crossed that mystic
threshold since / established my Lares
and Penates there, and least of all did
contemplate ever entertaining a woman.
However, reflected that if I wanted
to get anything out of her there could be
no place better suited to that operation
than my laboratory. The environment
would kindle her imagination, and the
disclosures 1 could regale her with would
put her in mood to render a return. l
knew her general character tolerably
well by this time, although the particu-
lars of her experience were still as much
an enigma as ever, and I thought /
could touch the springs that would loosen
her reserve. Moreover, am by nature
romantic, though the world may think
otherwise, and could imagine very in
teresting scene taking place in the al
chemists cave between the magician and
the maiden.
At any rate, when had worked her up
to the proper pitch of entreaty and i'm
patience, allowed her to wiring from me
a grudging consent to receive her in the
penetralia at a certain hour. would
have made that hour midnight had not
my regard for conventional propriety
forbidden. But the conformation of the
place enabled me to make it appear quite
as impressive at one hour of the day as
at another. I Iappointed 8 o'clock in the
afternoon, and she was to come at that
time secretly and alone
Punctually to the hour, in the Ian
guage of the old romances, knock was
heard on the alchemist's door. It was
not timid knock; neither was it de-
fant one. 1t indicated that the person
who knocked was self possessed and
meant to come in.
The rooms in the right wing Of the
Cedarcliffe mansion which constitute
the alchemist's abode are separated from
the rest Of the house. Formerly they
were accessible by the corridor COM
municating with the main hall, but at
later date the extremity Of this corridor
was walled up, and the four rooms thus
isolated could be entered only from out
doors. Passing through the outer portal,
the visitor would see before him fight
of stairs leading to the two upper rooms.
On his right was door giving access to
small library. In the partition wall
Of this library between two bookcases
was another door which few persons
had the privilege of passing. It was of
massive oak and turned or hinges Of
polished brass. It was fastened within
by heavy lock and bolt of steel.
The lady who sought admittance was
young and had face and figure Of dis
tinguished beauty, She was dressed in
q thin summer costume of some delicate
white fabric and wore light silken
shawl with black. and yellow, stripes
draped over her dark. hair and graceful
shoulders. It was evident that she came
by appointment, for the outer door and
that Of the library'had been left ajar,
and she had penetrated without him
drance to the final barrier.
Aashort pause ensued, during which
the young woman threw one corner of
her silken shawl over her shoulder and
gave swift glance behind her. Then
the ponderots portal swung inward
noiselessly On its hinges, and the visitor
stepped fearfessly into the room beyond.
The next moment the bolt was shot, and
she and the alchemist Were alone.
"Does any one know where you are?"
the latter inquired.
'sNot soulw she replied. "Cousin
John has ridden to town to see the sher-
iff about that gang of burglars, and aunt
has gone to bed with headache. The
servants think have gone to the cliff to
read. No one will miss me before tea
time"
'You have done WELL" returned the
alchemist approvingly. Follow mel"
Auu lc leu Juc way toWdIA tuo IdrUuoT
end of the room.
The light of day was excluded from
this chamber, but the illumination of
few lamps sufficed dimly to reveal it's
proportions. 1t was spacious and lofty.
The atmosphere was cooler than the ex-
ternal air and was penetrated by sub
tie perfume of delicately aromatic
quality. AS the visitors eyes became
accustomed to the gloom she perceived
that the walls were of solid stone, left
undisguised in their naked simplicity.
| The ceiling appeared toA~be vaulted, and
at the end opposite the door there was
large fireplace, with sort of hollow ga
BILE built over it, giving it somewhat the
aspect of a cavern.
On the right of the fireplace as You
| faced it there was a window in a.deep