Smyrna times., 1894-09-26
Highest of all in Leavenng Power-Iatest u cov,t P
R@:azalI! g! Rs&asgE RRakiRg
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE


the darkness, and with thanks to Mon
sieur for his kindness, "there is where
we HVe." Ihat, and smaller house
directly across the way, were the onlv
two houses on the street which l now
could see, run sheer into the sea. As
soon, however, as we reached the i'm.
mediate front of their residence. an in.
slant transformation took place. while
all was gloom and forbidden in the
house as we approached it, the portion
next to the sea wall was lighted if
seemed to me in every room. The
hallway door stood wide open, reveal
ing Il wealth of flowers banked on
either side of the spacious stairway.
Both ladies tripped lightly up the
marble steps, and turning graciously
bid me to come in and they would take
me to their father, who could not leave
his room. Whatever suspicious I MIGHT
have entertained about my two strange
acQualntances, were fast being dispeled
upon entering the elegant apartments
of their refined home. On everv side
the lavlshness of wealth and good taste
were displayed in profusion. The
walls We're hung with the richest of
tapestries. The looms of the Orient
could produce no richer rugs than were
thrown carelessiy over the floors. Ser.
wants fitted about everywhere, all of
them bOwing with the greatest defer.
ence as the two young women entered
Throwing off their rappings, they bid
me 90 with them TO their fathers room.
At the head of the hall stairway. pro-
lapf pn q a olnn1ro H.. l1s
filled with the rarest flowers; beyond
this again, suite of rooms led to the
rear of the house.
From these rooms, and to nv sur
prise, there fell the strains of band
music, even at that hour of the night.
The music was low and soft, at no time
disc0rdant or loud enough 70 disturb p
conversation. Entering one Of the
rooms on the right Of The alcove. we
were in the immediate presence Of the
master OF the house. He appeared to
be gentleman we'll past sixty. with Il
semimilitary air about him that at
once suggested that he was a retired
army officer, enjoying the sea air OF
Malta, in an elegant home, with his
two daughters on half pay.
The daughters introduced me and
mentioned the circumstances under
which | came home with them. The
old gentleman thanked me warmly for
the favor shown, and insisted that
should, as it was very late, stop with
them until daybreak and breakfast
with them. The young ladies Joined
in the appeal and declared that they
would not permit me to leave until
morning. thanked them and made
reply that could not accept their
offer even if l felt so inclined. Just
then l mechanically pulled out my
watch to see the time and in an instant
the music ceased, the servants stood
still in their moving, the viVacious talk
of the ladies and their father came to a
stop, a stiffness, weird and oppressive.
seemed to follow that simple act, and
it was not until l replaced my watch
did [ notice the change that had taken
place and instead of any reply being
made to my inquiry, the noise and ami
nation of moment before, seemed to
be redOuhled.
1t was now nearly one o'clock, and
we sat there and ohatted until after the
servants had brought in refreshments,
when | arose to go. With many pro
testatiOns of gratitude, l was begged to
come again and spend the evening with
them, that they might in some meas
ure repay me for the trouble | had
taken. Reaching the main door, I
lifted my hat to the two ladies, and
went out into the night, aboard the
Lapwing.
The next morning after breakfast l
searched for my cigar hOlderer to take
my usual morning smoke, when to my
vexation it was missing. had it with
me the night before, was quite sure,
and remembered smoking a cigar while
we sat talking. | already had formed
the resolution not to presume on the
invitation given to me by the ladies to
visit them, believing that the slight
favor rendered did not justify them to
number the among their friends Still
| valued highly the cigar holder.
Could l not buy another? Certainly.
No, would not 60 for it. As the day
wore on, ! reasoned how easily brisk
walk would take me over there, and
before noon was actually on my way,
contrary to what had promised not to
do earlier, There was no trouble to
find the street with the house standing
isolated near the sea wall. Across the
way was the other and smaller house.
AS neared the place began to think
that after all had made mistake. It
could not be the house. The outward
mark of delapidatiOn became so ap-
parent that ] stopped and looked about
me, yea, this was the place. No other
houses were near to give even the
semblance to it. A wide stretch of
mOOr-lay on one side and the approach
nearest the town had no houses within
mile. Certainly it was the place. |
mounted the steps, and was about to
lift the knocker, when | noticed a
heavy chain padlOcked across the door.
Could it be possible? Yet raised the
knOcker and sent a TesOunding blow
through the house which appeared to
reach desOlation of desolation. All was
empty. Coming down to the side of
the house was standing gazing up to
the brilliantly lighted apartments of
the night before, when heard a voice
calling me. Looking across the street
! saw man standing in the gateway.
\ AOAh Alkl Vi All nlSSlOus nc uuISl
out into broad laughter when | related
some of the incidents of the night be-
fore and declared no one had lived in
that house for years, and although be
was in charge of it, and held the keys
nothing could induce him to enter it
even in day time,
'!If, h0weveT, Monsieur, you wish to
go, can get you the key and you can
see for yourself" l told him to do so,
and getting the key, recrOssed the
street, aud ascending the steps, un-
locked the door. A damp, musty, i'm.
prisOned air greeted me upon stepping
over the Threshold. The dusts and
CRIME of years seemed settled on the
walls within. Not vestige of furni-
ture was to be seen. A huge tree on
the outside had shot one of its branches
through the sash of the alcove window
and was now swaying mournfully in
the deserted house. l climbed the
creaking stairway, and went directly
to the room Of the invalid officer which
sure enough was here to the right. 1
opened the door and met cloud of
dust. / had disturbed the roost of
number of owls that aimlessly now had
spread their wings, and sought to
escape from the unusual intrusion. Go
ing over to the place had heen sitting
the evening before / looked curiously
down at the floor aud there in the dust
an inch deep, lay my lost cigar holder
with the initials -. B. S." out ON the
stem.
The country has now passed nearly
three weeks under the new tariff, and