Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-03-14
lAEI 1KIEA'IS':;jyI!If2'E1' OVER
~ 1zZzHg A STORY oFNAAETA9 j
3, 9S8s VIRGINIA W. JOHNSON \
g. COPYRIGHT 1892 BY RAND.NeNALLY o co. Il
eoPYRIeAT Ieea BY Rand. MsMALLY D co.


his obtaining leave to come ashore
that day
Lieut.. Curzon read the note and con-
+ suited his watch, which indicated the
/ hour OF 2. How should he while away
the time until the return of his cousin9
lie loitered in the shops and bought
/ festoon of lace in helpless mascu-
/ line fashion, wherewith to cheer the
declining years of maiden aunt
dwelling in a provincial town of Eng
lani, if permitted to escape the Malta
/ postofiice. He bethought him of a
bevy of little cousins in Devonshire,
launching recklessly into the pur-
chase of silver flagree crosses for
their benefit I hen he decided to
stretch his limbs by means Of coun-
try walk.
Quitting the streets of Valletta the
Young man soon left behind him the
encircling Notifications, with a sense
of freedom in movement after the
cramping inaction OF shipboard The
unattractiye aspect OF the country
could not rob the spirits of the sailor
on shore of unwonted elasticity Be-
fore him extended gray and nearly
treeless region. broken by villages of
iiat-roofed houses clustered about The
church with a dome. The intervening
spaces were chiefly subdivided by
stone walls, as shelter from the wind
for the crops fostered in the soil
brought from Sicily
The pedestrian paused at length,
weary Of the dusty highway He
glanced wistfully in the direction of
the arid lodges OF the shore, and the
sea beyond, which glittered in the sun
shine, with changing tints wrought
by passing clouds, and broke in white
foam among the rocks.
He chose u short cut to gain the
shore. If the measure led to trespass-
ing upon his neighbours ground, he
trusted to personal adroitness to ex-
tricate himself from all embarrass-
ments
lie skirted deserted chapel on
ridge, and was descending the slope
beyond, when an object attracted his
keen eye, and brought him to a halt
in his rapid walk A human hand
and arm, clenched aud rigid.
as if in death, projected from
the entrance OF half
ruined structure in his path Had the
arm not been thus extended, Lieut..
Curzon would have passed On without
noticing, especially the building.
Strange within of destiny
lie approached md peeped into the
place. Shadows oDscured the interior,
but he recognized temple, probably
Of the early Phrnician settlers of the
island, built Of rough blocks of stone.
Traces of primitive altar were dis
cernible, still adorned with the rude
idols Of the twelve Children OF the Sun,
the kabiri, once worshiped here.
The spot was silent, humid, chill, save
when stray sunbeam filtered through
the pervading darkness to gild the
sen blance of nearly etfaced carvings,
mere documentary hints Of decoration,
on wall and roof, or danced with
fiickering motion above the pavement,
weaving Il pattern of mosaic with
NOTES and shade.
An old man lay on his face, notion
less, and with fragrant Of marble
table overturned beside him on the
ground.
The officers first suspicion was Of
murder Anticipating some accident
he lifted the victim of foul
play, rs he supposed, and
speedily aseertained that no trace of
violence was pereeptible, either on the
pinched and shriyeled features, white
hair, or small body. lie was further
treasured when the old man gave ut
terance 70 a feeble groan, and opened
his eyes, with manifest effort TO col
leet his thoughts bewildered 10y an in
tcrval Of insenSibility
The place would not be safe, he
muttercd in English. NO No Far
from safe, this ruin
DO you live near by? If you can
pull yourself together little l will
help you home, said Lieut. Curzon,
in a tone of encouragement
The old man was silent lie passed
trembling hand across his brow, and
then haded his eyes, the better to ex-
anime the face bending over him,
while his own features expressed a
scared surprise, agitation, and oven