Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-04-18
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to return for o'clock tea in event of
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 cousin?
He loitered in the shops and bought
a festoon of lace in q helpless, mascu-
line fashion, wherewith to cheer the
declining years of maiden aunt
dwelling in provincial town of Eng
lanl, if permitted to escape the Malta
postoffice. He bethought HIM of a
bevy Of little cousins in DeVonshire,
launching recklessiy into the pur-
chase of silver fllagree crosses for
their benefit Then 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 sense
of freedom in movement after the
cramping inaction of shipboard The
unattractive 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
hat-roofed houses clustered about the
church with 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 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.
He skirted deserted chapel on a
ridge, and was descending the slope
beyond, when an object attracted his
keen eye, and brought him to halt
in his rapid walk. A human hand
and arm, clenched and rigid,
as if in death, projected from
the entrance of q 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 destinyl
He approached and peeped into the
place. Shadows obscured the interior,
but he recognized temple, probably
of the early Phenician 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
semblance of nearly effaced carvings,
nero rudimentary hints of decoration,
on wall and roof, or danced with a
Pickering motion above the pavement,
weaving pattern of mosaic with
notes and shade.
An old man lay on his face, motion
less, and with a fragrant Of marble
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ground.
The officers first suspicion was of
murder. Anticipating some accident,
he lifted the victim of foul
play, as he supposed, and
speedily ascertained that no trace of
violence was perceptible, either on the
pinched and shriveled features, white
hair, or small body. He was further
treasured when the old man gave ut
terance to feeble groan, and opened
his eyes, with manifest effort to col
lect his thoughts, bewildered by an in
terval of insensibility.
"The place would not be safe" he
muttered in English. mo! No! Far
from safe, this ruin"
do you live near by? If you can
pull yourself together a little will
help You home" said Lieut.. Curzon,
in tone of encouragement
The old man was silent He passed
trembling hand across his brow, and
then shaded his eyes, the better to ex-
anime the face bending over him,
while his own features expressed a
scared surprise, agitation, and even
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