Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-08-04

ing collection of objects seemed to be
and each day paused before . massive
cone of white sinter, the solidity and
great beauty of which she admired 50
much that it became mononaaia with
her. The cone was about seven feet in
length, with diameter Of two feet. and
looked as If ie were 6 classic Ionic col
umn.
At least Miss Favre concluded she
could not live without the cone. III her
frenzied admiration OF it she fersor 70
search for 9 man of her romance Sl.e
hired the stablernEn 20 take = trusted
force of men, steal the coyetod object *
night and bear it away to Liyingston,
Mon, by means OF relays Of horses and
stout vehicles. The men conveyed IS by
unused paths, avoiding the routes where
officials were stationed, and got it safciy
to Livingston, where it was carefully
packed in long box and shipped 10
New York at total cost of $40, 900,
half of which went to the stablemsn-
Miss MignoEette accompanied hol
treasure, and on her arrival at her SUI
perb mansion ON West End avenue had
it unpacked and artisticaily displayed
IN an aesthetic, well lighted upper room
which she had converted into 4 SOFT OF
museum for the exhibition OF her tro-
pliies collected while travelling. Here
she spent hoars daily adndring her treas
ure, examining and re-CSamining the
surface, which variously resombied cor
ais and st2iagmites, honcyconbs and
cells. Nor did she tire. On the contrary,
SO great grew her fascination that at
last she was held by it rs II by q spell,
as u bird might be hypnotized by q
snake. She would walk and walk around
it, sing to it. indite poems ii its honor
and call it by erdeariEg names
One day Miss 8iignonette read a woii-
derful account in a verdcious newspaper
concerning frog which had been found
alive in marble block. she was star
tied. What il her cCle contained some
animal--a bear--a snako-goodress-
what This girl had some sense. She
actually reasoned. She felt that if It
contained anything the mysterious oh
ject mI,5t be something higher, noblaT
than she. to so fascinate her.
Should she smash it and end the nys-
terry? Mol Why spoil forever her idol?
Again and again she caressed It, but
always enc end OF it. Suppose the end
toward which she was so irresistible
drawn Were the head?
Miss AIiguonettc, after reading the
frog story, grew 50 crazed with the
possible romance OF the situation that
she at last became possessed with the
belief that there was man inside.
What if it were true? He coEld not be
dead-no, only in Il trance. He must be
young and handsome. Yes, he must be
the idol Of her dreams, for whom she
had searched the world Her future
lord had been found at last. Dame Ma
ture had granted her prayer and III the
most romantic way ever conceived, yea,
inconceivable even to the widest flight
ed novelist, had enabled her to find her
lover in stone.
She would break the seal-tho long
seal that had hidden him from the
world. She would dress to receive him.
There should be no one else present. he
should awake from his long dream from
tho invisible world, slIoDld open his
eyes on her Ioveliness, should awake 20
life and the world IN her arms.
She arrayed herself glOriously. Her
dark hair was arranged with whito
bands about it 4 simple flowing gown
of white enveloped her form, and over
it was the faintest white fabric of illu
sion, so delicate as TO deceive the eye.
Her brown eyes, large and long lashed,
shone with Joy. Her feet were incased
in tiny sandals. The nails Of her deli
cate fingers shoue pink hued, like the
shell of pearl. She was arrayed at
last, ready with endearing terms to re-
ceiye her lover from his case Of stone.
Incandescent lamps shed soft, mellow
glow over the room ON to the cone, en-
hancing the glorious beauty Of the girl.
With sharp cIiiseI she began 70 in
dent a crease the entire length of tho
cone Gradually tho crease deepened.
Often she placed her ear 10 the opening
trying to catch some sound, some move
ment. The opening arrived at . depth
where the cone could be split open with
out injury to the inmate. She inserted
several chisels. and with a hammer gen
tly began the splitting process
AS the tomb began to open she paused.
She was scared. The man would really
be as in death. How could she revive
him unless he Immediately came to hfef
Suppose he were completely dead. What
could she tell the authorities that which
they would believe and not convict her
rs murderess?
Gradually her courage csIIne back.
She would save him somehow. Had not
nature granted her prayer aid sent her
a husband IN the most mysterious, ro-
mantle fashion? Surely the power which
sent him to her to be rescued would en-
able her to restore him to Life. She gave
several taps, and the cone divided IN
twain.
In the morning they found her IN the
museum in dead faint She did not
revive for many days Beside her were
two halves of the conc of siliceous sinter.
The occupant which lay beside her was
the limbless trunk OF a dead tree--
Exchange.
u..,- -r-,, =, sor.h 4t,,c.