The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-17
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Tho sunlight was fading into gray
when the princess turned to leave
Thorndyke. Night was drawing near,
"Have they assigned you chamber
YETI" she paused to ask.
mo"
"Thon they have overlooked it. /
shall remind the king"
Her beautiful, 1.-the form was clearly
outlined against tho red glow of tho
massive swinging lamp as she moved
gracefully away. and Thorndyke's heart
bounded with admiration and hope as
no thought Of her growing regard for
him. He resumed his seat among the
flowers, listening, as if in delightful
dream, to the seductive music from
bands in different parts of the palace
and the never ceasing sound in the air
which seemed to him to be the concen.
trated echo Of all the sounds III tho
strange country rebounding from the
vast cavern roof.
1t grew darker. The gray outside had
changed to purple. In the palace the
brilliant electric lights In prismatic
globes refused to allow the day to die.
He was thinking Of returning to the
throneroom when page in silken at
tire approached from the direction Of
the kings quarters.
ITO your chambers, MASTER" he an.
nounced, bowling respectfully.
Thorndyke arose and followed him tc
an elevator near by. They assembled tc
the highest balcony Of the great rotun
da. Hero they alighted and turned tc
the right, the page leading the way, g
key in his hand. Presently the page
stopped OF door and unlocked it and
preceded the Englishman into the room
As they entered an electric light in
chandelier flashed up automatically.
It was sumptuous apartment, ant
adjoining it were several connecting
rooms all elegantly furnished. The page
crossed the room and opened a door tt
little stairway.
ut leads to the roof" he said, "Tht
princess told me to call your attention
to it, that you might so out and view
the starlight.
When the page had retired, Thorn
dyke. feeling lonely, assembled the stair
to the roof. 1t was perfectly fat, saw
for the great dome which stood in ths
center and the numerous pinnacles ant
oupolas on every hand, and was very
spacious. The Englishman's Loneliness
Increased, for no matter in what direc
ton he looked there was not living
soul in sight. Far in front of him hi
saw a stone parapet. He went to thi!
and looked down on the city The cleo
trio lights were varicolored and arranged
so that when seen from distance o.
from q great height they assumed
artistic designs that were beautiful u
behold. ..,..
The regular streets and rows of build
ings stretched away till the light in tn
farthest distance seemed an ocean Q
| blending colors, Overhead the vaul
was black. and only here and Their
shone o star, but as he looked upward
they began to flash into being, and 81
rapidly that the sky seemed vast bat
tlefield of electricity,
Wonderful Wonderful" he ojacu
lated enthusiastically when the blacl
dome was filled with twiukling stars
He leaned for long time against tn
purapet. listening to the music from til
streets below aud watching the flynn
machines With their varicolored light
rise from the little parks ut the intersec
ton Of. THO streets and dart away owe
4 the roofs like big hrehies. Then be be
\ nan to feel sleepy, and, going back Il