Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-03-05
CHAPTER /.

sunshine and gay with flowers; as hot as
an English summer and twice as parchei
and dusty and glaring. In short. the
November of Southern Europe, of the
Mediterranean.
Blue spcctacleS with w%ire-gauzc sides
are not in themselves pleasing Objects"
reflected a certain English traveller, as he
stood and looked ut the daZzlingly white
high q that crosses the island of
Malta from Naletta to- st. Paul's Bay.
but II begins In appreciate their uses
in an oven of II place like this"
The deep notes of II bell struck upon his
ear. The sound proceeded from the bel
fry of Il plain, ecclesiastical looking build
lhS upon an eminence mt his right hand.
Images of silent aisles deep in cool shad-
ow, u! smooth stone pavcmcnts on which
the sunlight rested only i'm colorrl patches
thrown from the painted windows. sud-
denly presented themselves To his mind.
and We're grateful To him in comparison
with the white glare of Il Maltese noon.
He turned and bent his steps leisure!v to-
ward the church.
I4nwrence-thiS was the Englislman's
namc-was admitted by Il gray frocked
Napnchin monk. and stepped at once into
the GOODNESS and stiffness which he had
desired. The church had no architectural
beauty. Ii WAS decorated in the tiorii
Italian style. gaudy with gliding and ILL
attention to the objects around. LAW
renee found himself in Il passage. dimly
llghtcd by the lantern carried by his
guide. Then anne II flight of steps. then
another passage. or underground gallery.
With lamps fastened mt regular intervals
along the walls. The nature of the place
which he had entered flashed suddenly
across l.awrcnrc's mind. He had seen
similar vaults and passages at Palermo.
IL WAS the final rcsting-placc of the dead
Capnchin monks. Lawrence had no taste
for horrors. Vel something in the Rem
branltrslue play of light and shade,
something in tho wcaricd monotone of
the old monks voice as he droned out
the name and date of his cxhumcl pre-
decessors, excited the young mans mag
%ination.
As he turned Il corner he came full up
on a group of sightseerS. who seemed to
hc bent upon penetrating to the farthcst
limits of the vaultcd passages. The party
consisted of two or three gentlemen and
two ladies. accompanied by q little Mall
trsc guide and Il Capuchin. 1t was cvi.
dent that the gentlemen. and one at least
of h ladies. took great interest i'm the
sight.
He turned his back upon the exploring
party. and fri"nrd la become absorbed
Ill contemplation of the stone wall. unt;l
the sound of voices. footsteps. and hugh
ter had rccr,lcd down one of tile ccl,niu.
passages: then began To rc1racc his
steps. But before lie had gone very far.
ne SAW that one rmlr of the tourist
party WAS also returning. This w:lS the
sr'"n! lady of the group. Lawrence.
gathered that she had probably lost hc,.
way. and he WAS not unurrpalrd for tl.
question which th" lady. after 81 moments
hesitation. addressed tu his guide.
rs this the Way ont:'
She spoke in English. and tll, monk
did M, understand her. Lawrence am
swcrrd i'm his stead.
"This is the way. N"n turn To the
right and 90 up The steps. hut the door AT
the top of the steps is locked. Yo, will
want on" of the guides To open it for
S"n. Then. as She seemed To hesitate
again. he added: "If You wish To 90.
ont. mis- man will unlock it. Shall
tell him:"
"Thank yon. If Your guide ,an do so.
. shhi' u" glad 4" get int" the fresh air.
""i course You will he glad" Law
rrn'n said To hinisrlf. approvingly. ".Any
sensible person would br glad to .s..ap.
from this charmed house." Then aloud:
~ will tell him"
Al" gave the direction in Italian. and
stood aside to let her pass. when an u,,.
forrSccn accident occurred. The lady.
loot trippcd over SOME unevenncss i'm the
pavement. and she would have fallen lut
tOfsflt.hpln .Tf ,rlr,1 1. ,yr,.,.. -. l.
strong arm. Even then she did not seen,
able t" recover herself at once. Law
renee felt that She WAS trembling from
head to foot. and leaning upon him rs if
'na'lc to support herself. \ fresh at
tack of faintnrss made her glad of
support in amy form. He knew this from
the way in which she frightened her .,r,s y,
upon his arm.
where are yomr friends: will call
Them"
"No-plcase; l an better now"
She would not allow him tn helm hc,
up the steps. hut liz followed her into
the church. fearing that she would turn
dizzy and require his arm again. AT
l.awrcncc's request the monk Oprncd th.
church door. set II chair for the lady bc.
side ii. and brought her IL glass of cold
ttittV vi IL minute
or two. partly IL of anxiety for the
lady's recovery. and partly in order to be-
stow a few more glanccs upon the fair
face that had so impressed him.
He neither liked to leave her alonen nor
to seem toobc watching her. and had she
not spoken he would probably have moved
away. but rs she handed back the glass
of water that he had given her, she said,
gently:
II am very much obliged to you for your
help"
pray say nothing about that. l wish
yom would let me call Your friends
"ThcY will he here DIRECTLY she an
swcrt1. II told them that l would sit in
the church until they returned. We are
81: So. 10 the ship very .oon." Tim.
after IL little pause. she added words that
were evidently meant as II dismissal. III
am cutie well now. Please do not let me
dcta;n you. Thank you very much"
Before he left the church Lawrence
remembered that he had given the old
monk no remuneration for his services.
and he began TO search for IL coin that
would suit his purpose. Two or three
,,., -, ,rE:.1, L., ,,., r.u:, ;,,,,%