Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-01-21
CHAPTER I.

climes, but November brilliant with
sunshine and gay with flowers; as hot as
an Englsh summer, and twice as parched
ana dusty and glazing. In short. the
November of Southern Europe, of the
Mediterranean.
Blue spectacles with wire-gauze sides
are not In themselves pleasing Objects"
rejected certain English traveller. as he
stood and looked at the dazzlingly white
high road that crosses the island of
Malta from Valetta to st. PauPs Bay,
out one begins to appreciate their uses
In an oven of q place like this"
Ihe deep notes of a bell struck upon his
ear. The sound proceeded from the bel
Try OF plain, ecclesiastical-looking build
ing upon an eminence at his right hand.
Images of silent aisles deep in cool shad-
ow, OF smooth stone pavements on which
the sunlight rested only in colored patches
thrown from the painted windows, sud-
denly presented themselves to his mind,
and were grateful to him in comparison
with the white glare of Maltese noon.
He turned and bent his steps leisurely to-
ward the church.
Lawrence-this was the Englishman's
name-was admitted by a gray frocked
Capuchin monk, and stepped at once into
the GOODNESS and stiffness which he had
desired. The church had no architectural
beauty. 1t was decorated in the forid
Italian style, gaudy with gliding and i'll
attention to the objects around. Law
renee found himself in a passage. dimly
lighted by the lantern carried by his
guide. Then came a fight of steps then
another passage, or underground gallery,
with lamps fastened at regular intervals
along the walls. The nature of the place
which he had entered flashed suddenly
across Lawrence's mind. He had seen
similar vaults and passages at Palermo
1t was the final resting-place of the dead
Capuchin monks. Lawrence had no taste
for horrors. Yet something in the Rem
brandtesque play of light and shade,
something in the wearied monotone Of
the old monks voice as he droned out
the name and date of his exhumed pre-
decessors, excited the young mans mag
nation.
AS he turned corner he came full up
on group of sightseers, who seemed to
be bent upon penetrating to the farthest
limits of the vaulted passages. The party
consisted of two or three gentlemen and
two ladies, accompanied by little NAL
tese guide and a Capuchin. 1t was evil
dent that the gentlemen, and one at least
of the ladies, took great interest in the
sight.
He turned his back upon the exploring
party, and feigned to become absorbed
in contemplation of the stone wall, until
the sound of voices, footsteps, and laugh
ter had receded down one of the echoing
passages; then Slogan to retrace his
steps. But before he had gone very far
he saw that one member of the tourist
party was also returning. This was the
second lady of the group. Lawrence
gathered that she had probably lost her
way, and he was not unprepared for the
question which the lady, after moments
hesitation, addressed to his guide.
els this the way out?"
She spoke in English, and the monk
did not understand her. Lawrence an
swered in his stead.
''This is the way. You turn to the
right and go up the steps, but the door at
the top of the steps is locked. You will
want one of the guides to open it for
you" Then, as she seemed to hesitate
again. he added: 'If.you wish to ge:
out, this man will unlock it. Shall l
tell him?'
THANK you If your guide can do so,
shall be glad to get into the fresh air.
''Of course you will be glad" Law
renee said to himself, approvingly. "Any
sensible person would be glad to escape
from this charnel-house." Then aloud:
II will tell him.
He gave the direction in italian, and
stood aside to let her pass, when an ral-
foreseen accident occurred. The lady's
foot tripped over some unevenness in the
pavement, and she would have fallen but
for the help afforded by Lawrence's quick.
strong arm Even then she did not seem
able to recover herself at once. Law
renee felt that she was trembling from
head to foot, and leaning upon him as If
unable to support herself. A fresh at
tack of faintness made her glad or
support in any form. He knew this from
the way in which she frightened her grasp
upon his arm.
"Where are your friends? will call
them"
"No-please; am better now"
She would not allow him to help her
M the steps, but he followed her into
the church, fearing that she would turn
dizzy and require his arm again. AT
Lawrence's request the monk opened the
church door, set chair for the lady be-
side it, and brought her glass OF cold
water, Lawrence WAlteu ZOE d minute
or two. partly out Of anxiety for the
iady's recovery, and partly in order to be-
stow few more glances upon the fair
face that had so impressed him.
He neither liked to leave her alone nor
70 seem to be watching her, and had she
not spoken he would probably have moved
away, but as she handed back the glass
of water that he had given her, she SAID,
gently:
IT am very much obliged to you for your
help" 18th
spray say nothing about that. L wish
vou would let me call your friends.
.They will be here directly" IS, she e. am n
svered. 81 told them that would SIT IN
the church until they returned. we are
going back to the ship very soon. 1nch.
after little pause, she added words thar at
were evidently meant as dismissal. !
am unite well now. Please do not re. me
detain YOU. Thank you very mucn.
Before he left the church Lawrence &c
remembered that he had given the oiu
monk no remuneration for his services.
.na be hogan to search for q coin tha'