Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-04-08

bold and vivid picture of the scene be-
fore him. The colors of the sky had,
however. defed his palette, and after
one or two futile attempts to transfer
to his canvas a few of the gorgeous
tints that illumined the landscape, he
gave up the task in despair, and re-
signed himself to the dolce far niente
of absolute enjoyment. From his half
pleasing. half melancholy reverie the
voice of the unknown maiden had
startled him, and now.--now she had
left him to resume 1t IL he chose,-left
him, in chill displeasure, with a cold
yet brilliant flash of something like
scorn In her wonderful eyes.
Since her departure the scenery, in
some unaccountable way, seemed less
attractive to him, the songs Of the
birds, who were all awake, fell on in
attentive ears: he was haunted by her
face and voice, and he was. moreover
having been such blunderer as to give
her offense, and thus leave an unfavor-
able impression on her mind,
Il suppose l was rude" he consid-
cred after a while. She seemed to
think so, at any rate. BY Jove' what
a crushing look she gave me! A peas
ant? Not she! If she had said she
vas an empress | shouldn't have been
much surprised. But a mere common
peasant, with that regal figure and
those white hands! l don't believe it,
Perhaps our pilot, Valdemar, knows
who she Isl | must ask him."
All at once he bethought himself Of
the cave whence she had emerged. 1t
was close at hand-a natural grotto,
arched and apparently lofty. He re-
solved to explore it. CHANGING at his
watch he saw it was not yet one o'clock
in the morning, yet the voice of the
cuckoo called shrilly from the neighbor-
ing hills, and a cfrcling group of swal
lows fitted around him, their lovely
wings glstening like jewels in the
warm light Of the wakeful sun.
Going to the entrance of the cave, he
looked in. 1t was formed of rough
rock. hewn out by the silent work of
the water, and its floor was strewn with
loose pebbles and polished stone. En-
tcring it, he was able to walk upright
for some few PAGES. then suddenly it
seemed to shrink in size and to be-
come darker. The light from the open
ing gradually narrowed into a slender
stream too small for him to see Clearly
urhn ha 10
struck a fusee. At first he could OBJ
selve no sign of human habitation, not
even a rope, or chain, or hook, to in
innate that 1t was a customary shelter
for boat. The fusee went out quick
ly and he lit another. Looking more
carefully and closely about him. he
perceived on projecting shelf of rock,
small antique lamp. Etruscan in
shape, made of iron and wrought with
curious letters. There was oil in it.
and half-burnt wick it had evidently
been recently used He availed him
self at once Of this useful adjunct to
his explorations, and lighting 1t, was
able by the clear and steady flame it
emitted, to see everything very dis
tirctly. Right before him was an I'M
even flight of steps leading down to
a closed door.
He paused and listened attentively.
There was no sound but the slow lap
ping Of the water near the entrance:
within, the thickness of the cavern
walls shut out the gay carollng Of the
birds, and all the cheerful noises OF
awakening nature. Silence, chillness,
and partial obscurity are depressing in
fluences, and the warm blood flowing
through his veins, ran a trife more
slowly and colby as he felt the sort OF
uncomfortable eerie sensation which Is
Ell oerienced by the jollest and most
careless traveller, when he first goes
down to the catacombs in Rome. A
sort OF damp, earthly shudder creeps
through the system, and dreary feel
ing OF general hopelessness benumbs
the faculties; morbid state of body
and mind which is only to be remedied
by speedy return TO the warm sun
light, and draught Of generous wine
Sir Philip, however, held the antique
lamp aloft, and descended the clumsy
steps cautiously, counting twenty steps
in ALL at the bottom OF which he found
himself face to face with the closed
door. 1t was made OF hard wood, 50
hard as to be almost like iron. 1t was
black with age, and covered with
quaint carvings and inscriptions: but
in the middle, standing out in bold re-
lief among the numberless Runic figures
and devices. was written in large we'll
cut letters the word
"THELMA."
by Jove" he exclaimed, II have
1t! The girls name, OF course! This
Is some private retreat Of hers, sup
pose,-a kind Of boudoir like my Lady
only with rather a DIFF
terence"
And he laughed aloud, thinking Of
The dainty gold-satin hangings OF a
certain room In certain great man
sion in Park Lane, where an aristocra-
lie and handsome lady-leader Of fash
on had as nearly made love to him as
i was possible for her to do without