Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-08-12

II will not" gladly promised the
woman, and seeing that Bernardind
knew not which way to turn she guided
them to a door opening into dimly
lighted corridor ut will take you out
to the balconies and down to the audi
ence chamber" she said.
The princess thanked her, and she
and the Englishman descended several
flights of stairs. Reaching one Of the
balconies, they met the denser darkness
of the outside and the deafening clang
and clamor Of the multitude. There was
no light Of any kind, and Thorndyke
and his charge had to press close against
the balustrade Of the balcony to keep
from being crushed by the mad torrent
of humanity.
Now and then strident voice would
rise above the din:
Down with the palace Death to the
kingr
The trumpet in the tower sounded
again and again.
1T is my father trying to attract
their attention, explained the princess.
Something very serious has happened
for once. In speaking of the time the
sun went out before, he told me that he
had made an invention which in such q
crisis would instantly restore confidence
to the people. I cannot understand why
he does not use it. Oh, am afraid they
will kill him!"
Thorndyke tried to console her, for
he saw that she was weeping, but just
then there was o strange lull in the
general tumult What could have hap
pened?
"The dawn-the ideal dawnW cried
Bernardino, pointing to the eastern sky.
Thorndyke looked in wonder. A purpls
light had spread along the horizon, and
as it gradually softened into gray and
slowly turned to pink the noise Of the
populace died down. No sound could
now be heard save the low groans Of
wounded men and women. What
sight met the view as the rose light
shimmered over the city! The dead and
dying lay under the feet of the crowd.
Almost every creature bore some mark
of violence. Eyes were bloodshot, cloth
ing torn, limbs were bleeding, and min
gled fury and sudden hope struggled in
each ashen face. The young trees and
shrubbery had been trampled underfoot,
and walls, arcades and triumphal arches
had been thrown down. The fragments
of statues lay here and there, and the
bodies of human beings filed the basins
of broken fountains.
1T is not the sum-" explained Bers
nardino, "but the invention my father
spoke Of. He is doing it to calm them"
Thorndyke made no answer. He stood
as if transfxed, gazing at the horizon.
The rose light had spread over third
Of the sky when gradually there ap-
peared in it's center a bright circle Of
yellow light. The yellow light faded,
leaving perfect picture of the throne
of the king, and as the now silent masses
looked ut the picture curtain behind
the throne parted, and the king himself
appeared. He advanced and sat on the
throne and turned calm face toward
his SUBJECTS
Wonderful" calculated Bernardino,
and her face was full of hope. ''See
what he will do"'
Where is the picture?" asked Thorn
dyke Can it be seen by all of-of the
people?"
Eyes, by all Alpha, for it is on the
sky"
Thorndyke said nothing further, for
the king had stood up, and with hands
outstretched was bowling. Above the
circle of light, as if cut out of the solid
blackness, in flaming letters stood the
word:
Observation-Disclosures. ..,...................!
SI4ENCEl
.,........................
And there was silence. Even the lips
of the wounded men closed as the king
began to speak. The sound CT his voice
seemed as far away as the stars and to
permeate all space:
''All danger is over. Tidings from
the west state that the sun is setting.
No harm has come to it. 1t will rise in
the morning, and the moon and stars
will be out in few hours. Let the dead
be removed, the wounded cared for and
everything be repaired. This is my
will"
That was all. The king bowed sedates
ly and retired from the throne, and the,
circle and pink glow faded from the
black sky. The stiffness was unbroken
for moment; then glad murmurings
were heard in all directions. |
"They are lighting the palacer criee
the princess. "See! Down there is the
arcade leading to the rotunda. y
II am glad 1t Is OVER" said Thorn
dyke.
She grasped his arm and impulsively
looked into his face.
"But your friend-we have forgotten
him and done nothing to save him, and
now it is too late.
"We could not help it. We had to
think of our own safety
II shall send for Captain Tradmos
and try to devise some other plan" she
said as they descended the stairs. .
"We should not be seen together
she added as they approached the
throneroom. Besides, you ought to go
to your chambers. No one is allowed to
be out when the dead are being re-
moved"
"Where are the dead takens'
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