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

cannon. This was followed by the
chimes Of great bells which seemed to
swing back and forth miles overhead.
"Listenl" whispered Bernardino.
"Father calls it musical thunder, and
he declares that it is produced in no
other country than this"
"It is not. He is right" And the
heart Of the Englishman was stirred by
deep emotion. He had never dreamed
that anything could so completely chain
his fancy and elevate his imagination
as what he heard. The musical clangor
died down. The strange harmony grew
more enhancing as it softened. Then
the whole eastern sky began to flush
with rosy, shimmering light
my father calls this the Ideal Dawn
of Day, whispered Bernardino. "See
the faint golden halo near the horizon.
That is where the sun is supposed to
be.''
How is 1t done?" asked the English
man.
Few Of our people know. It is Sc
cret held only by the king and half doz-
en- scientists. The whole thing how
ever, is operated by two men in a room
in the dome of the palace. The mu-
sician is young German who was be-
coming the wonder of the musical
world when father induced him to come
to us. have net him. He says he has
been thoroughly happy here. He lives
ON music. He showed me the instru-
ment he used to play, little thing he
called violin, and its tones could not
reach beyond the limits of small room.
He laughs at it now and says the instru-
ment that father gave him to play on
has strings drawn from the center Of
the earth to the stars of heaven"
The rose light had spread over the
horizon and climbed almost to the ze-
NTH, and with the dying booming and
gentle clangor it began to fade till all
was dark again.
Captain Tradmos ought to be here
now," continued the princess, glancing
uneasily toward the stairway. "We
may not have SO good an opportunity as
this"
Ten minutes went by.
Surely something has gone wrong"
Whispered Bernardino. II have never
seen the darkness last so long as this.
Besides, can't you hear the muttering Of
the people?'
Thorndyke acknowledged that he did.
He was about to add something else,
but was prevented by loud blast from
the trumpet in the tower.
Bernardino shrank from him and fell
to trembling.
What is the matter?" he asked.
1.-THE trumpet" she gasped. "Some-
thing awful has happened"
A moment of profound silence Then
the murmuring Of the crowd rose sui
lenly like the moaning Of rising storm.
A searchlight flashed up in the gloom
and swept its uncertain stream from
point to point, but it died out. Another
and another shone for all instant in diff
ferent parts of the city, but they all
failed.
Something awful has happened"
repeated Bernardino as if to herself.
1.-THE lights will not burn.
Had we not better go DOWN." asked
Thorndyke anxiously, excited by her
unusual perturbation.
For answer she mutely drew him to
the eastern parapet. Far away in tho
east there still fingered faint hint Of
pink, but all over the whole landscape
darkness rested.
"See' she exclaimed, pointing up
ward. 1.-THE clouds are thinning over the
sun, and yet there is no light What
tan be the matter2"
At that juncture they heard soft steps
on the roof and voice calling:
"Bernardinol Princess Bernardino"
"It is Tradmos'' she CALCULATED
gladly. Then she called out softly:
''Tradmosl Tradmosp'
''Hcre" the voice said, and figure
loomed up before them. 1t was the cap
tain. He was painting violently, as If
he had been running.
What is it?" she asked, clasping his
arm.
1.-THE sun has gone OUT" he an
nounced.
A groan escaped her lips, and she
swayed into Thorndyke's arms.
"The clouds are thinning over the
sun, yet there is no light. The king is
excited. He fears panic"
HAS such thing never happened?'
asked Thorndyke.
"a hundred years ago. Then thou
sands lost their lives. As soon as the
people suspect the cause Of the delay
they will go mad with fear"
"What can we dor" asked the prin.
cess, recovering her self possession.
Nothing. Wait" replied Tradmos-
"This is as safe a place as you could
find. Perhaps the trouble may be avert
ed. LookP'
The disk Of the veiled sun was aglow
with family trembling Light but it
went out. The silence was profound.
The populace seemed unable to grasp
the situation, but when the light had
f1ickered over the black face of the sun
once more and again expired sullen
murmur rose and grew as It passed from
lip to lip.
1t became threatening roar, broken
by an occasional cry Of pain and dis
NAL groan Of terror. There was crash
as if q mountain had been burst by ex-
plosives.
"The swinging bridge has been
thrown down." said Tradmos
Light after light flashed up in differ