Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-05-31
Mr.. Strangers SeQ|ed Pocket,
Or, A Voyage to the Planet Mars,
CHAPTER IX.-(Continued.)
By HUGH MACCOLL.

Cf1AI 1A.-lCOnI1Ouou.)
zone night, to the establishment of the
wise old men, who studied the stars, a
new star appeared in the armament.
The foolish young men laughed at first,
and would not believe that it was a new
star at all; but the wise old men had the
positions of all the old stars off by heart,
and knew better. And the foolish young
scOffers were obliged to own themselves
in the wrong, when, after many nights,
they saw that this star which had been
pointed out to them by the wise old men
had grown much larger and brighter, till
at last it was by far the largest. and
brightest star in their sky. Many nights
passed away, and month followed month,
and the new star went on always grow
ing larger and larger, and brighter and
brighter, till at last, after about 1000
nights, it had grown to the size of the
Yelluch, or night-sun, which it much re-
sembled in the soft, pale, steady light
which it shed upon Tahlav-a light which
neither daZzled nor warmed. Then the
sky presented a strange appearance. Sell
dom did the new star sink below the
horizon, end often it and the Yelluch
shone in the sky at the same time, max
ing the night almost like day. But other
wonders followed, and not all of them
pleasant ones. By degrees, as the new
star grew larger and larger, it was found
that the seasons grew colder and colder;
the summer was mild and pleasant; but
spring and autumn were cold as winter;
while the cold of winter became SO in
tense that the fathers of my people, ac-
companied by many of the animals
around them, migrated southwark.
Gradually it became evident that the
planet Gilman was undergoing change;
it too began to grow larger and larger
and brighter and brighter. Our fore
fathers upon Tahlav did not know why;
but we, their descendants here upon
Glintan, have learned much in the course
of generations, and we now know the
cause. The new star was gradually
drawing Tahlav and Glintan nearer to
each other; the one farther from the sun,
and the other nearer. This is the ex-
PLANTATION of the cOld-growing seasons
upon Tahlav and the terrible cataStro-
phe which at last followed.
Great fear fell upon the inhabitants
of Tahlav, and not without cause, though
they knew not the nature of the calam-
ity which threatened them, and which
at last fell upon them. They We're
threatened with collision between Tab
Law and Glintan. Full collision did not
indeed take pace, but what did take
place was disastrous enough.
"a great cOmmOtiOn took place IN the
atmosphere. Thick dark clouds hid the
sky, and a violent storm arose, accom-
panied first with terrific thunder and
lightning, and then with earthquakes,
volcanic eruptiOns and clouds OF thick
Suffocating dust.
'Many persisted in the confusion, but
some survived, and of these some re-
manned upon Tahlav, and others were
drawn on to Glintan as the two planets
passed each other, though at what dis
lance must remain matter of conJec-
ture.
"Now. stranger" said KAT, after a
somewhat heightened pause in our con-
versation, Il have told you how our
fathers were dragged against their will
from Tahlav to Glintan; may |, in my
turn, ask the favor of hearing how you
managed of your own free will to trav-
erse the immensities Of space In that
wonderful machine there? how long it
took you to come? and with what object
YOU undertook such a sublime and haz-
ardous expedition? Did you come en-
tirely alone? l have long desired to
know; but, for certain reasons, thought
it wise first to watch and study you, and
defer nv questions till I knew you bet
ter. [ am now convinced that you have
come with no hostile Intentions against
my people, and, therefore, see no reason
why l should restrain my curiosity any
longer"
While KAT was speaking his daughter
had noiselessly assembled and quietly
taken seat beside him. The night was
warm, clear and starry; the roofs were
Shining with a soft white light; and that
peculiar aromatic odor, already described
as characteristic Of the Marsian sea, was
waited by a gentle, almost imperceptlble
breeze to where we were sitting. Such
was the scene, and such the circum-
stances in which | related to my most
how and why had crossed the ethereal
void to visit his planet Gilman
While / was giving an account OF my
invention and exploit, l cast an Occa-
sional glance in the direction OF Ree, my
hosts daughter. Every time looked !
found that her soft hazel eyes were liked
upon my face with the most absorbed
interest and attention; and every time l
looked, those soft hazel eyes instantly
sought the ground, and q faint fuSh
tinged her cheek. l briefly described the
nature of my invention, but fully related
nav lonely voyage through the lnterplan-
etary regions of space, the phenomenon
presented by the retreating and dlmln-
ishing earth and moon, the ever-shlnlng
sun. the approaching and gradually en-
larging planet Glintan, and the unex-
pected eclipses produced by her satel-
lites of whose existence had been pre-
viously ignorant l also gave a vivid
and detailed account of my various adj
ventures on the planet after my ARRIVAL
ND to the time when ! shot down with
the Shooting Star and saved the little
Kafinsoh from drowning.
Now, my Rec" said my host to hls
daughter. when l had finished my story,
'you go down to your mother ana
brothers, while / have a talk with my
honored guest from Tahlav."
His daughter Immediately rose ana
went.