Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-08-26
THURM0NT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday August 26, 1897

had no time to question her, Tor she was
Fastening into the corridor outside. She
piloted them down flight Of stairs into
a large circular room beneath the sur
face Of tho ground It was hlled with
seats, Hke a modern theater, and In the
place where the stage would have been
stood a mighty mirror over 100 feet
square.
She led them to o private box in front
of the mirror. The room was filed from
the first TOW Of chairs to the rear with
silent, anxious crowd. In the massive
frame Of tho mirror were numerous bell
shaped trumpets like those on the ordi-
nary photograph, though much larger.
"Watch tho mirror, whispered Ber-
nardino as she sat down.
And at that instant the surface Of the
great glass began TO glow like the ely
at dawn, and all the lights in the room
went out Then from the trumpets in
the frame came the loud ringing Of
musieal bells.
"They arc ready" whispered Bes-
nardino. "Now, watch and listen"
The pink Light on the mirror faded
and life1ike reflection appeared-the
reflection Of q young man standing ON o
rock in bold relief against dark back
ground Of rugged, slabbering cliffs and
the forbidding mouths Of caves.
"Waldmeerl' calculated the princess
and she relapsed into silence.
The young man held in his hand a
cup shaped instrument from which ex-
tended wire to the ground. He raised
It to his lips, and instantly O calm, de-
liberate voice came from the mirror,
eoft and low, and yet loud enough to
reach the most remote parts Of the greet
room.
"The OCEAN" began he, "is pouring
into the Volcano of the Dead In grad
ually increasing torrent Prince Maron-
tel hopes temporarily to delay tho crisis
by partially turning the torrent away
tom the pit into the lowlands Of tho
country. For that purpose portion OF
the endless wall is being torn down
and Marentel's forces are placing their
explosives. After this Is done an at
tempt will be made to stop the original
break. There H. however, little hope
The prince has warned the king to be
prepared for the worst "
At this point the speaker turned as II
startled toward the red glare at his right
He quickly picked up another instru-
ment attached to wire and put 1t to
his ear. A look of horror changed bis
face as he turned to the audience and
began to speak;
1.-THE opening in the wall is not pro-
gressing rapidly. Workmen are drown
Ing and the tunnel Of the sun Is filing
with water. 1t will bo impossible for
the sun to go through to the east"
Just then there was faraway crash,
and instantly tho mirror was void.
There was now no sound except the low
groans Of women in the audience and
the subduod cursos Of maddened men.
The silence was profound. Then the
mirror began to glow, und the image OF
another man took Waldmeer's place.
1T Is the mayor Of Telmantto :"
whispered the pripcess, 20 place near
the western limits Of Alpha.
He held like instrument to the one
used by Weldmee-, and through 1t
spoke:
"Venus, ono of tho great stars, has
been shaken from the armament. II
fell in the Suburbs Of Telmantio, and
many lives were lost
That was al, and the figure vanished:
presently Waldmer reappeared. ne
seemed to be standing nearer the pitt
tor tho entire background was ahane
Volumes Of black smoke now and then
hid him from view, and o thick show
er Of ashce and small stones was fall
ing round him. He spoke, but his voice
was drowned In deafening explosion,
and tho whole landscape about him
seemed ahre In the semidarkness hum
dreds of protectors could be seen strug-
Cling in the rushing water, moving
stones and building dam. Waldmeer
again faced his faroff audience and
spoke:
Prince Mnrentel has turned the
course Of the stream. All now depends
OH the success or failure Of his final test
with explosives, which will take place
in about half All hour. "
"We ought to go outside again, " sug-
gested Bernardino as Waldmeer's i'm
ago disappeared my father might
want US"
Seeing no one IN the kings apart
ment, they passed through it to the bal
oony. Half the sky was now covered
with mingled fog and smoke, and the
sun could be Seen only now and then.
A driz2ling rain was falling, a rain
that brought down clots Of ashes and
soot, but this made no difference to the
throngs IN the now muddy and slippery
streets. They stood shiyering in damp
and soiled clothing. their blearing eyes
fixed hopelessly ON the lowering signs
in tho west.
Johnston noticed bent figure crouch
ed against wall beneath them.
It was Branasko.
"Who Is it7" inquired the prinoesA
"Branasko, the companion Of my ad-
ventureA" he replied.
"Call him to us, " she said eagerly,
and the American went down to the
Alphian.
AS they entered together Branasko
uncovered his disheveled head and
bowed most humbly.
"You hook tired and sick and hungry.
Have you eaten anything todayT' she
asked.
mot in two days." he replied.
The princess called to a frightened
maid who was wringing her hands in q
corridor
"Give this man food and drink at
once" she ordered, and Branasko, with
a grateful bow and glance, withdrew.