Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-08


self approached.
AS it drew near it assumed the ap-
pearanco of an enormous dog, as tall as
an OK, which ran swiftly our way with
threatening motion of its head. But
before it could even utter a snarl tho
whir of Colonel Smiths disintegratur
was heard and the creature vanished in
tho shadow.
"Graciousl Did you ever see such a
beast?" said tho colonel. "Why, he was
as big as a grizzly"
THE people he belonged to must be-
near by, " l said VERY likely he was
a watch on guard.
But see no signs of habitation. ~
True, but you observe there is
thick hedge on the side of the road OF.
posite the canal. IL we get through
that, perhaps we shall catch sight Of
something"
Cautiously we pushed our way
through the hedge, which was compos-
ed of shrubs as large as small trees, and
very thick at tho bottom, and, having
traversed it, found ourselves in great
mcadowlike expanse which might have
lance, in the midst of clump of trees,
o large building lowered skyward, its
walls of some red metal, cleaning like
polished copper in the soft light that
fell from the cloud dome.
There were no lights around tho
building itself, and we saw nothing cor
responding to windows on that side
which faced us, but toward the right q
door was evidently open, and out of this
streamed a brilliant shaft Of illumina-
ton, which lay bright upon the lawn,
then crossed the highway through an
opening in the hedge, and cleaned Oh
the water Of the canal beyond.
Where we stood the ground had evil
IDENTIFY been recently cleared, and there
was no obstruction, but as we crept
closer to the house-for our curiosity
had now become irresistible found
ourselves crawling through grass SO
tall that if we had stood erect it would
have risen well above our heads.
This affords good protection, said
Colonel Smith. recalling his adventures
on tho western plains. 1--WE can get
close in to the Indians-I beg pardon, I
SEEM"
Heavens, what an adventure was
this-to be crawling about in the night
on the face of another worlG and ven
turing perhaps into the jaws of dan
ger which human experience coa,d not
measure!
But on we went, and in a little while
we had emerged from the tall grass and
were somewhat startled by the discov-
cry that we had got close to the wall O.
the building.
Carefully we crept around toward the
open door.
AS we nesred it we suddenly stopped
as if we had been stricken with instan-
taneous paralysis.
Out of the door foated, on the soft
night air, the sweetest music l have
ever listened TO.
1t carried me back in an instant to
my own world. 1t was the music of the
earth. 1t was the melodious expression
of human soul. 1t thrilled US both to
the hearts core.
MY God" exclaimed Colonel Smith.
"What can that be: Are we dreaming,
or where in heavens name are WEI"
Still the enchanting harmony fioated
out upon the air. What the instrument
was l could not tell, but the sound
seemed more nearly to resemble that of
violin than of anything else l could
think Of
When we first heard it, the strains
were gentle, sweet, caressing and full of
in nj 20 of hrf in III
tie while its tone changed, and it be-
came magnificent march, throbbing
upon the air i'll stirring notes that set
our hearts beating in unison with its
stride and inspiring in US courage that
we had not felt before.
Then it drifted into wild fantastic,
still inexpressibly sweet, and from that
changed again into arequiem or lament
whose mellihuous tide of harmony
swept our thoughts back again to tho
earth.
~ can endure this no longer!" l said.
81 must SEQ who it is that makes that
music. 1t is the product of human
heart and must come from the touch OF
human fingers"
We carefully shifted our position I'M
til we stood in the blaze of light that
poured out Of the door.
The doorway was an immense arched
opening, magnifcently ornalnented, ris-
ing to height, should say, not less
than 30 or 25 feet and broad in proper
ton. The door itself stood widely open,
and it, together with all of its fittings
and surroundings, was composed Of the
same beautiful red metal.
Stepping out little way into the
light, | could see within the door an
immense apartment, glittering ON all
sides with metallic ornaments and gems
and lighted from the center by great
chandelier of electric candles.
In the middle Of the great floor, hold.
ing the instrument delicately poised and
still awaking its rayishing voice, stood
figure the sight of which almost stop
ped my breath.
1t was slender sylph of grill
\ girl of my own race-a human be-
ing here upon the planet Marsl
Her hair was loosely coiled, and she
was attired in graceful white drapery.
by -" cried Colonel Smith,
"she's humanm
Still the bewildering strains of the
music came TO our ears, and yet we
stood there unperceived, though in the
full glare of the chandelier
The girl face was presented in pro-