The Irish standard., 1898-08-13
CHAPTER XVII,

TO be in the studio laughing at Henri
Cor draping a curtain awkwardly. Next
he, was with Dorothy in the conserva-
tory at her home; she never had
seemed so beautiful. Then a swift
draught of cold air seemed to be strik-
ing his feet and ankles. She held some
flowers towards him and he tried to
take them, but could not lift his hand,
or stir a muscle. She glided away,
melting into a vast bank of orchids, but
when he essayed to follow his feet
seemed chained. to the floor. He gave
sudden cry of terror as she vanished,
and his voice seemed to rebound from
the walls and ceiling, which appeared
to have contracted. Then he awoke and
found himself enveloped in such pro-
found darkness that he wondered if
his soul were released from his body
and adrift in space.
"Great God!" he exclaimed. What
can this mean? Where am -"
He tried to recall his latest conscious
moments, but his brain seemed be-
numbed. Everything was chaos. He
moved his hand, and felt clasp of
cold steel on his wrist. He heard
chain rattle. Aghast-terrified ineffa-
bly-he moved the other hand. 1t, also,
was chained to the stones beneath him.
He attempted to draw up his feet. They,
too, were manacled.
Then he lay motionless and tried
once more to recall past events. Dor
othy! Yes, he remembered calling on
her and humbly confessing his sor-
row for having publicly quarreled with
Caruthers. She had readily forgiven
him, and shed tears at something she
would not explain. He remembered
telling her that he was not going to
the reception at the Palace hotel the fol-
lowing night. She understood that he
shrank from being seen publicly,
though she begged him to go and dance
once with her. She reminded him that
Caruthers was away, but even that did
not alter his determination. He left
early, for she and her aunt were going
to the Horse Show with Count Bantinni,
and it was almost time for her to dress.
Then he remembered how hard he
worked all the next day, and how he
threw himself that night on lounge
and tried to sleep. Finding this i'm
possible, and longing to catch sight of
Dorothy as she alighted from her car
riage at the reception, he went to the
hotel and stood around in the crowd
near the ladies' entrance Here he was
met by Count Bantnni. The counthad
such strange gleam in his black eyes,
and for wonder was not wearing even
ing dress.
II want to have talk with you," he
said in gentle tone. "You have evuded
me for long time. I am your friend,
and will prove it. Come with me to nv
apartments"
Gielow went with him to his cham
bers in the next block. 1t seemed to
him. from Bantinni's tone, that he had
something important to communicate.
Then what had happened? All, yes.
The count had turned up the gas in his
luxurious smokingroom and ordered
bottle of wine. His first words were
the very soul of humble candor-and so
pathetic.
MY FRIEND" said the count, 1--WE
ought to sympathize with each other
and bear no illwill. l am suffering the
pangs of hell. love your sweetheart
with all my soul. | have loved her pas
sionately since the moment first saw
her. l, TOO, am miserable. walk the
streets in agony. know how you feel,
and [ sympathize with you.'
Tears were in Bantinni's eyes. He
took the listless hand of the artist and
pressed it. Gelow was too unhappy
to repulse him, and by and by it seemed
that he really liked the italian.
II deaden my pain of heart" said the
count. "You know that und erstapd
the use of hypnotsm; apply it to my
self when am most miserable. You
need rest; allow me to calm you. It is
very simple"
I'D rather not" said Gielow; but the
count had spoken soothingly, and then
why, that was the last thing he could
remember excepting-yes, in front OF
the studio building it seemed that the
count had detained him and told him
some absurd story about his having
killed Caruthers. That must have been
adream, and yct-great God! the chains
and the cell! Could he he in a dun
geon for the murder of Caruthers?
Gieow managed to rise to his feetand
began to grope about him. He touched
the wall behind him. 1t was uneven,
like the inside of cavern. lie felt all
round the room. In size it was about
ten feet long by six in width. One end
was of bricks, and that end contained
an iron door. Gielow's intelligence told
him that he was not in prison, but it fur
nished no hint of the truth.
The hours passed. Giclow went back
to his corner and lay down on the bed
OF straw. His knees shook and he was
very weak. Then the pangs of hunger
and thirst awolse in him.
moment later he knew he was stary-
ing. Maddened by this realization. he
crawled to the door and beat upon it
with his handouts. lie made a thun-
derous noise, but when the echoes had
died out the silence seemed even more
profound, more menacing than ever.
Again he beat upon the door till the
irons cut into his wrists.
Finally he was rewarded by noting q
dancing pencil of light pierce the gloom
through crack oves' the door, and
then he heard footsteps outside. A
bunch OF heavy keys clankcd. one was
fitted into rusty lock ant! the doc,