The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-04-14

BE. childish laugh, ana his eyes danced
in ellish glee. He might have known
everything or noCi4 ny at that very
minute.
What sort is he's" | asked.
We'll, he is old, queer, a character
a gentleman. You must be punClili-
GUS. You must be CeremOnious Hand
MN your caro- alorg Wan mine when
you knock at his door. And by the
way, you will have no trouble finding
the room. Enter from either side,
walk TO the middle of the long hail.
then turn 10 the east out into the court,
and after that i'll at anolner door 10
the south; then Climb stairs until you
can climb no more and knock any
where in the dark ahead of you You
can't miss the doCr. If you feel care
fully, You will touch a brass knocker;
that will please I'm better.
And what time should | call?"
This is as good Il time as any. You
would be sure to find him in about
this hour"
Very good" l said, 81 will go up
there now. Give Inc your card"
Collins scrubbed line on his card
introducing me to Nicholas Denny,
Esq, ana left him not, however, be-
fore had time to catch another mock
ing smile as it vanished from his eager
face.
In less than halls IN hour | was cross
ing Washington square in the gaSlit
gloom. with the 2 'ay bulk of the uni
verSity rising before me. | went by
to the Waverly pl&"e entrance, pushed
in the heavy, changing door, and walk
ed along the low hall, as Collins di.
rected me: then | turned to the left
into the area. and next to the right in
to another hall of the building. Then
began to climb the stairs, three or four
flights, lit by a single, Pickering gas
jet on each one. At the top of these
l was in the last hall. as | thought,
with several doors going in to it; and
| fancicd | must have made some mis-
take when noticed in the farther dark
end of the hall space blacker than
the blackness. opening high Up from
floor to ceiling, ike a gorge in the
mountains, and right up this gorge the
narrow treads of yet another stair
leading into pitchy darkness, with
sheer wall on either hand. There was
nothing for it but to venture. Up l
climbed, step by step, until suddenly
a crack of light at my feet, little TO
the left, told me l must be on his land
ing.
l stepped quietly to the door, felt
for the knocker-a huge old affair."
very stiff in the jOints-and Knocked
A chair moved inside, and | heard
the rustic of curtains or draperies
Then steps came slowly, stopping al
together once or twice, and opened the
door TO me.
MIR. Denny" said l.
Yes, sir.
"NIr Denny, may l have the honor
of presenting an introduction from my
friend Mr.. ColirsT'
Certainly, sir-certainiy; and very
pleased to see you. too. Walk in, sir
and pray be seated. Sit you down by
the fire; you must be chilly. A dis
agreeable evening is it not?'
Yes. it is cold; out you are very
coy up here. all by yourself"
"Oh. yes. snug enough. You see,
have the whole ,ower to myself. small
as it is. 4.ere is no one else on the
same floor. That is something"
We drew our chairs up to the fire
The fireplace, like the room. was mar
row and tall, with a small CRATE Of
Goals high up from the floor in the old
fashioned way The room might have
been sixteen by twelve and was very
lofty.
All the upper wells ana the ceiling
were painted heavy dark blue. which
swallowed up all the light the fire
and one candle in silver candle-stick
could give. The door by which | had
entered was in one corner, and the
fireplace in the middle of the other
size. Directly opposite the fireplace
was wide double doorway hung with
heavy porueros which were closeu.
The old gentleman talked easily.
with a smile, spreading out his hands
to the fire. He seemed just the one TO
be full of stories and traditions of the
place, and | only waited the opportuni-
ty to interest him in that direction.
eyes, | said in reply to his last re-
mark, "the atmosphere of ones sur
roundings is ! ore important than the
surroundings themselves; don't you
think so?'
"Ah. yes, indeed; that is very true"
"And your atmosphere here is so ro-
mantle. There is really no other place
like this in the city. | should think
there would be innumerable tales
about it; are there not"
But he froze at this; gathered his
fingers in from the blaze and opened
them wide two or three times before
he spoke; and | caught sudden hunt
ed glance quite out of keeping with
his courtly demeanor.
He seemed to consider before he
said:
Eyes, yes, indeed, believe there are
many legends about the old building.
| hear them repeated from time to
time: and usually they have been a
good deal embellished-a good deal en-
belished. Veracity is difficult accom-
plishment, sir"
And he turned to me with the most
winning and wise smile. | said moth
ing. and he relapsed into his attitude
of consideration, watching the fire. 1t
was lust here that curious thing hap
nened. | leaned my head back on the
aosv chair a moment. waiting for him
10 take up the conversation where he
had left ii with hesitation. AS | did
60 | noticed for the first time a small
mirror hung over the fireplace, and IN
II could see c dull green portiers
behind us. | thought how restful the
color was to the eye. And then, about
Eve feet from the floor, they parted
and girlish face looked through and
rogrishly surveyed our backs. She
s-silcd vdcv mcrrily. and pressed the