The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-08-18

saw them. Infatuated as I was with
this stranger. l could no help feel
ing her position was a peculiar, n
terry only served to enhance the
charm.
At table d'hote I saw no signs OF
my friend: afterward 1 went out to
look at the sunset. The place was
crowded with tourists-English. Ger.
man, Swiss-all uninteresting to my
eyes, so l avoided them. l went round
toward the back. and some one point
ed out to me the curiosities of the
place-where the witches assemble on
Walpurgisnacht, the Devils Well. the
Devils Pulpit. Rough stones of vol
canic strata. thrown up years before,
strewed the bare and rugged noun
tain-top. In one place they were
heaped about in great masses; among
them was a hollow called Schneefels,
where, in the winter, the snow is said
to be IS feet deep. Among these bar
barrie rocks l found Sylvia Whitworth.
l asked her how she had dined.
81 dined here" she said, as if her
rocky seat had been her boudoir-
table. There were so may people
in the hotel, all ugly and all old: and
l can't eat when l see ugly sights.
My courier brought me my dinner"
The sun was setting in pomp and
splendor. From our high point of
view we could see all the simmer
and on1Nr an1 oil tha yarr~ %;pfu
of a glowing August sunset. 1 point
ed it out to my friend; she did not
urn her head.
81 don't care for views" she said.
gently; 81 have seen so many, and l
am tired of them"
1 looked in her face. Her eyes had
caught some strange luster from the
beautiful cloud-land of color about
u.s.; there was a vague %disguiet visible
in her manner, a luttering in her
voice. 1t seemed to me that she was
under the mastery of some profound
impression.
The war; night crept onward. We
were alone. quite alone, under the
throbbing summer sky. with the
clouds and the heavens around us.
lnstinctively, when 1 spoke. 1 spoke
in a whisper. "How near we are to
heaven" 1 murmured, sin this high
place! How far better than heaven
it is to be with you. like this"
A soft, warm breeze passed over our
faces. and blew a struggling curl of
her loosened hair across my lips; her
soft. clinging draperies lay close be-
side me; her presence seemed to grow
more and more compelling.
She smiled a slow. dangerous smile
"a smile that intoxicated and led me
on. She laid her hand Upon my arm.
Heaven" she said. in a low. rapt
whisper, Heaven is whatever we like
to make for ourselves on earth; when
We die we go out-so' land she pouted
her two perfect lips. and blew a sud-
den short breath). when I think"
she continued, that life, and life only,
is ours, l sometimes wish to do more
with my days-crime or good; or
w~ickedness or virtue; it would not
matter to me, if l could but enjoy it,
whatever it was"
But" I whispered. awe-struck.
"crime is found out. and then comes
punishment"
There are some crimes" she said,
(which leave NJ trace. What trace
does a ship leave in the sea five min
utes after she has passed over ito"
just then her surly courier ap-
preached. They talked eXcitedly for a
few moments, and then she turned to
me:
This is pleasant. l hear there is
no room for me. The last room was
given to you. Not a corner left any
where: and I am to sleep a la belle
~etoile."
OF course this was impossible. Will
ingly | gave up my room, and the
courier lounged away.
For a few moments we sat silent,
when suddenly upon us there sank a
darkness as swift and as %obscuring as
a curtain. 1t was one of the strange
atmospheric changes of the Broken.
In a breathless space it seemed as il
the bright night had turned to a roll
ing. black mist. l CROPPED for Sylvia's
hand. | took it-she was not n bit
frightened-into my clasp. warm and
yielding. l drew her up from her low.
rocky seat, and. placing her hand on
my arm. l tried to remember my way
back to the hotel. / could not see one
yard in front of us. A laundering
promise Ct great heat tnrobbed
through the darkened air. 1 could
hear my companions hurried breath.
81 wonder if we are all going to be
killed." she said, quietly.
Just then she stumbled over a stone.
1 threw out my hands to save her, |
and she fell forward, literally into my
For one moment of madness 1 held
her close in a wild embrace. kissed her
perfumed hair, and her eyes, and her
soft, wet lips. rapturously. The next
moment she was lying passive in my
and sobbing like a child, while
[ endeavored. with every excuse and
with every prayer l could think of,
to reassure Ter. We found our way
at last to the door, and 1 led her. still
shuddering, up to my room; and, i'm
her to forgive me. l said good
and stayed outside while 1
ord hor cloSa tho door ,-5 sool. - |