Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-11-14


ber courier walking up and down. en-
| gagged In an animated discussion. I
turned OF short. not wishing them to
know l saw them. infatuated as |
was with this straE :. could not
help feeling her position was Il peculiar
one. Perhaps the romance and the
mystery only served TO enhance the
charm
AT table d'hote saw no signs OF nv
friend: afterward I went out 10 look ut
the sunset. The place was crowded
with tOurists-EngliSn. German. Swiss
all uninteresting 10 my eyes. so |
avoided them. | went round toward
the back. and some one pointed out to
me the curiOsities of the piacs-where
the witches assemble on Walpurgis-
nacht, the Devils Well. the Devils
Pulpit Rough stones OF volcanic
strata. thrown up years before. strewed
the bare and rugged mountain top. In
one place they We're heapcd about In
\ great masses; among them was a hol-
low called Schneefcls. where. In the
winter. the snow is said TO he % feet
deep. Among these bar0ar.c rocks I
| found Sylvia WhitwOrth. | asked her
how she had dinei
Il dined here" She said. as II her
rocky seat had been her boudoir table
There were 80 many people in the
hotel. all ugly aud all old. and can't
eat when see ugly sights. My courier
brought me uly dinner
The sun w@s setting I'm pomp and
splendor. From our high point OF view
we could see all the simmer and color.
and all the varying tints or a glowing
Angus; sunset. | pointed il out to my
friend; she ell not turn her head.
Il don't c;.ic for views" she said
gently. Il have seen so many. and
am tired OF them
looked In her face. Her eyes had
caught some strange luster from the
beautiful cloudland or color about us:
| there was a vague d.suuirt visible In
her manner. nuttering In her voice
1t seemed 10 me that she was under
the mastery OF some profound impress
sion
The warm night crept onward. We
were alone. quite alone. under the
throbbing summer sky. with the clouds
and the heavens around US.
Instinctively. when I spoke. spoke
I'm a whisper. How near we are to
heaven" | murnured. ''in this high
place. How far better than heaven
II Is TO be with you. like this"
A soft. warm breeze passed over our
faces. and blew g struggling curl OF
her loosened hair across my lips: her
soft. clinglng draperies lay close beside
me; her presence seemed TO grow more
and more compelling.
She smiled n slow. languorous smile
"a smile that intoxicated and led me
on. She laid her hand upon my arm.
Heaven" she said. In a low. rspt
whisper; heaven Is whatever we like
| TO make for ourselves on earth: when
we die we 20 out-so" land she pouted
her two perfect lips. and blew a
sudden. short breath). When think I"
she continued. that life. and life only.
is ours, ] sometimes wish TO do more
with my days-crime or good: or
wickedness or virtue. 1t would not
matter to me. II could but enjoy It
whatever II was
But" whispered awestruck.
Crime is found out. and then comes
punishment"
There are some crimes" she said,
which leave no trace. What trace
does a ship leave In the sea five min
utes after she has passed over itY'
Just then her surly courier approach
ed. They talked excitedly for a few
moments. and then she turned to me:
This is pleasant ! hear there is no
room for me. The last room was given
TO you. Not . corner left anywhere;
and / am to sleep a Ia belle etoile QIke
a beautiful starr"
OF course this was impossible. Will
ingly l gave up my room. and the
courier lounged away.
For a few moments we sat silent,
when suddenly upon US there sank 6
darkness as swift and as obscuring as
q curtain. Ii was one OF the strange
atmospheric changes OF the Brocken
In q breathless space II seemed as II
the bright night had turned TO roll
Ing. black mist. ! groped for Sylvia's
hand l took it-she was not a bit
frtghtened-into my clasp. warm and
yielding. ! 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 OF great heat throbbed
| SuTOuBu the Odrkeneu air. cOulO near
my companions hurried breathing.
81 wonder II we are all going to be
killedT' she said quietly.
Just then she stumbled over a stone.
threw out my hands 20 save her and
she fell forward. literally into my arms.
For one moment Of madness / held
her close IL 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
arms and sObbing like a child. while
endeavorcd. with every excuse and
with every prayer / could think OF. TO
reassure her. We found our way at
last to the door, and led her. still
shuddering. up to my room and. i'm
ploring her to forgive me. ] said good
Aight and staid outside while l heard
her close the door and lock II. then
repaired TO the drawing ROOM where
an impromptu couch had been prepared
l g.