Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-07-14
hNHY STORY is that of life's sacri-
tNk fee In the name of the grea>est

"Lovei" we exclaimed in a chorus.
"Yes. love" answered Col. Darcy.
We were sitting around a wood fire
IN the small parlOr OF famous water
ing place in the mountains Of Virginia.
II was the season that turns the
leaves 20 red and gold and robes the
mountains in q deeper azure. We had
each told a personal experience, until
Il was now Col. D'Arcy's turn.
AT the time my story begins" con-
ti#Sed Col. Dare. I had just re-
turned 20 America an absence OF
more than 25 yeart was n complete
stranger. / had lost sight OF every hu'
man being I had ever known. But as
IL coming by accident across familiar
picture IN an old attic. recalled a man
i had known at college. He had then
lived in Boston. out whether he wa
dead or alive 1 had not the slightest
idea. I sent a telegram on the posi-
bility when I landed in New York. and
received the answer: Will be glad &C
see YOU There was not another word
but l went.
The cab set me down before large
handsome brown stone house on Bea-
con street. Every shutter 20 the house
was closed.
Except for the strong hand clasI
DR.. Rossiter gave me l should have
thought myself unwelcome. Some
thing in his voice. however. went 10 my
heart, and put my arm around him
as j would about a woman. We walked
10 the library in this way.
"To nv astonishment I found il
illuminated. as was the hall. with in.
l. ~r.aL
me as curious and not pleasant. for
though il was the month OF February
IL was only three o'clock IN the after
noon and the sky outside was as clear
and blue as turquoise.
DIR. Rossiter-he had intended being
doctor when last saw him-made n'
aliusion 20 the light nor 10 his changed
appearance. l saw only too plainly tha
he had suffered. and as only a>stronl
man can suffer-silently. His hair wa
white as snow. and his hands tremble'
as il he were three score years and ten
We were the same age, and at tina
time had not gray hair in my head
Llewellyn RosSiter had been the hand
somest. clevereSt, richest man in col
lege.
"He asked OF my travels. and an
swered readily 10 all my Question
about the men we had known. bu
never in the slightest way alluded I
himself. When later l was shown TO
room. / followed an old man up ia
stairs which were covered with sOft
est velvet carpet. Flowers blOome
everywhere and electric lights dazzle
me from numerous chandeliers.
seemed the preparation for ball.
was evidently not loss OF money ths
had wrought the transformation in
appearance.
The room was even more sumptucJ
than anything I had seen.
paintings and statuary OF n
rarest were everywhere. curios were
richly inlaid cabinets. folds of crimso
velvet hung over the tightly close
windows. mirrors reached from ceilir
10 floor, and electric lights shone dow
from a myriad OF softly tinted globe
The bed. cushions and easy chai
alone made IL habitable as "A sleepir
room.
"When dinner was announced Il
Rossiter led me into handsome roo
where a table sparkled with silver al
glass FloN ers were in such protusiS
that the T rfume almost suffOcated n
The table was laid for three person
expected every moment some 9th
guest. or member OF the family TO a
pear. but dinner passed, no one can
nor was any allusion made 10 the '
cant seat.
1T was after midnight when I we
TO my room. A cold wind sighed abo
the house like lost spirit. and {
into a dressing gown and slippers,
termined TO enjoy cigar before tuE
ing in for the night. l tried to sa
of the light. l tried again and aga
looked behind ever piece OF furnite
every picture. even examined
floor, but all 70 mo use. II was imp
sible 70 shut IL of. and. believing
some Yankee invention could not I
derstand, / was about 10 settle do
again when I remembered I had Z
locked the door.
This time my surprise was beyo
all reasoning. There was no key,
place for key. nor fastening of a
sort!
1T was strange" thought, iii Z
was usual custom in such large to-
as Boston. but there was nothing to
but accept the uneanny situation. a
it would have been unreasonable
have called nv friend at that hour