The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-18

away. and a delightful languor took
possession of him. Freed from its cage.
his spirit glowed and expanded, in its
melodiOus bath, and scared away, on a
divine vibration, to meet its God.
A tempest arises. The moaning of the
wind through the forest. the dashing of
the spray upon the rocky shore, the roll
ing Of the thunder in the armament,
proclaim disaster.
Shadowy forms appear in the scurry-
ing clouds; laughing, hooking, hideous
forms-the retinue. Of the King of
Death-and behold, amid a crash of the
elements. even he comes. and clasps in
his cold embrace, the imperial guest!
The storm has passed, the pandemO-
MUM has ceased The King of Death
and attendant imps have vanished.
Strains as sweet as those ever produced
by gentle, lulling zephyts upon Aeolian
harps, float upon the air. Flowers and
birds abound. All is joy, gladness-
Bravo! BravoH' calculated an idiot
in the center of the parquet, who at the
same time was making a horrible noise
by vigorously clapping mis- hands and
stamping on the floor with his feet.
Bravo! Bravo."
Hist"
"Bleiben Sic ruhigl"
"Restez tranquille!"
Put him OUT"
And half the vast audience rose to
sumnlarily eject the vandal who had
so ruthlessly broken the chord of sym
pathetic attraction by which one and
all had been bound.
IAN Englishman, of course" muttered
Jack IN go out and take a smokei'
The sun was setting beyond the wood
ed heights as Jack seated himself at a
little table on the terrace, lighted
cigar and ordered wine.
1t was on just such an evening years
ago in Mexico when seated on the YER
anda of little adobe hotel, he had lis
tened with delight to her pretty Spanish
songs as she sat in the big window OF
the neighboring crazy old hacienda.
frugginJ her big guitar baby hugs
her doll. The little adobe hotel and the
crazy hacienda are things of the past
now, and in their places stand Won
drOus modern institutions-caravan
saries, bathing establishments, ETC.
whose special functions seem to be to
drive those insane who would inhabIt
them.
Yes. it was on just such an evening as
this, years ago in Mexico. when seated
on the veranda of a little adobe hotel
he had listened to her sweet singing
And them somehow. they met. 1t was
at the spot where those wonderful
medicinal waters that afterwards made
the place famous gushed forth from the
virgin ground There was not even
gourd to drink from lying about the
springs in those days, and she, noticing
his dilemma, had proffered him her
silver cup.
He took the cup and drank-her soul
Slight and agile she was with Won
drous eyes that spoke; ripe, red lips,
that formed a miniature cupid's bow;
hair of wavy Silken flaments, black as
night; a marvellous complexion. crystal
line in its purity, tinged with the pink
of the ripening peach.
He left her and wandered off into the
open on a lonely high road His blood
was on fire and nothing met his gaze
but that innocent, dawning vision OF
perfect loneliness.
Phoebus Apollo in his fiery chariot.
had long since run his race across the
heavens and had gone to rest in the
arms of Aphrodite. Shimmering, silvery
Luna cast an enchanted radiance over
the hard, sandy plain broken by round
ed mounds, once the bed of a mighty
sea. Not a sound was heard, not even
the chirp of an insect. An awful still
ness reigned supreme.
Jack paused. In front of him shone
the mighty star of the north, the cradle
and the bier of man. In the south
smiled Venus, the Goddess of Love, and.
as if in obedience to her commands,
there, yes there she stood with arms ex-
tended. enveloped in a magic sheen.
I have followed you" she said. 81
know not why, but I have followed
He folded her in his arms, and in the
face of heaven, kissed her-and in that
sion and wild delirium of love. He smoth-
cred her with embraces. He showered
And she-she shivered and burned. and
after the Violence of his love had passed.
clasped her arms around his neck, and.
drawing him down to her. imprinted n
ehaste and holy kiss upon his fevered
Then, speechless but filled with ecstatfc
joy, they had wandered slowly back to
the old hacienda. where he had left her
All that night he tossed restleSSly upon
his couch till finally, when day was about
to break. wearied and exhausted, he slept.
In that deep sleep she came to him. My
love, my life said she Il am thine now
and forever, through all eternity. Beside
the stlll waters of peace, or in the mad
rush for place and power, 1 will be with
YOU have seen you before and knew of
your coming at this time. NY heart bub-
bles over with joy because you are here
The blood in my veins runs in rivers of
hre. My nerves ting1e. my flesh palpitates.
my whole physical being is in tremor at
the mere thought of you. Come my be-
loved, seize the happiness now within your
grasp. our destiny is indissolubly linked
with mine. Together We
Jack woke with a start. "A dream
murmured he. nothing but a Dream
IAN hour later he departed by stage from
the little adobe hotel. Honor had gained
the victory. AS the coach swung round
the crazy, old hacienda. a face appeared at
window and two wondering, inquiriTg
eyes met his own. Honor had gained the
victory. but the joy of heaven departed
that day and the fire on the altar of love
was quenched- Honor had gained the vic
tory, but the price of victory was that fair
young girls sweet soul.
A year or two later. upon reaching his
majority, Jack revisited Mexico. But the
Spanish grant upon which were located