The Bemidji pioneer., 1902-05-15
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BackWoods Il ::
49, I'LL Al. M 4
NIL s 85 III n

Y SkeLcntS... GREELEY
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II Triumph IN 'IaZlel1lly.
A Morbid Story in Three Morris.
MORE III.
1 am sure Clark sleeps none this
night, and my slumbers are more dis
turbed with unkind dreams than
sootbed with rest. After q light break
fast for heavy thoughts make light
appetites we are on the march. Mid
day finds as gazing apprehensiYely
at the deserted cabin Of Paul Labree.
The house is an exceptionally good
one for this country. It has three
windows, two Of which are tightly
boarded UP. The door has fallen
from it's hinges. AS We enter the main
room a porcupine, evidently regard
ing us as trespassers, Waddles past US
and takes refuge In q pine tree BY, the,
door. There are two rooms; Ia one
we find a rusty cook stove and a
broken chair, while the other with its
covered windows contains nothing but
"a twilight darkness. M
We Immediately decide to press the
stove into service and soon have in
preparation d Woopman's banquet
dough cakes, tea and bacon. ss Bacon
Ii good enough for the fools who ven-
ture into this God-forsaken country !.
my philosophical partner had re-
marked while we sought ia vain for
game In our morning s march. But
while the bacon satisfies our appetites,
our minds are furnishing for the solu-I
ton Of d mystery which these gloomy
walls might ez plain. Moved with a.
sudden impulse, Clark goes to hisI
pack sack \ and takes out q dark
lantern which we often used Ii hunting
deer at night.
What's up nows'' ask. Do
you expect an eclipse Of the sum-
~ remember Ia my former visits
there was a cellar under this shanty.
Let us explore IL.
With feelings akin to those of the
boy rnmm aging his mother s garnet, 4
follow Clark into the next apartment.
Nothing but heap Of decayed vege-
tables rewards our search. We pass.
on to to the next room, the door OF
which is Fastened with hook. I am
ii the lead. AS the door opens and
the light falls within, my blood turns
to ice. It Is astishment more than
fear that unnerves me. N VI
The room is fitted up like q parlor.
and the furniture is orranged in per-
feet order. The floor Is carpeted and
the walls are adorned with pictures
and the heads OF animals. Atable IN
the center Of the room is covered with
flowers And there there ID q rock
ing chair, seated Id d graceful atti-.
tude, is awoman, The uncertain light
from lantern ia shaking hand
fails upon q face Of rarest beauty
upon the form OF d Hebe, but form
with the rounding contours OF q We.
nus! Her face IS patrician in its del A..
cate lovliness. Her large beaming
eyes smile into mine, giving her whole
face the expression Of happy expecta-
ton.
ssINor the love Of heaven, Who are
you?. stammer. For an instant ~
imagine ! am knight Of the dark
ages attempting to rescue q princess
from q loathsome dungeon. But the
woman moves not, nor makes reply.
She only smiles with ruby lips and
gazes with laughing eyes until the
sight, beautiful as it is, overcomes me
with an awful repulsion.
hear Clark gasp, "Mrs. Labree!"
feel as though am turning to stone,
and as he brushes past me with the
lantern, wonder that his touch does
mot shatter my brittle frame. AS IN q
trance see him touch her hand and
hear him exclaim:
aFreat heavens, she is dead be-
lieve Labree has preserved her as he
does his animals
tContnued next week.