The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-06
p III.


How l managed 10 descend the tree
without falling / cannot understand: my
hands and limbs shook as with a palsy,
and my head swan ~ with a deathly
sickness. When / reached the ground
| was so faint that Josiah had TO support
me for several seconds. When I recoy-
cred, he helped me over the garden wall.
The whole way, Josiah never ceased
talking: but / was too bcwildered 70 heed
his words. l was only reused to atten-
ton when, upon hating before an ex-
tremely gloomy, solitary looking build
ing, my companion cried. Here we are!'
We plunged down a narrow passage, Jo-
siah presented a small slip OF paper Il
a man who stood behind a half-door. and
We entered the pit OF the thsater.
II was really a Hail Of Dazzling Light.
The play. / have since nscertained, was
ShRkspeare's Romeo and Juliet" Sit
ting In that little country theater, wit
Messing what was, perhaps, only q third-
rate provincial performance, q new world
waS opened to me-the glorious world
OF poetry and imagination. / trembled
with a dazed delight at the soft beauty
OF the love scenes: my heart swelled with
kindred Ere at the passionate outburSts:
and / sObbed at seeing tho lovers die in
one anOther's arms. IL was no fiction 20
me, but a reality. beautiful almost be-
yopd realization. yet painful almost be-
yond endurance.
when the curtain fell, / fell with II
from my ElysIan heights. With q shivsr
I awoke TO the dull realization OF myself.
Ny hrst action was 10 turn TO Josiah,
and grasp his hand In silent gratitude.
l did not wish 10 see any moro; l
wished to get away now. 20 dream over
what | had seen. Josiah had to 80 be-
hind the scenes 10 get the proof Of the
next nights bill, and ! waited outside
the stage door until he returned. In a
few moments he cam0 out Ia q great
FURRY.
Look here. Silas," he said; IL can't
20 back with you. / must get home dE.
rectly, or there'u be an awful kick up.
Come along: III put you In the road, 30
that you can't miss your way"
I shall never forget the sense Of desc
lation that fell upOn me when / found
myself alone In the street. All the direc-
tons Josiah had given me vanished In
an instant from my memory, and I stood
helpless, not knowing which way TO turn.
I was In the outskirts OF the town, II was
nearly eleven o'clock, and not a soul was
about. ! walked straight on. fcrvCntly
hoping that Il might be In the right direc-
ton.
Finally ! was In the middle OF n long
street. one side Of which was occupied
by ordinary houses, but that on which
| found myself was distinguished by a
line of vast. gloomy looking buildings,
turreted walls hung with Ivy, and broken
ruins. | felt nwc-struck at the mighty
piles 81 masonry that lowered above me.
| was standing right before an archway
Of a grand Norman owe | walked tim
idly beneath It's black, vaulted root, 10
the iron gate nj It's further end, and peer
cd at the line Of ~crumbling ruins that
rose among the trees and shrubs, white
and CHASTITY, In the moonlight.
As I stood thus, / heard a rustic.
Chilled with a sense Of fear. ! turned
quickly round. Through a rem In the
wall. many yards above my head, came
a broad ray OF white light, As ! turned,
IL was falling upon an object TINT fasci'
nated my gaze. II was the head ana