Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-07-27
CHAPTER II.


How | managed to descend the tree
| without falling / cannot understand; my
nds and limbs shook as with a palsy.
al d my head swan IS with a deathly
sic kuess. When | reached the ground
was So faint that Josiah had to support
me FOR several seconds. When | recov-
cred. he helped me over the garden wall
The whole way, Josiah never 'eased
talking: but : was too bewildered to heed
his words was only reused to aztec
ton when, upon hating before an ex-
trenely gloomy. solitary looking build
/ ing. my companion cried, Here we are"
We plunged down a narrow passage, 10
siah presented a small slip OF paper 10
a man who stood behind a half-door. and
we entered the pit Of the theater
Ii was really a Hall Of Dazzling Light.
The play. l have since ascertained. was
Shakspeare's Romeo and Juliet" Sit
ting in that little count tbeater. wit
Messing what was, perhaps, only a third
rate provincial performance, new world
was opened to me-thc glorious world
Of poetry and imagination. | rrembIed
with a dazed delight at the soft beauty
/ Of tn love scenes; my heart swelled with
/ kindred fire at the passionate outbursts;
/ an1 | sobbed at seeing the lovers die in
| me another's arms. Il was no fiction 10
me- but a reality, beautiful almost be-
! yond realization, yet painful almost be
yond endurance.
When the curtain fell. | fell with il
/ from my Elysinn heights. With n SILVER
| awoke to the duh realization Of myself
Ny first action was to turn to Josiah.
and grasp his hand in silent gratitude
did not wish TO see any more.
wished to get away now. TO dream over
what had seen. Josiah had t. go 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 came ont in great
/ fury
Look here, Sllas," he said Il can't
/ 20 back with you. | must get home d.
rectly. or there1l be an awful kick up.
! Come along: IN Pat you in the road. so
/ that you can't miss your way"
/ shall never forget the sense Of leso-
| lation that fell upon me when found
myself alone In the street. All the direc-
+ tions Josiah had given me vanished in
/ au instant from my memory, and | stood
/ helpless. not knowing which way to turn.
/ I was in the out kirts Of the town, it was
nearly eleven DC ock, aud net a soul was
/ about walked straight on, feryeutly
/ hoping that il might be in the right direc
/ ton
Finally was in the middle of long
street, one side OF which was occupied
by ordinary houses, but that on which
/ I found myself was distinguished ny
line Of vast gloomy looking buildings.
turreted walls hung with ivy, aud broken
ruins I felt hve-struck At the mighty
piles of masonry that lowered above me
| was standing right before an archwa,
Of q grand Norman tower. walked tim
idly beneath its black, yuuitcd rooc. TO
the iron gate nj It's further end, and peer
ed at the lius Of crumbling rains that
rose among the trees and shrubs. " bite
and CHASTITY. IN the moonlight
As stood thus | heard a rustic.
Chilled with n sense of fear. / turned
quickly round, Through rent in the
wnli, many yauls above my head. came
broad ray OF white light. AS | turned,
Il was falling upon an object that fasci-
mated my gaze. 1t was the head and
face Of a beautiful girl, but ST. pale. SO
rigid, TINT, for an instant, I thought they
were those of statue She was crouch
INK in tho deep shadow OF the hlar.,
/ walls For moment | stood spell
bound. my eyes fixed upon hers She
was the first to break the spell. Rising
from her crouching position, she tinidiy
, advanced towards lnr, and laid small
white hand upon my arm. The touch
, thrilled me Ike an electric shock.
, You will not hurt me, will you?@ she
said in soft. pleading voice. She was
, slight. delicutcly formed child. about
my Own age, my own height. clothed IN
/ dark gray dress. Her features were 50
2 dclicoteiy moulded that they seemed
5 rather those Of a wax doll than Of a
b human being except in their expression,
c which was fun ~ soul Her eye were
- wonderful l have never seen eyes Ike
e them-they werr SO sad. 81 distracted
j. IN their far-oG gaze. and. as she Fixed
D them upon mine, they thrilled my very
r soul
Hurt yous" l echoed. l knew moi
+, what 20 say; my brain was too confused
Z Can you tell me the road to Tbs
?, city? she asked. in the same low voice
p, answered that had no idea--that
had lost my way, and knew not where
II was.
;. What part ., you want p she asked
/ with look ot deep interest.
h. Il want 10 get to Little Bethlehem
D. Chapel, then | can tnd my road al
swered.