The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-21
CHAPTER II.


How l managed to descend the tree
without falling | cannot understand; my
hands and limbs shook as with a palsy
and my head swan as with a Bthly
sickness. When | reached the ground
I was 30 faint that Josiah had 70 support
me for several seconds. When | recov-
erred. he helped me over the garden wall
The whole way, Josiah never ceased
talking; but / was too bewtldered to heed
his words. I was only reused to atten-
ton when, upon hating before an eN-
tremely gloomy. solitary looking build
ing. my companion cried. Here we are"
We plunged down a narrow passage. J0-
siah presented small slip Of paper to
a man who stood behind a halfdoor. and
we entered the pit Of the theater.
II was really a Hall Of Dazzling Light.
The play. / have since ascertained, was
shakspeare's Romeo and Juliet" Sit.
ting in that little country thsatsr. wit
Messing what was. perhaps. only a third
rate provincial performance, a new world
was opened 10 me-ths glorious " orld
Of poetry and imagination. trembled
with a dazed delight at the soft beauty
Of the love scenes; my heart swslled with
kindred ere az the passionate outburstas
and | sobbed at seeing the lovers die In
one another's arms. II was Do hctiou TO
me. but a reality, beautiful almost be-
yond realization. Jet painful almost be-
yond endurance.
When the curtain fell, fell with II
from my Elysian heights. With q SILVER
| awoks to the dull realization Of myself
| Ny FIRST action was TO turn To Josiah,
and grasp his hand In silent gratitude.
Q
| wished to get away now, to dream over
what had seen. Josiah had to 20 be-
/ hind the scenes to get the proof Of the
next nights bill, and | waited outside
| the stage door until hS returned. In &
few moments he came out 10 o great
furry.
Look here, silas," he said, Il ean'i
/ 20 back with you. must get home dl
/ rectIy, or thsrs'n be an awful kick up
Come along; III put you in the road, 81
that you can't miss your way"
shall never forget the sense Of desc
lation that fell upon me when ! found
myself alone In the street AL the direc
tons Josiah had given me vanished II
an instant from my memory. and | Htoot
helpless, not knowing which way to turn
was in the outskirts Of the town, II wa
nearly eleven O'Clock, and not a soul wa
about walked straight on, fervsntl.
hoping that 1t might be In the right dirsc
ton.
Finally was In the middle Of a lon
street, one side Of which was occupies
by ordinary houses. but that on wbicI
I found myself was distinguished by
line Of vast. gloomy looking building,
turreted walls hung with ivy. and broke
ruins. / felt aws-struck at the might
piles Of masonry that lowered above ms
was standing right before an archwa
Of a grand Norman tower. / walked tim
idly beneath its black, Taulted roof, t
the iron gate at It's further end, and peel
J ed ct the line Of crumblinE ruins this
rose among the trees and shrubs, whit
} and Ehastly, In the moonlight.
] As I stood thus, | heard q rustlI
T Chilled with a sense OF fear. / turns
D quickly round. Through 3 rent in II
: wall, many yards above my head, cam
D q broad ray Of white light. As / turns,
e It was falling upon an object that Ease
. mated my Eaza II was the head a.