The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-11
CHAPTER II.

How I 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 deathly
sickness. When I reached the ground
I WAS go faint that Josiah had to support
me for several seconds. When l recov-
cred, he helped me over the garden wall
The whole way, Josiah never ceased
talking; but l was too bewildered to 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 to
a man who stood behind a half-door, and
we entered the pit of the theater
1t was really a Hall Of Dazzling Light.
The play, have since ascertained, was
Shakspeare'B Romeo and Juliet" Sit
ting In that little country theater, wit
Messing what was. perhaps, only third
rate provincial performance, a new world
was opened to me-the glorious world
of poetry and imagination. | trembled
with dazed delight at the soft beauty
Of the love scenes; my heart swelled with
kindred fire at the passionate outbursts;
and I sobbed at seeing the lovers die in
one another's arms 1t was no fiction to
me, but a reality, beautiful almost be-
yond realization, yet painful almost be-
yond endurance.
Whom the curtain fell, l fell with 1t
from my Nlysian heights. With SILVER
l awoke to the dull realization of myself.
Ny first action was to turn to Josiah,
aud grasp his hand in silent gratitude.
II.
wished to get away now, to dream over
what l had seen. Josiah had to 60 be-
hind the scenes to get the proof of the
next nights bill, and l waited outside
the stage door until he returned. In
few moments he came out In a great
furry.
"Look here, silas," he said; II can't
go back with you. must get home d.
rectIy, or there'n be an awful kick up.
Come along; I'll put you In the road, so
that you can't miss your way"
l shall never forget the sense Of DESC
lation that fell upon me when l found
myself alone In the street. All the direc-
tons Josiah had given me vanished in
an instant from my memory, and stood
helpless, not knowing which way to turn.
was In the outskirts Of the town, 1t was
nearly eleven o'clock, and not a soul was
about. walked straight on, fervently
hoping that 1t might be in the right direc-
ton.
Finally was In the middle of q 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 aws-Struck at the mighty
piles of masonry that lowered above me.
was standing right before an archway
of grand Norman tower. / walked tim
idly beneath Its black, vaulted roof, to
the iron gate at its further end, and peer
ed at the line Of crumbling ruins that
rose among the trees and shrubs, white
and CHASTITY. in the moonlight.
Az I stood thus, heard q rustic.
Chilled with a sense Of fear. I turned
quickly round. Through a rent In the
wall, many yards above my head, came
broad ray of white light. AS turned,
1t was falling upon an object that fasci-
mated my gaze It was the head and