The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-05-03
THE PALACE OF DOOM
STRANGE LEGEND or A MYSTERIOUS
STATUE IN RoxE-
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erected, aud nobody knew what I
nicaut
( II was The figure Of woman. tail
I ctr ug and supple She stood erect
with Der right arm uu;streichei. bel
mantle falling In graceful folds aboni
her lgurc. on her face look. hall
smile. half frown. Turing. yet appeal
ing. but always holding the Observes
by strange feeling that II reused OF
mystery. glory and horror.
but even all that. wEiten 30 clearly
IN the mystic signs thafart uses might
have been overlooked by the people
had I, no, been for more material
puzzle presented by the statue On the
third finger OF the outstreiehed hand
was written In unfadlng letters, Strike
here" And therein lay the mystery.
Years came aud went. and wise men
puzzled their brains TO find the secret.
Seers from faroff lands came TO Rome,
attracted by the statue. and still II
stood. mute. cold. inerp.icable.
one day a young man stood before
II. lie had grown up with the idea OF
solving the mystery. and each day
since he was little child he had come
for few moments and stood silently
gazing at the strange countenance.
He had learned 20 love the face, the
wise lips that looked as II they might
part and tell the secret that ages had
~earned TO know, but through these
ages only he had been sincere In his
search Faithful through all disap-
pointments be had gained strength and
wisdom. aud now rs he stood before the
statue the sun, halfway up the eastern
sky, shone full upon the Image.
A strange thrill passed through the
man. and. looking In the direction In
dictated by the pointing finger, he saw,
some yards away, the shadow Of the
outstretched hand on the ground. He
gave low cry, and, after noting the
spot well he departed.
That night ut midnight he went to
the place and began to dig In the
ground, where the shadow Of the hand
had fallen A long time he worked.
never ceaslng his digging. when sud
denly his spade struck something hard.
Then his zeal Increased, and. clear
ing a space, be saw beneath him trap
door, with a great stone ring. Grasp
ing the ring he pulled open the door
asd started back, dazzled, for a food
OF light burst upon him from out Of
the depths.
Quickly recovering. the young man
looked again and beheld wide mar
BILE staircase descending from the trap
door. Throwing down his spade he
PASSED through the door, down the
steps and found himself in vast hall.
The floor of this room was Of marble,
pure white, while the walls and ceiling
were OF the same material in many
colors. The huge pillars upholding the
vast dome shone like alabaster. Rare
paintings hung upon the walls. and
rich rugs lay strev'n upon the floor.
In the center of the room fountain
stood. The water In Its basin was as
pure as crystal. bI not n ripple stirred
its surface, and no pleasant tapping
charmed the ear as It does when water
falls from on high, for, though the
fountain was apparently perfect. no
water rose from 1t to fall again.
On seats running around this silent
fountain were many men In rich bro
cades and costly fur robes. Lifeike
they looked, but to the touch they were
as marble. II was as II In the midst Of
life death had come aud petrified these
beings In mockery.
Around on tables and benches were
scattered piles OF gold and precious
gems. Delicate enameled vases and
swords inlald with gems added their
wealth to the place.
But rarest Of all the gems was q
great carbuncle, which stood In a cor
ner of the room and from which came
the sole light by which the place was
from darkness. In the corner
opposite TO this stone stood an archer.
bis bow bent, his arrow on the string,
aimed ut the carbuncle. On his bow.
with reflected light, were the
words:
Il am that I am My shaft Ii In
evitable. Yon glltterlng Jewel cannot
escape Its stroke"
As he looked on all this In silent won
der the young Roman heard voice ut
ter one d--"Beware.'
Then he passed into the next room
and found 1t fitted up as magnificently
as the one be had just left All man
ner OF couches were about this room.
and reclining on them were wonder
fully beautiful women. But their lips
were sealed In this place Of silence.
From there be passed on. finding
many more wonders-rooms filed with
treasures Of art. stables filled with fine
horses, granarles filed with forage.
Everything that could make q palace
was there.
The young Roman returned to the
nall
IL have here seen" be said, what
no man will believe. know that Of
bis wealth ! should take nothing, but
% prove TO them that speak truth can
De no harm"
Then he took In his arms a 1eweled
sword and some rare vases, but sud
ienly all was dark.
The charm was broken. The arrow
lad left the bow and shattered the car
Juncle into thousand pieces. Pitch
darkness overspread the place.
Then the young man remembered the
warning. but too lnte. And there be
probably adds one more to the silent
watchers In the magic chamber.
Has this story moralf Let those
answer who have eyes 10 see.
The Perfect spanish BeGsar.
There is calm dignity about tho
spanIard OF every class which will |
strike a stranger Even the bcggars.
A.