The Elbert County tribune., 1906-10-18
CHAPTER VIII.

! walked leisurely-almost defiantly
up and down the length of my room,
Inflated with a sense of triumph. for
had conquered the weakness which
had taken possession of me.
When valdermere had announced
that the time was at band for my ini-
tiation into the Order. l was highly
elated over my novitiate. and was not
insensible to the great honor that had
been accorded me in my enrolment
among such men as Valdermere and
his associates, whom, by inference, /
had placed among the greatest schol-
ars. scientists. adventurers and mys-
tics of the earth.
| longed to enter into the presence
of some high priest, and take the oath
of allegiance, which meant the re-
nunciation of the world Let the gong
ring out and break the silence of this
tomb-like house. I would no longer
start from my sleep at its sound, but
would be ready to answer its sum
mons. to march among those whose
power l felt sure, would blanch the
face of the bravest monarch.
| looked at my watch and was sur
prised to find that 1t was yet three
hours of twelve. fancied the time
dragged slowly. l threw open the
blinds of my window. and looked out
into the Southern night. sprinkled
with stars. and radiant with the light
of new moon.
The cool night-wind. blown from the
dew laden flowers. the fragrant pines
famed my heated temples, and calm
ed my restless soul, bringing back
memories of that outer world from
which had fled, and in the bright sky
above me | fancied could picture the
sweet face of my now sainted mother,
as 1t beamed upon me, in all it's
beatific beauty, from the midst of the
sparkling stars.
The vision troubled me. and shud-
deringly | closed the blinds, and shut
out the loveliness of that fair night
from my sight, and. as ! turned and
looked about me. every object that met
my gaze, seemed to represent some
evil purpose. The tall-backed chair,
the dark curtained bed. the carpets,
and the table, suggested the furniture
of cell, the room of a condemned
soul
In the midst of these gloomy refiec.
tions there rose a sound, clear, distinct
and vibrant, coming from afar. and fill.
ing the lone halls and stairways with
its reverberations.
| sprang forward and opened the
door, and as | did so the form of Val
dermere stood before me.
Are you ready?" he said. as he
strobe with a quick tread into the
room, and, as | answered he fixed his
| eyes all alight upon me, and | thought
his face wore more unusual pallor.
Il am prepared to follow you" ]
said, as l seized my hat and cane.
Then come"
And without further words follow.
ed my strange host as he descended
the stairway and proceeded toward
the great diningroom. where all noise
had ceased.
AS we neared the entrance Valdez
mere paused at the door to our right
which he swung aiar, and stepping
within. he beckoned me to follow. aft
er which he closed and bolted the
door by means of an iron bar
This room was entirely barren of
furniture. evidently not having been
in use for many years. The walls
were uncovered and revealed only
the stone. from the seams of which
the mortar had fallen in many places.
A small lamp. turned low. cast an
uncertain light upon the scene. and /
noted the absence of windows and
doors. save the one by which we had
entered. The floor was of stone
closely Joined. though age had turned
them green, and q damp deadly mois-