The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-03-21

cHAPTER Im-contInued.

we'll as I deserved. and the least i
could do was 20 accept the penalty be
had laid upon me in a sane and anna
Bile spirit This tram of thought occu-
pied me as we tramped along the high
wa. The road nov led away from
the lake and through a heavy wood
Pre- emily. on the right doomed a dark
barrier. and / put out my hand and
touched a wall Of rough tone that
rose to a height Of about eight feet
What is this. Bates?" I asked.
This Is Gienarm land. sir. The
wall was one of your grandfather
ideas. RS q quarter OF a mile long
and cost him a pretty penny. ] warrant
you The road turns off from the
lake now. but the Glenarm property is
all lake front
So there was a wall about my pris-
on house, / grinned cheerfully to
myself When, a few moments later,
ms guide paused at an arched gateway
in the long wall, drew from his '
coat q bunch Of keys and fumbled at
the iock Of an iron gate. I felt the
spirit of adventure quicken within me.
The gate clicked behind as and
Bates found a lantern and lighted it
with the ease Of custom.
use this gate because it's nearer,
The regular entrance is farther down
the road. Keep close. sir, as the tim
Der isn't much cleared.
The underground was indeed heavy.
and followed the lantern OF my guide
with dimculty. In darkness the place
seemed as wild and rough as a tropi-
cal wilderness.
Only a little farther" rose Bates
voice ahead of me; and then: There's
the light. sir, and. lifting my eyes,
as stumbled over the roots OF a
greet tree. ! saw for the first time the
dark outlines of Glenarm House.
"Iere we are. sir" exclaimed
Bates. stamping his feet upon a walk.
followed him to what / assumed to
be the front door OF the house. where
a Iomp shone brightly at either side
Of s massive entrance. Bates flung Il
open without ado. and stepped quick
" into a great hail that was lighted
dtmly by candles fastened into brack-
cts on the walls.
Il hope you've not expected too
much, Mr.. Glenarm. said Bates. with
a tone Of mild apology. ITS very in
complete for living purposes.
Well we've got TO make the best
Of IL" : answered, though without
much cheer. The sound Of our steps
echoed IT the well Of a great stair
case. There was not. as far as I could
see, a single article of furniture in
the place.
Here's something yOuM like better.
sir. and bates paused far down the
hall and opened a door.
4 single candle made a little pool
Of light in what felt to be a large
room. ] was prepared for a disclosure
OF barren ugliness. and waited. in
heartsick foreboding. for the silent
guide TO reveal a dreary PRISON.
Please sit here. sir. said Rates.
while I make a better light.
lie moved through the dark room
with perfect ease. struck a match.
lighted a taper aud went swiftly aud
softly about. lie touched the taper 10
n candle after another they seem.
"a 20 be everywhere and won from
the dark a faint twilight. that yielded
slowly 20 a growing mellow spieudor
OF light ! have often watched the
aoolytes Ia dim cathedrals Of the old
World set countless candles ablaze on
magnificent affairs always with awe
Tor the beauty OF the spectacle: but
ia this unknown house the austere
serving man summoned from the shad.
a ioglier and o b%ewildering en-.
chantment. Youth alone. Of beautiful
things. is lovelier than light.
The lines OF the wall receded as the
light Increased, and the raftered cell
ing drew away. Turing the eyes up
ward ! rose with a smothered ex.
clamation On my lips and stared about
snatching on my hat in reverence as
the spirit OF the place wove It's spell
about me. Everywhere there were
books; they covered the wallis 10 the
ceibng, with only long French win
dows and an enormous fireplace break
Ing the line. Above the fireplace q
massive dark oak c~hlmney.breast
further emphasized the grand scale Of
the room. From every conceivable
place from shelves built Tor the pur-
pose. from brackets that thrust out
long arms among the books. from a
great crystal chandelier suspended
from the ceiling, and from the breast
of the chimney lnnumerable candles
hiaTed with dazzling beiniancy Z ex.
claimed ia wonder pd pieasare as
Rates paused. his ST. srers vand in
hand.
AR Glenarm vas foly fond OF can.
delight; he liked a. gather up caudle
4 sticks. aud bis collection is very hne.
he often called this The House of a
Thousand Candles There's only about
a hundred hero; but IL was one OF HE
~c0nceits that when the house was nm.
ished there would be a Thousand lights
Hc had quite q joking a your grand,
father IL suited bis humor 20 call e q
....