Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-10-04
ENTANGLED IN CIRCLES.

IN Rome writing to the New York Sun.
is that it is recorded first hand and that
the man who tells it is in worldly mat
ters ut least an accurate and trustwor-
thy chronicler. This is the way he tells
it:
Il was bicycling through the lake dis
trict, and one evening finding myself in
dcsolate spot some miles from the town
OF NacSe, | looked about for human
habitation. Walking up II shaded road.
came to dull looking dilapidated stone
house, the exterior of which was far from
preposseSsing
AT one time no doubt it was the
home OF an opulcnt farmer, but owing to
the ravages of time and the elements
much of the masonry had fallen into dis
repair. The i'll kept garden surrounding
IT only added to its dcsolatior and !
hcsitated whether to camp out on the
ground or seek hospitality from the UNI
known occupant within.
LAS / debated l felt few drops of
rain on my hand, and l realized that the
storm that had been threatening to over
take me all day would eventually drench
me should remain outside. | made nv
way up the grass grown path and
knocked loudly.
AT first there was no response. Then
the door cautiously opened and Il sour
faced individual looked out and in a orufr
voice demanded my business. cx-
planned my plight and after u good bit of
grumbling was allowed to enter.
II found myself in Il large round en-
trance hall, which, in striking contrast
with the exterior, was we'll kept and
Il. {,yl
curious feature of the rHoin was the fur
nitmc. every piece of vhic' was carved
III the shape of IL wheel. Tic chairs, table.
and even the sofa lc>cnl lirG huge cart
Wheels
My attention was attracted by a tall
grandfathcr's clock that stood in a cor
ncr. 1t was beautifully carved and APP
pcared like II perfect maze of circles
My head began to spin, and | rather re-
GREETED ever having entered Il house
which promised ne night of bad
dreams rather than the good rest need
ed.
Il had almost made up my mind to
venture through the rain to the next
village when the old attendant entered
and suggested my accompanying him to
the kitchen, where he said | should not be
troubled with those maledetti deSegni,
cursed designs. Seated by Il blazing fire
lie then told me the story of the wheels.
The owner of the house was an elder
~ man, who lived alone with this only
attendant as man of all work. His mas
ter was comfortably we'll off, living fru-
galIy and never giving hospitality to
any one. His one great failing was the
desire to prove himself genius, and to
this end he strovc to give to the critical
world a masterpiece, the work of his
own hands.
with a mediocre power of invention
combined with real talent for carving, he
labored night and day without achiev-
ire success. His favorite design was that
o! circle which was supposed to per-
form all sorts of evo!Ht;3:s, the ulti-
mate scope of which the recCuntcr failed
10 explain. He only knew that his mas
ter hoped to achieve fame.
unfortunately his inventive power re-
manned stunted. but still he labored on
for weeks, months and years. This con-
t;rued work. added to lack of air and
sleep, preyed on his mind to such an eN-
tent that one day the servant returning
from the town found him wandering
aimlesslv around the house lingering the
curious carvings which he had wrought
and mnmbling senScless words.
The attendant cared for his master
for some days, but noticing Il certain
wildness III his manner he at last con
suited q physician, who advised his re-
moval to a sanitarium III the nearby
town. Many weeks had gone by and
still the old servant had not received
any encouraging news about his master.
81 fear he will never return he con
cluded with tears i'll his eyes, and | VII!
be left all alone
Although | was much interested III
this story, | was relieved when | was
shown to Il large comfortable bedroom
on the ground floor, and being very tired
| threw myself dressed on the bed and
soon fell asleep.
at seemed but moment since my
ewes had closed when | was awakened by
a stcalthy sound OF some one entering
my room and moving toward the WIN,
dow The rainstorm that had ragged
since the time l had entered the mouse
had ohated. and the moon passing from
under cloud cast her rays Ill one cor
ncr of the room, where stood tan
white haired man clothed in black from
head to foot
AT first he seemed llh' Il ""il'''''t!
spirit with his CHASTITY face and Wlld
ovos hut suddenly my attention was at
t t?|cte ID by a CLINT of metal in his right
hand which to my terror | realized to be
Il pistol. ,, ,,,+
THE old man stood motionless.. but
with his left forelinger he traced hhu,
merable circles in the air. saw at once
that this was no mere burglar who had
forced fo~s Ii his way way into my room, and felt
creening over me, while could not help
following with my eyes the intertwIned
circles traced by the mailman hhSer'
rnalizino that | should have all my wits
about bout me if | hoped to come out of this
encounter unhurt.
although the man had been peernigS
about the room, as yet he had not pa'd
the slightest attention to me. sun: |
fnlt that it would be only matter OF
mi, boforp no would do so. l