Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-02-15
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Bates, stamping his feet upon a walk.
l followed him to what assumed to
be the front door of the house, where
a lamp shone brightly at either side
OF massive entrance. Bates flung it
open without ado. and | stepped quick
ly into a great hall that was lighted
dimly by candles fastened into brack-
cts on the walls.
Il hope you've not expected too
much, Mr.. Glenarm," said Bates, with
q tone Of mild apology. TITS very in.
complete for living purposes"
We'll, we've got to make the best
OF it," 1 answered, though without
much cheer. The sound of our stems
echoed IN the well of a great stair.
case. There was not, as far as | could
see, a single article of furniture in
the place.
Here's something you'll like better.
sir."-and Bates paused far down the
hall and opened door.
A single candle made a little pool
OF light In what l felt to be a large
room. 4 was prepared for a disclosure
Of barren ugliness, and waited. in
heartsick foreboding, for the silent
guide to reveal dreary prison.
Please sit here, sir" said Bates,
while make better light"
He moved through the dark room
with perfect ease, struck match,
lighted a taper and went swiftly and
softly about. He touched the taper to
one candle after another,-the seem
ed to be everywhere,-and won from
the dark faint twilight, that yielded
slowly to a growing mellow splendor
of light. / have often watched the
acolytes In dim cathedrals OF the Old
World set countless candles ablaze on
magnificent altars,-always With awe
for the beauty of the spectacle; but
in this unknown house the austere
serving man summoned from the shad
ows lovlier and more bewildering en-
chantment. Youth alone, of beautiful
things, is loveller 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 off my hat in reverence IS
the spirit of the place wove its spell
about me. Everywhere there were
books; they covered the walls to the
ceiling, with only long French win
doWs and an enormous fireplace break
ing the line. Above the fireplace a
massive dark oak chimney-breast
further emphasized the grand scale of
the room. From every conceivable
place-from shelves built for the DUR
pose, from brackets that thrust oat
long arms among the books, from a
great crystal chandelier suspended
from the ceiling, and from the breast
of the chimney-ilnumerable candles
blazed with dazzling brilliancy. | ex-
claimed in wonder and pleasure as
Bates paused, his Sorcerer's wand in
hand.
Mr.. Glenarm was very fond of can
delight; he liked to gather up candle
sticks and his collection is very fine.
He often called this The House of a
Thousand Candles There's only about
a hundred here; but it was one of his
conceits that when the house was fin.
ished there would be a thousand lights
He had quite joking way, your grand.
father. 1t suited his humor to call it a
thousand. He enjoyed his own pleas
antries, SIR"
I fancy he did," I replied, staring in
bewilderment.
OH lamps might be more suited tn
your own taste, sir. But your grand
father would not have them. Old brass
and copper were specialties with him
and ne had particular taste, Mr.. Glen.
arm had, in glass candle-sticks. Hs
held that the crystal was most effec-
tive OF all. III go and let in the bag.
gageman and then serve you some sup-
per-"
He went somberly out and exam.
iped the room with amazed and de.
lighted eyes. It was so feet long and
half as wide. The hardwood floor was
covered with handsome rugs: eyery
piece of furniture was quaint or inter
esting. Carved in the heavy oak panel.
ing above the fireplace, In large Old
English letters, was the inscription:
Che Spirit VI man Is tie candle n TIE rfd
and on either side great candelabra
sent long arms across the hearth. All
the books seemed related to architec-
ture; German and French works stood
side by side among those by English
and American authorities. I found
archaeology represented In division
where all the titles were Latin or Ital.
ian. / opened several cabinets that
contained sketches and drawings. ali
In careful order; and in another l found
an elaborate card catalogue, evidently
the work of q practiced hand The
minute examination was too much for
me; threw myself into Q great chair
that. might have been spoil from Q
cathedral, satisfied to enjoy the gen
eralo effect To find an apartment 50
handsome and so marked BY good
taste In the midst of an Indiana vonS