The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-03-14
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author 81 THE HAIs GRANGE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc.
Uopyrisht looS by Bosesnsrriil Go.
CHAPTER IIl.-contInued.


had passed He had treated me as
well as | deserved and the least
could do was TO accept the penalty he
had laid upon me in a sane and anna
BILE spirit. This tram of thought occu-
pied me as we tramped along the high
way. The road now led away from
the lake and through heavy wood.
Presently, on the right loomed a dark
barrier. and l put out my hand and
touched a wall OF rough stone that
rose TO height OF about eight feet.
what is this. Bates2" asked
This is Glenarr land. sir. The
wall was one o. yses grandfather's
ideas It's a quartqf of a mile long
and cost him pretty Jenny, | warrant
YOU. The road turp5 on from the
lake now, but the Gien. m property is
all lake front"
So there was a wall about my pris-
on housel I grinned Cheerfully to
myself When. q few m9Iaents later
my guide paused at an arched gateway
in the long wall, drew from his over
coat a bunch of keys and fJmbled at
I
spirit of adventure quicken within me.
The gate clicked behind US and
Bates found a lantern and ligated 1t
with the ease OF custom
Il 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"
and followed the lantern of my guide
with difficulty 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
great tree, Iaaw for the first time the
dark outlines of Glenarm House.
Here 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 lamp shone brightly at either side
OF a massive entrance. Bates flung it
open without ado. aud stepped quick
~ into a great hall that was lighted
dimly by candies 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. IT'S very in
complete for living purposes"
Well. we've got to make the best
OF It," ! answered though without
much cheer The sound OF our steps
echoed in the wei OF a great stair
case There vas not. as far as I could
see. q single article of furniture in
the place.
Here's something you'll Ike better.
sir,"-and Bates paused far down the
hall and opened door
a single candle made a little pool
OF light in what feit 70 be a large
room. | was prepared for a disclosure
OF barren ugliness, and waited. in
hesrtsick 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 a match.
lighted taper aud went swiftly and
softly about. lie touched the taper to
one candle after snother,-they seem
ed to be everywhere, land won from
the dark faint twilight. that yielded
slowly to a growing mellow spIendor
of light have often watched the
acolytes IN dim c1thedrals of the Old
World set countless candles ablaze on
magnificent aitars,-aiways with awe
FOR the beauty OF the spectacle: bur
Ia this unknown house the austere
serving man summoned from the shad-
ows lOvlier and more bewildering en-
chantment Youth alone. OF beautiful
things, is loyelier than light.
The lines OF the wall receded as the
light increased. and the raftered cell
ing drew away. lurlDg the eyes up
ward. rose with a smothered ex-
cIamation on my lips and stared about,
snatching of my hat In reverence as
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 pun,
pose. from brackets that thrust out
long arms among the books. from
great crystal chandelier suspended
from the ceiling. and from the breast
of the chimney-innumerab candles
blazed with dazzling brilliancy. / ex-
claimed 10 wonder and pleasure as
Bates paused, his sorcerer's wand in
hand.
Mr.. Glensrm was very fond of can
delight; he liked to gather up candle
sticls. and his collection is very fine.
He often called this The House Of
Thousand Candies. There's only about
a hundred here: but il was one OF his
eonceits that when the house vas fin
ished there would be thousand lights
Tie had quite joking way. your grand
Esther- 1t suited his humor to cali It