Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-11-21
CHAPTER XVI.
The Death.Mas Again.

OIt uOtb not tNIttl w huh u
Switzerland grace and charm In archi
lecture. There are no historic cha
teaux worthy OF a pilgrimage. This
castle OF Alterhoffen gave one the sim.
pie impression of sheer strength. II
was primitive and savage and bare OF
p~retense to beauty as Its founder must
have been.
A rather squat tower OF immense
solidity, the roof steeply sloping, the
windows narrow and few, II would
have been commonplace and ugly In
the extreme had II not been for three
smaller semlclrcular towers placed at
each angle of the larger one. The eff
feet of this triangulnr.shaped tower,
with It's three supporting towers, was
bizarre, but not unpleasing. 1t pre-
pared one for an interior unique and
interesting.
We passed beneath the arched door
way, severe and bare of ornament. into
the great hall. At the left was the
grand stairway, the balustrades Of oak
massive and dark with age, but ad.
mirably carved. At the end OF thu
hall. on the right, a fire of logs wa
blazing brightly. The hooded mantel.
Gothic In design, was also OF OAK ana
blackened with the smoke OF cen
turies. A stand OF banners stood near
the foot of the stairway. Not far from
the fireplace was a curious spirai stair
case leading to the gallery that ran
the length or the room ABOVE lapes
tries covered the I walls and hlied
the spaces etween the narrow win
dows that out on the court
yard. The furniture was OF the PERIOD
OF the French ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
for the most part with stamped leather
OF gold n dun red
l could not repress a cry oil delight
as l entered. had passed In an In
slant from the world OF commonplace
hotels and railway trains into an at
mosphere OF charm n beauty. Fol
no matter how industriously the ron
noisseur In America may gather about
him exquisite and beautiful things. he
cannot shut out the scream OF the
railroad train; he cannot transplant
across the seas the charm OF medieval
ism that clings to castle walls. 1t is
one thing to see the Cluny with
guide book; 1t Is quite another to fnd
ones sell a guest at the Cluny
you like my Castle OF happiness
asked Madame de WARMER. pleased al
the pleasure | showed.
1t promises us adventures, re
piled meaningiy.
i nave toiu o nat your hour o
romance a come but remember
romance In these prosalc Gays Is a gil,
OF the gods given only 10 chiidren ane
poets. a few women n lovers, n te
the very bold. II o would claim th'
grit, monsieur you nave some
thing OF the nature OF all OF these INT
sincere trust OF II chiio' you mus
certainly know what THIS 49, monsieur
The poets imagination' his delightful
power OF maRe.oei'eVe you must no
desplse that. "A woman tenderness
ana a lovers ardor' these. too' are
necessary anu last Vi ALL the uariht
OF the nero
she a whispered these rathel
comprehensive attributes at walked
across the nan 10 the staircase follow
ing the servant WIN my Dag
"A rather large DILL madam' l sug
gested huihorousiy'
on nut am serious very serious
| assure you mat IL Is not sentiments
taik''
Il am AFRAID must contradict you
The daring OF the hero, Tor instance
even n so optimistic as yourself
could scarcely expect that OF me-
Monsieur" she protested earnestly