Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-26
CHAPTER XVI.
r. naL 49,

hCSNuNc. hoIc airs no historic Cna-
teaux worthy OF a pilgrimage. This
castle Of Alterhofren gave one the sim
pie impression OF sheer strength. Il
vas primitive and savage and bare of
/ pretense to beauty as its founder must
( have been.
rather squat tower OF immense
solidity. the roof steepiy sloplng. the
windows narrow and few, IL would
have been commonplace and ugly In
/ tho extreme had it not been for three
smaller semicircular towers placed at
/ each angle OF the larger one. The ef-
/ feet OF this triangular-shaped tower.
I with its three supporting towers. was
bizarre, but not unpleasing. Il pre-
/ pared one for an interior unique and
! Interesting.
I We passed beneath the arched door
way, severe and bare OF ornament, into
the great hall. At the left was the
/ grand stairway. the balustrRdes Of oak
massive and dark with age. but ad-
I mirAbly carved. At the end OF the
hall on the right, a FIRE OF logs was
I blazing brightly. The hooded mantel.
/ Gothic In design, was also OF oak and
I blackened with the smoke OF cen
/ turles. A stand OF banners stood near
/ tho foot OF the stairway Not far from
! the fireplace Was a curious spiral stair
/ case leading 10 the gallery that ran
I the length OF the room above Tapes
/ tries covered the bare walls and filled
( the spaces between the narrow win
! dows that looked out on the court
/ yard. The furniture was OF the period
. OF tho French Renaissance-covere
+ for tho most part with stamped leather
I Of gold and dun red.
I could not repress a cry OF delight
as I entered I had passed in an in
slant from the world OF commonplace
Z hotels and railway trains into an at
mosphere OF charm aud beauty. For
( no matter how industrlously the con
/ noisseur in America may gather about
I him exquisite and beautiful things. ne
/ cannot shut out the scream OF the
/ railroad train. ho cannot transplant
J across the seas tho charm OF medieval
. ism that clings 20 castle walls. u is
one thing 90 sec the Cluny with a
\ guide book; ~ Is quite another 20 end
/ ones self guest at the Cluny.
You Ike my Castle OF Happiness ."
asked Madame de- Varnier. pleased M
tho pleasure I showed
1T promises It's adventures" I re-
, piled meaninEly.
Il have told you that your hour OF
! romance has como. But remember.
( romance in these prosaic days is a gift
! OF the gods given only 90 children and
/ poets, few women and lovers. and 20
I the very bold. II YOU would claim the
/ gift, monsieur. you must have some
+ thing OF tho nature OF all OF these. The
sincere trust OF the child. YOU must
/ certainly know what this Is. monsieur.
The poets imagination. his delightful
/ power Of m2ke-believe. you must not
/ despiss that. A woman's tenderness.
and a lovers ardor. these. too. are
necessary. And last OF all. the daring
Of the hero"
She had whispered these rather
comprehensive attributes as / walked
across the hall 90 the staircase. follow
ing the servant with my bag.
"a rather large bin, madam" sug-
gested humorously.
"Oh. but I am serious, very serious.
I assure you that it Is not sentimental
talk"
II am afraid I must contradict you.
The daring OF the hero. for instance.
even one so optimistic as yourself
could scarcely expect that Of me-"
Monsieur" she protested earnestly.
Il have already told you that / refuse
20 believe you coward. DO you be-
lieve II yourself? You know you do
not. The task I am 20 give you would
Appall any but the bravest heart. 1t
requires audacity. absolute assurance,
and clever brain. But / believe in
you. You will not disappoint me- We
dine in half an hour"
DR.. Starva had stood with his back
TO the fire. He called after me, scowI-
ing. as I assembled the stairs:
You viii find. as I have said. that
madam Is an admirable host. But il
the guest is to be quite happy he must
accept the diversions madam offers
and when they are offered"
It was not the words so much as the
tone that menaced. II emphasized the
conviction I already felt: DR.. Starva
did not welcome my coming TO the cas-
tie. As I reached the gallery / saw
Madame de WARMER address him al
most fiercely. l was not blind to his
sullen contempt though evidently the
woman was the ruling spirit here.
The suite allotted me was at the end
OF gloomy corridor. / threw open
one OF the narrow windows. The
noisy stream below. beating futnely
against the walls, almost deafened the
voice OF the servant as he asked II he
could be OF assistance to me. / looked
out. There was a sheer drop of some
so feet
That fact vaguely Disconnected me
The words OF Dr. Starva were a jarring
note that sobered my excitement
When l had dressed was almost pre-
pared to find the massive door OF my
chamber locked or barred. l had en-
tered the spiders web audaciously
} enough To escape might be less
simple.
The dinner was simply but vel
served in small dining-room. Had
my situation been less serious might
have felt some humor at the elaborate
4 I.H-