The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-10-05
CHAPTER XVI.


The Death-Mask Again.
One does not expect to find IN
Switzerland grace and charm In archi-
lecture. There are no historic cha
teaux worthy of pilgrimage. This
castle Of Aterhoffen gave one the SIM
pie impression of sheer strength. Il
was primitive and savage and bare OF
pretense to beauty a. its founder must
have been.
A rather squat tower o( immense
solidity, the roof steeply sloping. the
windows narrow and few. 1t would
have been commonplace and ugly in
the extreme had 1t not been for three
smaller semicircular towers placed at
each angle of the larger one. The eff
feet of this triangular-shaped tower.
with its three supporting towers. was
bizarre, but not unpleasing.. Il pre-
pared one for IN 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 the
hall, ON the right, FIRE of logs was
blazing brightly. The hooded mantel,
Gothic In design, was also Of oak and
blackened with the smoke OF CEN
turies. A stand of banners stood near
the foot OF the stairway. Not far from
the fireplace was curious spiral stair
case leading to the gallery that ran
the length of the room above. Tapes
tries covered the bare walls and filed
the spaces between the narrow win
dows that looked out ON the court
yard. The furniture was Of the period
of the French Renaissance-covered
for the most part with stamped leather
Of gold and dun red.
I could not repress . cry Of delight
as entered. I had passed In an in
slant from the world of commonplace
hotels and railway trains into m at
mosphere of charm and beauty. For
no matter how industriously the con-
nolsseur 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 ciings to castle walls. It II
one thing to sec the Cluny with .
guide book; 1t is quite another to fin~
ones self guest at the Cluny.
You like my Castle Of Happinessr
asked Madame de Varnfer. pleased al
the pleasure / showed.
1T promises its adventures" 10
piled meaningly.
Il have told you that your hour Of
romance has come But remember
romance In these prosaic days is a gift
Of the gods given only to children and
poets. few women and lovers. and to
the very bold. If you would claim the
gift, monsieur, you must have some
thing of the nature Of all of these. The
sincere trust of the child, you must |
certainly know what this is. monsieur.
The poets imagination, his delightfu
power Of make-believe, you must not |
despise 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 to the staircase, follow. |
ing the servant with my bag.
"A rather large bill, madam" sug.
gested humorously.
"Oh. but am serious. very serious |
l assure you that It IL not sentimental |
talk"
Il am afraid mast 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 !
to believe you coward. Do you be-
lieve 1t yourself? You know you do |
not. The task am to give you would |
appall any but the bravest heart II
requires audacity. absolute assurance. |
and clever brain. But I believe IN |
you. You will not disappoint me. We |
dine In half an hour"
DIR. Starva had stood with his back /
to the fire. He called after me. scowi- |
ing, as / ascendee the stairs:
you will fno. as / have said. that |
madam Is an admirable host. But II |
the guest is to be quite happy he must |
accept the diversions madam Offers |
and when they are offered
1t was not the words so much ~ the ]
tone that menaced. 1t emphasized the
conviction I already felt: DIR. Starva
did not welcome my coming to the Gus
tie. As reached the gallery sae |
Madame de WARMER address him al.
most fercely- IVES not blind to his |
sullen contempt. though evidently the |
woman vas the ruling spirit hero
GRO BE CoNTMUED.l