Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-03


tone OF mild apology. Its very in
complete for living purposes"
Well. we've got TO make the best
Of e." I answered. though without
much cheer. The sound of our steps
echoed In the well Of a great stair
case. There was not. as far as I could
see. a single article OF furniture In
the place.
Here's something you'll like better
sir, and Bates paused far down the
hail and opened a door.
A single candle made a little pool
Of light In what I felt 20 be a large
room. 1 was prepared for a disclosure
OF barren ugliness, and waited. in
heartsick foreboding. for the silent
guide 20 reveal dreary prison.
Please sit here. sir" said Bates.
while I make better light"
He moved through the dark room
with perfect ease. struck q match.
lighted a taper and went swiftly and
softly about. He touched the taper 70
one candle after another.-they seem.
ed 70 be everywhere.-and won from
the dark a faint twilight. that yielded
slowly 20 a growing mellow splendor
Of light have often watched the
acolytes IN dim cathedrals Of the Old
World set countless candles ablaze on
magnificent affairs. always with awe
for the beauty OF the spectacle. but
in this unknown house the austere
serving man summoned from the shad-
ows a lovlier and more bewildcring en-
chantment Youth alone. of beautiful
things. is lovelier than light
The lines OF the wall receded as the
light increased and the raftered cell
ing drew away. Turing the eyes up
ward. 7 rose with a smothered ex-
cIamation on my lips and stared about
snatching Of my hat fin reverence as
the spirit Of the place wove its spell
about me. Everywhere there were
books; they covered the walls 90 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 pur.
pose, from brackets that thrust out
long arms among the books. from a
great crystal chandelier suspended
from the ceiling. and from the breast
OF the chimney candles
blazed with dazzling brilliancy. I ex-
claimed IN wonder and pleasure as
Bates paused. his sorcerer's wand In
hand
Mr.. Gienarm was very fond OF can
delight; he liked 90 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 &c was one az his
conceits that when the house was fin
ished there would be thousand lights.
He had quite joking way. your grand
father Il suited his humor 20 call Il a
thousand He enjoyed his own pleas
antries, SIR"
Il fancy he did" replied. staring in
bewildcrment
"On lamps might be more suited 10
your own taste. sir. But your grand
father would not have them. Old brass
and copper were specialties with him.
and he had a particular taste. Sir. Glen
arm had. In glass candle-sticks. He
held that the crystal was most efec-
tive OF ALL I'll go and let in the bag
gageman and then serve you some sup
per"
He went sOmberly out and I exam
ined the room with amazed and de-
lighted eyes. II was 90 feet long and
half as wide. The hardwood floor was
covered with handsome rugs; every
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 Of man Is tbt Candle Of TIE rOrd
and on either side great candelabra
sent long arms across the hearth. All
the books seemed related 70 architec-
ture; German and French works stood
side by side among those by English
and American authorities. I found
archaeology represented in a division
where all the titles were Latin or Ital-
ian. / opened several cabinets that
contained sketches and drawings. all
in careful order; and IL another I found
an elaborate card catalogue. evidently
the work Of a practiced hand The
minute examination was too much for
me; / threw myself into a great chair
that might have been spoil from a
cathedral. satisfied to enjoy the gen.
eral effect. To find an apartment so
handsome and so marked by good
taste in the midst of an Indiana wood
staggered me. / was so lost in con
temptation that did not hear a door
open behind me. The respectful
mournful voice OF Bates announced:
There's a bite ready for you, sir. {"
followed him through the hall to q
small high-wasnscoted room where g
table was simply set.
This is what Mr.. Glenarm called
the refectory. He took his own meals
here. The library was the main thine
with him. He never lived TO finish the
house.-more's the pity. sir. He would
have made something very handsome
OF II IL he'd had few years more. But
he hoped. sir, that you'd see IL com
pieted. The work was near his heart
sir"
Yes. to be sure" / replied.
He brought cold fowl and a salad
and produced bit OF Sulton Of un
mistakable authenticity.
4 oI trust The aIo & ooOrad e. 1880. stt-