The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-01-02
The HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc.

CHAPTER discontinued

could do was to accept the penalty ne
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 doomed dark
barrier, and | put out my hand ana
touched a wall of rough stone that
rose to height of about eight feet.
What is this, Bates?" | asked.
This is Glenarm land, sir. the
wall was one of your grandfather
ideas. It's quarter of a mile long
and cost him pretty penny, warrant
you. The road turns off from the
lake now, but the GIenarm property is
all lake front"
So there was wall about my pris-
on house l grinned cheerfully to
myself. When, few moments later,
my guide paused at an arched gateway
in the long wall, drew from his over
coat bunch of keys and fumbled at
the lock Of an iron gate, | felt the
spirit of adventure quicken within me-
The gate clicked behind us and
Bates found a lantern and lighted IT
with the ease of custom.
II 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"
The underground was indeed heavy
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, | saw for the first time the
dark outlines Of Glenarm House.
Here we are, sir" exclaimed
Bates, stamping his feet upon 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 and | stepped quick
ly into a great hall that was lighted
dimly by candles fastened into brack-
cts on the walls.
81 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 well of great stair
case. There was not, as far as l could
see, single article of furniture in
the place.
Here's something you'll like better.
sir,"-and Bates paused far down the
hall and opened a door.
A single candle made a little pool
of light In what | felt to be a large
room. I was prepared for disclosure
of barren ugliness, and waited, in
heartsick foreboding for the silent
guide to reveal dreary prison.
please sit here, sir" said Bates,
"whie | make better light"
He moved through the dark room
with perfect ease, struck a match,
lighted a taper and went swiftly and
softly about. He touched the taper to
one candle after another,-they seem
ed to be everywhere and won from
the dark a faint twilight, that yielded
slowly to a growing mellow splendor
of light. | have often watched the
acolytes in dim cathedrals of the Old
World set countless candles ablaze on
magnificent altars,-always with awe
for the beauty of the spectacle; but
in this unknown house the austere
serving man summoned from the shad-
ows a lovIier and more bewildering en-
chantment. Youth alone, of beautiful
things, is loveler than light.
The lines of the wall receded as the
light increased. and the raftered cell
ing drew away, Turing the eyes up
ward. 1 rose with a smothered ex-
clamation on my lips and stared about,
matching off 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 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-innumerable candles
blazed with dazzling brilliancy. | ex-
claimed in wonder and pleasure as
Bates paused. his sorcerer's wand in
hand.
"Mr. Glenarm was very fond of can
delight; he liked to gather up candle
sticks. and his collection Is very fine.
He often called this The House of
Thousand Candles There's only about
a hundred here; but 1t was one of his
conceits that when the house was fin
ished there would be a thousand lights.
He had quite Joking way, your grand
father. II suited his humor to call 1t