The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-01-10
CHAPTER XVI.
The Death.Mask Auain.

ChR 'C@S iiOi tAINIb ~ Aihh ~
Switzerland grace and charm in archi'
lecture There are no historic cha
teauX worthy of pilgrimage. This
castle Of AlterhofTen gave one the sim
pie impression Of sheer strength. it
was primitive and savage and bare OF
pretense 10 beauty as its founder must
have been.
a rather squat tower of 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 semiclrcular towers placed at
each angle of the larger one. The ef-
feet of this triangular-shaped tower,
with its 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 the
hall, on the right. a fire Of logs was
blazing brightly. Tho hooded mantel,
Gothic in design, was also Of oaR 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 a curious spiral stair
case leading TO the gallery that ran
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 the French Renaissance-cover
for themost part with stamped leather
of gold and dull red.
could not reprcss a cry of delight
as I entered. | had passed in an In.
slant from the world Of commonplace
hotels and railway trains into an at
mospherc Of charm and beauty, For
no matter how industrlously the con-
noisseur in America may gather about
him exquisite and beautiful things. no
cannot shut out the scream of the
railroad train; he cannot transplant
across the seas the charm of medieval
ism that cllngs to castle walls. 1t is
one thing 10 see the Cluny with a
guide book; il Is quite another 20 find
ones self a guest at the Cluny.
You like my Castle of Happiness?"
asked Madame dc Varnier, pleased at
the pleasure | showed.
ut promises its adventures" I re-
piled meanlngly.
II 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. II 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 delightful
power of make-belicve, 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 l walked
across the hall to the staircase, follow
ing the servant with my bag.
"A rather largo bill. madam" I sug-
gested humorously.
"Oh but | am serious, very serious,
| assure you that it is not sentimental
talk"
Il 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
to believe you coward. Do you be-
lieye 1t yourself? You know you do
not. The task / am to give you would
appalI any but the brayest 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, scowl-
ing, as | ascended the stairs:
You will find. as I have said that
madam is an admirable host. But If
the guest is to be quite happy he must
accept the diversions madam offers
and whe4 they are offered
1t was not the words SO much as the
tone that menaced. II emphasized the
conviction l already felt: DR., Starva
did not welcome my coming to the cas-
tie AS | reached the gallery | saw
Madame de WARMER address him al
most fercely. / was not blind TO his
sullen contempt, though evidently the
woman was the ruling spirit here.
CTO BE CONTINUED
Do your work and your worth will
take care Of itself