New-York tribune., 1909-10-24
The Parted Curtain
Confined from page 8

N with any sense OF INSTALLATION. There Is
~a1etAlng horribly degrading about human
..iilE torn or worse vet. partly devoured bv
lower animal The mere thought Is humiliat-
i-S- conveys an idea of lack OF moral diSci-
pine. "a revolt OF species 1t would seem as f
he Wild beast ought to shrink inStincti,-el,-
.-1In attacking a creature made in Gods i'm
5e Most OF them do, according TO the tales
ilaluTailstS lie glanced at her sharply
DOES lllS sort OF talk make YOU unCOrnfOrta-
Pie, II does, ! can tell by your expression
NeleTlneleSS, please go on. 1t is interest
E- ana expresses what have often felt with
- precisely thinking It out. Even in my lion
.-garllS- as ! call them. the actual terror has
ways been modified by an intense feeling of
tine ana anger and disgust degradation
.5- You say That precisely expresses It.
THEY had reached the entrance of the Col
QSseum and stood for a moment in silent
interpolation OF the massive ruins reared be-
fore them. Ragged splashes of shadow shot
Win Spear-Shaped flames OF high light Law on
me grl1n ollng walls, which were the color of
uH7rnNry and salmon pink, and their outlines
very soft IN texture against the background of
rlaudleSs SKY.
hlnk Of the spectacle when all of Rome
-a-re trooPlng IN here for the gamesI said
' can think only Of the games themselves"
lSwered the girl with little shudder.
No doubt they fitted their epoch. lust as a
't1a- game ntS ours. | doubt If the gladiator
AZ III = llGL Win 2 IT1QGDI through ms
leSt felt any worse than the halfback biting
HE bitter dust OF defeat under the heaped up
.a1les OF ms competitors, hearing that the game
s lost The race was Cruder in those davs
Defeat usually meant death. but life itself was
stake Tor which they played so often that its
-aiat;ve value was lost
They passed through the massive entrance
and halted Al the foot OF the stone steps lead
ing 70 the galleries above.
Shall We 90 10 the top and get q general
view # the whole thing'" asked Criscon
Yes Miss Wellesley glanced into the
--ena. then quickly turned her back on IL
hey climbed the huge steps, and at the top
F-a-Eed 10 the edge and stood for a moment
sing down into the arena now bathed IN
.-r-nest shadows thrown by the northwestern
wall
It is smaller than thought and looks diff
t--en1lv- Miss Wellesley was staring down
Trough narrowed lids AZ the eliptical incosure.
Her lace was slightly pale, and her breath COM
ir- quickly
d. YOU ike it, asked Griscom.
don't know 1t IS wonderful, and it fas-
g..ateS me
Don't give yourself 10 reverie Let's walk
a-- ind and III deliver an illustrated lecture,
and YOU can look bored and when I m finished
How interesting and give me a tip.
Come on"
L his pleasant tones with their slight tinge Of
the pedagogue he promptly entered upon
classic description OF the place sketching
touching al with an accent OF dry humor un-
usual IN the antiquarian. which quite relieved
the lecture Of any trace OF pedantry- Once or
twice the girl laughed.
You don't seem to be imbued with the
spirit of veneration one might expect in pro-
feSsOr II ancient history she observed at
some rather fippant remark on the personality
u Nero.
"DontIe Perhaps its because feel secretly
awei. Ike the Scoffer at spirltualistic seance
Besides ] want 10 get YOU into a properly
Trofane state oi mind 10 rob the arena Of It's
sentimental horrors"
You have quite succeeded. Let's go down
there while Il lasts"
THEY descended the awkward steps and
turned toward the elliptical inclosure. As
they entered II the girl suddenly paused, staring
about her with wide and interested eyes.
Do you Ike it," asked Griscom.
She did not answer. Side by side they
BEGAN 10 walk slowly toward the center. At
the end Of dozen steps the girl paused.
What was that2' she asked.
What;
That r5ise-that rumble. Did you hear
ST.