Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-09-24

the light. It was he who fairly
dragged Lady Agnes aside and pro-
posed the banquet, the dance, the con-
cert-everything-and 1t was he who
carried out the hundred spasmodic In
structions that she gave.
Late In the night, long after the din
ner and the dance, the tired but happy
company flocked to the picturesque
hanging garden for rest and the last
refreshment.
The hanging garden was a wonder
suspended between the chateau itself
and the greet cliff in whose shadow ii
stood. The cliff lowered at least 300
feet above the roof Of the spreading
chateau, q veritable stone wall that
extended for q mile or more In either
direction.
Near the chateau there was a real
waterfall, reminding one in no small
sense of the misty wells at Lauter-
brunnen or Giesbach. The swift
stream which obtained life from these
falls, big and little. ran along the base
of the cliff for some distance and was
then diverted by means of a deep, ar
tificial channel into an almost COM
plete circuit of the chateau, forming
the moat. 1t sped along at the foot
Of the upper terrace, a wide torrent
that washed between solid walls of
masonry, which rose to a height of not
less than ten feet on either side. There
were two drawbridges, seldom used,
but always practicable. A small sta
tionary bridge crossed the vicious
stream Immediately below the hang
ing garden and led to the ladders by
which one assembled to the caverns
that ran far back into the mountain.
Two big black irregular holes In the
face of the cliff marked the entrance
to these deep, rambling caves, wonder
full caverns wrought by the convul-
sions Of the dead volcano, cracks made
by these spl'ntering earthquakes when
the island was new.
The garden hung high between the
building and the cliff, swung by a
score of great steel cables. These ca
bles were riveted soundly In the solid
rock of the cliff at one end and fasten-
ed as safely to the stone walls Of the
chateau at the other. 1t swung stanch-
ly from its Ipoorings with the con-
stancy of a suspension bridge and
trembled at the slightest touch.
1t was at least a hundred feet
square. The floor was covered with a
foot or more Of soil. in which the rich
grass and plants of the tropics -four
ished. Cool fountains sprayed the air
at either end of the greer inclosure.
The illusion was complete.
The walls surrounding the garden
were three feet high and were intend
ed to represent the typical English
garden wall of brick. To gain access
to the hanging garden one crossed a
narrow bridge which led from the sec
ond balcony of the chateau. There
was not an hour in the day when pro-
lection from tie -sun-e0Eda-Aafot be
found in this little paradise.
Bobby Browne was holding forth
with his usual exuberance on the mag
n%ifcence of the British navy.
There she is now. sleeping out there
In the harbor, a great big thing with
the kindest of hearts inside of those
steel ribs-her majesty's ship the
Kings Owr Think of 1t! She con-
voys a private yacht, she stops off at
this beastly island to catch her breath
and to see that all are safe, hen she
charges off into the horizon like a bird
that has no home. May l offer you a
cigarette. princess? By the way, l
wonder how Chase came off with his
side show"
Saunders tells me that he was near
to being butchered, but luck was with
him." said Deppingham. His ship
came home"
"It was a daring trick. I'm glad he
pulled it off. He's a man, that fellow
is" said Browne. "See, princess, away
up there In the mountain is his home.
There's a light. See 1t? He keeps
rather late hours, you see."
TELL me about him." said the prin-
cess suddenly. She arose and walked
to the vine covered wall, followed by
Bobby Browne.
II don't know much to tell you,"
said he. Hes made an enemy or two,
and they are trying to drive him out.
We've asked him down here just be-
cause we can't zeal to think of a fell
low creature wasting his days In utter
loneliness, but he has so far declined
with thanks. The islanders are begin
ming to hate him. They distrust him,
Britt says. or course you know why
we are here. You
EVERY one knows, Mr.. Browne.
You are the most interesting quartet
in the world just now. Every n is
wondering how it is going to end.
What a pity you can't marry Lady
Agnes"
"Oh, 1 sayr' protested Browne. She
laughed merrily.
But how dull it must be for Mr..
Chase! Does he complain"
~ can't say that he does. Britt
AloSo .,v 1,rr,o, Dvtkf saws hoe INV