Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-03-28


appeared and came into sight again,
as we went on our winding way. AT
last. theJ disappeared altogether. The
shape was still holding me up and
Cesar walked on, unled and sure
footed. l could not tell you, even ap-
proximately, how long this ride last
ed. | only know that we seemed to
turn and turn and often went down q
spiral stair into the very heart OF the
earth. Even then, 1t may be that my
head was turning, but ! don't think
80: no. my mind was quite clear. AT
last. Cesar raised his nostrils, snined
the air and quickened his pace lit
tie. | felt a moistness in the air ana
cesar stopped The darkness had
lifted. A sort of bluey light surround
ed us. We were on the edge OF
lake. whose leaden waters stretched
into the distance, into the darkness;
but the blue light lit up the bank and
/ saw little boat fastened to an iron
ring on the wharf,"
"A boatl"
eyes. but knew that all that exist
ed and that there was nothing super
natural about that underground lake
and boat. But think OF the exception
al conditions in which / arrived upon
that shore! l don't know whether the
effects Of the cordial had worn on
when the mans shape lifted me into
the boat, but my terror began all over
again. My gruesome escort must nave
noticed It, for he sent Cesar back and
l heard his hoofs trampling up
staircase while the man jumped into
the boat. united the rope that held 1t
and seized the oars. He rowed with
a quick, powerful stroke; and his
eyes. under the mask, never left me.
We slipped across the noiseless water
in the bluey light which told you OF;
then we were in the dark again ana
we touched shore. And | was once
more taken up in the mans arms. !
cried aloud. And then, suddenly, J
was silent, daxed by the light. !.
Yes. n dazzling light in the midst Of
which had been put down. sprang
to my feet. was In the middle OF .
drawing-room that seemed to me 70
be decorated, adorned AND furnished
with nothing but flowers. flowers both
magnificent and stupid, because OF the
silk ribbons that tied them to baskets
like those which they sell IN the
shops on the boulevards. They were
much too civilized flowers, like those
which used to find in my dressing-
room after q first night. And, In the
midst of all these flowers. stood the
black shape of the man In the mask
with arms crossed, and he said: Don't
be afraid, Christine; you are IN no
danger. It was the voice!
my anger equaled my amazement.
/ rushed at the mask and tried to
snatch Il away, so as to see the face
Of the voice. The man said, You are
in no danger, 90 long as you do not
touch the mask And, taking me
gently by the wrists, he forced me
into chair and then went down on
his knees before me and said nothing
more! His humility gave me back
some of my courage, and the light re-
stored me to the realities Of life. How
ever extraordinary the adventure
might be, was now surrounded by
mortal. visible, tangible things. The
furniture, the hangings, the candles
the vases and the very flowers in their
\ baskets, Of which could almost have
; told whence they came and what they
cost, were bound to coniine my imag-
inatiOn to the limits Of drawing-room
quite as commonplace as any that, at
least. had the excuse Of not being IN
the cellars Of the opera. had, no
doubt, to do with q terrible, eccentric
person, who, In some mysterious
} fashion. had succeeded IN taking up
his abode there, under the opera
house, five stories below the level OF
the ground. And the voice, the voice
which l had recognised under the
mask. was on its knees before me.
. was q mani And began to cry.
me man, still kneeling, must have
J understood the cause Of my tears, for
no said, IL IL true, ChristinsT 49,,
. am mot an angel. nor . eeAius, nor
enost lam Erikli RI IA
. Christmas narrative was again IN
tefr1pted. An echo behind -thsm
seemed to repeat the word after her
'.Erikls IN r#
BIZ TAiak echoI They both
turned round and saw that night had
! fallen. RAoul made q movement al
though to rise. but Christine kept him
beside her.
Don't GO" she said. Il want you
to know everything hsre!r
"But Why here. Christine5 ! an
afraid OF your catching cold"
Eve have nothing to fear except
the trhpdoors, dear, and here We are
|, miles away from the trapdoors
and l am not allowed to see you out