Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-05-30
CHAPTER xxi.
In the Torture Chamber


were covered with mirrors from top
to bottom, In the corners, we could
clearly see the Joins" in the glasses.
the segments intended to turn on
their gear; yes, recognized them
and recognized the iron tree In the
corner, at the bottom OF one Of those
segments the iron tree, with
its iron branch. for the hanged men.
seized my companions arm: the
Vicomte de Chagny was all a-quiver.
eager to shout to his betrothed that
be- was bringing her help. ! feared
that he would not be able to contain
himself.
Suddenly, we heard noise on our
left. II sounded at first like door
opening and shutting In the next
room; and then there was dull
moan. / clutched M. de Chagny's
arm more firmly still; and then we
distinctly heard these words:
you must make your choice! The
wedding mass or the requiem mass!"
recognized the voice OF the mon
ster.
There was another moan, followed
by long silence.
was persuaded by now that the
monster was unaware Of our pres
enoe in his house, for otherwise he
would certainly have managed not to
let US hear him. He would only have
had to close the little invisible win
dow through which the torture-lovers
look down into the eorture-chamber.
Besides, was certain that, II he had
known of our presence. the fortunes
would have begun at once.
The important thing was not to let
him know; and dreaded nothing so
much as the impulsiveness Of the
Vicomte de Chagny, who wanted to
rush through the walls to Christine
Daae, whose moans we continued to
hear at intervals. 80
The requiem mass is not at all
gay" Erik's voice resumed, whereas
the wedding mass--yo1 can take my
word for it's magnificent! You
must take q resolution and know your
| own mindl can't so on living like
/ this, like o mole In burrow! Don
Juan Triumphant is finished; and
now I want to live like everybody
, else. I want to have wife like
everybody else and to take her out
on Sundays. l have invented mask
that makes me look like anybody.
| People will not even turn round Id
the streets. You will be the happiest
! OF women. And we will sing. all by
ourselves, till we swoon away with
delight. You are crying! You are
afraid Of me! And yet am not real
ly wicked. Love me and you shah
see! All wanted was to be loved
for myself. II you loved me should
!, be as gentle as lamb; and you could
do anything with me that q you
| pleased"
Soon the means that accompanied
this sort OF loves dtany increased
and increased. ! have never heard
anything more despairing; and M. de
Chagny and l recognized that this
terrible lamentation came from, Erik
himself. Christine seemed to be
standing dumb with horror, without
the strength to cry out, while the
monster was on his knees before her.
Three times over. Erik fiercely be-
f, walled his fate:
You don't love me! You don't
love me! You don't love mel"
And then, more gently:
why do you cry? You know II
gives me pain to see you cryl"
A silence.
Each silence gave us fresh hope.
We said to ourselves:
Perhaps he has left Christine DO.
hind the wall"
And we thought only of the posi-
bility Of warning Christine Daae Of
our presence unknown to the mon
ster. We were unable to leave the
tOrture-chamber now. nnleas EhFis-
tine opened the door to ua; and Il
was only on this condition that We
could hope to help her, for We dId
not evenpkn0W whore the door might
be. 3 81 ss H7fF7
Suddenly TIE sllance In the next
room was disturbed BY the ringing g
an electric bali. There was bound
on the other side Of the wall ara
Erfi's voice of thunder:
Somebody rinsfngl Walk a.
pleased"
A sinister chueklo.
Who has come bothering nowI
Wait for me here. am going
, to tell the siren to open the door,
Steps moved away, q door closed.
, ] had no time to think Of the mesh
horror that was preparing; ! forgot
that the monster Vas only going ont
, perhaps to perpetrate q fresh crirAo:
/ understood but one thing. Christine
was alone behind the WALT
Il The vicOmts de ChagnS vas -