Gilpin observer., 1913-09-04

lifted. A sort Of bluey iignt surroune-
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 boati"
Yes, 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! ! 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 have
noticed 1t. for he sent Cesar back and
heard his hoofs trampIing up a
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 and
We touched shore. And | was once
more taken up In the mans arms.
cried aloud. And then. suddenly.
was silent. dazed by the light
Yes, dazzling light In the midst of
which had been put down. | sprang
to my feet was In the middle OF l.
draWing-room that seemed to me to
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 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 II was the voice!
My anger equaled my amazement
rushed at the mask and tried to
snatch 1t away. so as to see the face
of the voice. The man said, You are
in no danger, so 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
;old whence they came and what they
cost, were bound to confine my imag-
nation to the limits OF drawing-room
quire as commonplace as any that. at
least, had the excuse OF not being in
the cellars OF the opera l had, no
doubt. to do with a 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 ] had recognized under the
mask, was on its knees before me.
was a man! And l began to cry. .
The man. still kneeling. must have
understood the cause of my tears. for
he said. 1t is true, Christine! .
l am not an angel, nor a genius. nor
a ghost | am Erik!'"
Christine's narrative was again in
terrupted. An echo behind them
seemed to repeat the word after her.
"Erik!"
What echo? They both
turned round and saw that night had
fallen. Raoul made movement a.
though to rise. but Christine kept him
beside her.
CTO BE CONTINUED)