Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-10

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mountain range sank out Of sight and
others. even wilder, came into view.
Also. the air seemed freshcr though
not intensely cold.
The sun had set behind leaden clouds.
Already. as one say across the chan
mel. it made night; and far below they
saw clustering lights. shining like
jewels III purple velvet cushions.
Though they could feel no wind, as they
bent over the edge OF the basket, the
lights IN the world beneath appeared
10 float rapidly past, as if borne by
an onruSiinG tide. Sometimes ;ncy
were hidden by black rags Of cloud:
but At last these rags were fvinSed
With cleaning silver. The moon was
coming up. clear aud full. and. as il
in obedience TO her command. the wind
was still, the lights in the purple
depths no longer moved on "a dark tide.
but a river OF silver swallowed up the
yellow sparks and flooded the purple
valleys.
Good said Western. Now we can
descend. We shall have an illumina-
ton for our landing, and though we're
coming down into Il misi--a sea mist. I
should judge by tho salt tang of it
it's so thin that VIC shall know whcth-
er were dropping ON earth or water"
Have YOU any idea where VIC are
asked Christopher. who had long ago
abandoned hope of TorQuay or its
nciehborhood-if he had fvcr really
had auy-but. like a true sportsman.
was revolling in the adventure.
Might be hampshire" suggested
Western. vaguely. "Or-wcll, might
be any wherc--near the coast. It's hard
TO say 10 thirty miles or so. the way we
have been racing
lie had pulled the valve-cord and
they steadily descended. Now they
!\vam in "a sea Of creamy mist. laced
with tho moons silver. They knew
that they must hc near earth. but the
cleaning sea-for shrouded all detail.
suddenly. however, they became con-
scioms of a luminous gliding Of tn"
mist close 10 tho falling balloon: and
at the same instant the ear pumped
and swaycd. bounding like some wild
creature caught by the foot in "a trap.
There was a swishing OF foliage a..
pinc-nccdlcs. and q cracking Of small
branches. They were cntanglcd in q
tree.
Why. we're close t" = house he
said 10 Western. whose back was
turned towards him as he worked.
Ey this tim" Western had STONED
cHoppinS branches to glance over his
shoulder.
"Ey jov". W. arc close he cx-
claimed.
II can touch tho stone Ledge. lust,
round tho corner Of the house wall"
SAID ,~hristoph"r. Its wet-therc.s
4 pool Of
Water was tho word ON his tongue.
but. as he pulled bach his hand and
looked al i; in the yellow haze Of
iainpliGht which mingled with the
moons rays, h. drew in his breath
quickly.
What's tho natter asked Western.
Look Christopher answered. in nm
= tNOu voice. hnlIittts nt,, l.L. ,..I 80.
gers and palm were dyed rcd. n wet,
rcd that elistcncd.
Their lively tones were hushod now,
'nvoiuntarily they whispered.
F""h' know what YOU mean. nut
can't he. y window sill. WHY
Shouid-such things don't h~appcp.'.
MI the same. I'm going To hing on,
rom tn" car and try TO iwis, round
IN" corner far enough TO scc-"
Nai' IN hang on t" YOU. or your
Get q tumble
christopher leaned out. with one
Nhee ON tn" edge OF TIC trapped car.
one hand plunged into and rrusninr
the thick-stcmmed ivy. unnrinr ,bms
ne could see the windo whence cam.
the l!Ght; and ms he looked. p.crinc
through the mist. a slicbi brocyc
Snrang up ana blew a fold of Tho v.hIto
ven away VI" could see round the
',"lher ana INT" IA" lighted window.
''F " III l'llIl ' 'S.Nlnl hi In. ,
ne saw there remained with him
Nagu" picture of AN o~ld-fashinncd n,r.
Pahcileh room, with a great many books
ana q i"hS mirror opposite the wiudow
Tor IL was something in the window
user which caught and held his u.yo
u va" II. ara saw il repeated IN Tho
mirror. or. rather. saw there vl,, l..
couIh sec III no other way.
y mans body hung over the w,pdow
hiii' inert and lifclcsS lie had f,lIau
backward and lay half ou;. his hn.d
ahd shoulders p~ro1rudine over the s,omo
'f"et which Christopher had touched
,"e ,"re up,nrhod aud white in the
listing i'Sht OF lamp and moon.
mere was Il red stain on the fore
mead. and the air. which was d,r,, 49,,
iohS' CHUNG wet and matted over Tho
hfo"S. The lips were twisted inin ,
NtFrih!". t-hr"r-c"rn"rcd smile. and
'ir's'"phcr started back from il with
4 cry. WV"
What did YOU scer' asked wcs,.r,
Christopher told him
FOR Heavens sake. lc,'s 90. ,u,
'niS' western
- ne exclaimed. something moved
nearby. and a figure which had hon
hldinE among the bat,lcments spranr
up ana ran oward the swavinr haI-
loon. ""'
Highly wrought as they were -, &c,
ne two young men were struck win
horror as ~ beholdius a snirl,. IN,
AE the clear moonlight rcrl unon ,ho
FORM common sens" came back an,
'Me! knew that this was no shostlx
vision. ""'S''
y sirI IN a white dress was hu,-
rHihS along the fiat root. her arms out
~'r,lth"" ~ e OBTAINING gesture. "Save
me she fal;crcd her voice broken Inv
fear or pain. :"
whether or NO il was partly the cr.
'cci OF me moonlight. the girl seemed
% christopher ana Western The mns,
beautiful creature they had ever seem
Hh" had hair which The moon nurn.
She" I" copp"r. and il; fell IA two
iois ilhok ropes OF braids over .li,n
shoulders and bosom. The Whit
la"ian'" which had pierced the blow
'nS mist shonc into her c,cs. making
mem large and dark. ana ~wonderfuI
- wells mat mirror stars in blacL
depths. "N'
On. save mc-take me with van
"""rN"r YOU arc-whcr"vei YOU go
away from this awful house,
S"' prE2"d Of th. strangers. as sb.
cam" living across the dark. IA, y
p"i'se hthiEd Tn" battiernents. And
'"Sri!! CHRISTOPHER Race and i,aul
"est"rm put nu; their arms To- reach
gtNu. al Han l -.