Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-08-23
In Which | Understand the Feelings Of
a Ghost.
CHAPTER VII.

ground WnOle 0ay anu TWO nights,
and this was the morning of the sec
ond day after Calypsos disappearance.
What had been happening to her all
this timel My flesh crept at the
thought and, with that daylight steal
ing IN like living presence, and the
sound and breath of the sea, my an
gulsh returned hundredfold
AS / stood on the little rocky plat
form outside the door through which !
had burned my way, and looked down
into the glimmerlng chasm beneath,
and heard the fresh voice of the sea
huslcily rumbllng and reverberating
about hidden grottoes and channels,
all that Calypso was to me came back
with the keenness Of sword through
my heart All there was my treasure
-;,s ! had known when my eyes first
beheld her--compared with which that
gold and silver In there, whose CLEAN
had made me momentarily distraught
was but so much dust and ashes.
Aluently as.I had sought it, what was
1t compared to one glance of her eyes2
What If in the same hour, I had lost
my true treasure, and found the false2
AT the thought, that glittering heap
became nbhorrent to me, and, without
looking back, sought for some way
by which | could descend.
As my eyes grew accustomed to the
dim light saw that there We're some
shallow steps cut dsagonally In the
rock, and down these had soon made
my way, to find myself In a roomy cor
rid0r, so much like that in which had
seen Calypso standing in the moonlight,
that, for moment, ! dreamed II was
the same, and started to run down II,
thinking, indeed, that my troubles
were over--that in another moment l
would emerge through that enchanted
door and face the sea.
But alas instead Of a broad shining
doorway, and open arms OF freedom
widespread for me to leap into, came
at last TO mere long narrow slit
through which | could gaze rs q man
gazes through a prison window at the
4 sky.
The entrance had once been wide
and free, but Il mass of rock had fallen
from above and blocked 1t up, leaving
only long crack through which the
tides passed to and fro.
was still In my trap; II seemed
more terrible than ever, now that
could see freedom so close, her very
voice calling to me, singing the morn
ing song of the sea. But In the cayerns
behind me, | heard another moeking
sDug, and | felt cold breath on my
cheek, for death stood by my side
a-grin
'eThe treasurer he whispered, q
need you 10 guard that. The treasure
YOU have rlslSed all to wln-the treas
nre Tor which You hive lost.-yolai
treasure You cannot escape. Go bach
ana count your gold. 1t is all goot
moneyp Hal hal 1T is all gooC
money!"
The Illusion seemed 50 real to mi
that | cried aloud "A will not die!
win not dieir-cried 1t SO loud, tha
anyone Ia passing boat might hay
heard me, and shuddered, wonderln
what poor ghost II was waillng anon
the rocks.
Rut the fright had done me gooi
and neryed myself for another eilor
II only could wriggle past that col
traction In the middle, should l
~ .i.1 p,A Aat NIT nxy1
the more | measured the width wiz
my eye, the less the narrowing SCENE
to be. no he so slightly perceptihle
could hardly he enough to make mut
difference. Caution whispered that
might be enough to make the dn'e
enee f,etween lite aud death. But d
ready my choice Of those two augu
alternatives was SO limited as hard
10 be called a choice, On the OF
mud | could worm my way bal
through the caves and tunnels throul
which / hard passed, ana try my Id
again at The other end
with half dozen matches
sneered voice that sounded like I
tias' Precisely ana the he
rue Of il was more than | dared fa
ag;sin anyway. So there was nothii
for II but this aperture, hardly wild
than one OF those deep stone slits III
stood for windows in Il Norman east
Ii was my last chance, and inca
10 fake II like q man.
stood for moment nervlng myst
ana taklng deep hEeaths, as though
expected 10 take bat few more. THE
nv left arm extended, entered slt
Nise, md began TO eeige myself aloE
Il was easy enough for yard or ~
after which il WAS plain that it "
bcginning 10 narrow. Very slightly
deed, hut still d little. However | eou
still go on and-i could still 80 back
went on--iaofe slowly II Is true. )
stu progressed. But the rock "
pcreeptlbly closer to me- l had
struggle harder. II WINS beginning
hug sne--yery genlly-but il was