Chapter V Return
he Eve of the Millennium stood upon the threshold of Time.
The veiled sun of midwinter was rising and his early rays filled the blue balconies of the East with curtains of gold. From the slopes of Paterno a strange procession was to be seen winding its way down into the plains below. It was the remnant of the German host, carrying the bier with the body of the third Otto towards its distant, final resting-place. Eckhardt and Haco jointly headed the mournful cortege, which after reaching the plain, entered the northern road. Behind them lay Civita Castellana, the walls of the ancient citadel towering high above the town, which lay in the centre of a net-work of deep ravines. To their right the Sabine hills extended in long, airy lines and the wooded heights of Pellachio and San Gennaro rose to the south-east. Before them Viterbo with her hundred towers lay dark and frowning inside her bristling walls; and to northward, surmounted by its mighty cathedral dome, on a conical hill, above the great lake of Bolsena, the gray town of Montefiascone rose out of the wintry haze.
Continually harassed by the Romans the small band hewed their way through their pursuers who abandoned their onslaughts only when the Germans reached the Nera and beheld the Campanile of St. Juvenale rising above Narni.
Slowly the imperial cortege passed through the ancient town and was soon lost in the purple mists, which enshrouded mountain and valley.
Rome lay behind them, the source of their tears and sorrows.
Onward, ever onward they rode towards the glittering crests of the Alps, the solemn twilight of the Hercynian forest, towards the distant banks of the Rhine and the crypts of Aix-la-Chapelle.
The End
SMILES, A ROSE OF THE CUMBERLANDS
By Eliot Harlow Robinson
Author of “Man Proposes”
Smiles is a girl that is sure to make friends. Her real name is Rose, but the rough folk of the Cumberlands preferred their own way of addressing her, for her smile was so bright and winning that no other name suited her so well.
Smiles was not a native of the Cumberlands, and her parentage is one of the interesting mysteries of the story. Young Dr. MacDonald saw more in her than the mere untamed, untaught child of the mountains and when, due to the death of her foster parents a guardian became necessary, he was selected. Smiles developed into a charming, serious-minded young woman, and the doctor’s warm friend, Dr. Bently, falls in love with her.
We do not want to detract from the pleasure of reading this story by telling you how this situation was met, either by Smiles or Dr. MacDonald—but there is a surprise or two for the reader.
Press opinions on “Man Proposes”:
“Readers will find not only an unusually interesting story, but one of the most complicated romances ever dreamed of. Among other things the story gives a splendid and realistic picture of high social life in Newport, where many of the incidents of the plot are staged in the major part of the book.”—The Bookman.
“It is well written; the characters are real people and the whole book has ‘go.’”—Louisville Post.
TWEEDIE, THE STORY OF A TRUE HEART
By Isla May Mullins
Author of “The Blossom Shop Stories,” etc.
In this story Mrs. Mullins has given us another delightful story of the South.
The Carlton family—lovable old Professor Carlton, and his rather wilful daughter Ruth—twenty-three years old and with decided ideas as to her future—decide to move to the country in order to have more time to devote to writing.
Many changes come to them while in the country, the greatest of which is Tweedie—a simple, unpretentious little body who is an optimist through and through—but does not know it. In a subtle, amusing way Tweedie makes her influence felt. At first some people would consider her a pest, but would finally agree with the Carlton family that she was “Unselfishness Incarnate.” It is the type of story that will entertain and amuse both old and young.
The press has commented on Mrs. Mullins’ previous books as follows:
“Frankly and wholly romance is this book, and lovable—as is a fairy tale properly told. And the book’s author has a style that’s all her own, that strikes one as praiseworthily original throughout.”—Chicago Inter-Ocean.
“A rare and gracious picture of the unfolding of life for the young girl, told with a delicate sympathy and understanding that must touch alike the hearts of young and old.”—Louisville (Ky.) Times.
ONLY HENRIETTA
By Lela Horn Richards
Author of “Blue Bonnet—Debutante,” etc.
Henrietta was the victim of circumstances. It was not her fault that her father, cut off from his expected inheritance because of his marriage, was unexpectedly thrown upon his own resources, nor that he proved to be a weakling who left his wife and daughter to shift for themselves, nor that her mother took refuge in Colorado far away from their New England friends and acquaintances. Youth, however, will overcome much, and when Richard Bently appears in the mountains, life takes on a new interest for Henrietta.
When her mother dies Henrietta goes to live with Mrs. Lovell, who knew her father years ago in the little Vermont town. Mrs. Lovell determines to do what she can to secure for Henrietta the place in society and the inheritance that is rightfully hers. The means employed and the success attained—but that’s the story.
“Only Henrietta” is written in the happy vein that has secured for Mrs. Richards a host of friends and admirers, and is sure to duplicate the earlier successes achieved for the young people by the Blue Bonnet Series.
“The chief charm of the book is that it contains so much of human nature and it is a book that will gladden the hearts of many girl readers because of its charming air of comradeship and reality.”—The Churchman, Detroit, Mich.
THE AMBASSADOR’S TRUNK
By George Barton
Author of “The World’s Greatest Military Spies and
Secret Service Agents,” “The Mystery of the
Red Flame,” “The Strange Adventures
of Bromley Barnes,” etc.
Bromley Barnes, retired chief of the Secret Service, an important State document, a green wallet, the Ambassador’s trunk—these are the ingredients, which, properly mixed, and served in attractive format and binding, produce a draught that will keep you awake long past your regular bedtime.
Mr. Barton is master of the mystery story, and in this absorbing narrative the author has surpassed his best previous successes.
“It would be difficult to find a collection of more interesting tales of mystery so well told. The author is crisp, incisive and inspiring. The book is the best of its kind in recent years and adds to the author’s already high reputation.”—New York Tribune.
“The story is full of life and movement, and presents a variety of interesting characters. It is well proportioned and subtly strong in its literary aspects and quality. This volume adds great weight to the claim that Mr. Barton is among America’s greatest novelists of the romantic school; and in many ways he is regarded as one of the most versatile and interesting writers.”—Boston Post.
THE ROMANCES
OF
NATHAN GALLIZIER
Castel del Monte
The Sorceress of Rome
The Court of Lucifer
The Hill of Venus
The Crimson Gondola
Under the Witches’ Moon
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