Explorers of the Dawn

he hall below was a cramped passage, guarded by three closed doors. Time and time again we had been tempted to explore it, but there was a sinister aloofness about it that had hitherto

wo doors in succession, which were locked. The

behind Angel, glad of the warm

courage to grope our way to the low casement, and it was a struggle to dislodge the rusty bolt, and press the window out on its unused hinges. It creaked so loudly that we held our breath for a moment, but we drew it agai

ght as though waiting for some great happening which they expected, but did not understand. They wore an air of expectancy and hum

came from The Sera

ars left over from the night-see! that big blue one in the ea

waid of the Dawn

lted right across the sky, and the little one will p'r

the sole of a shoe, an' the boy who wears the shoe will twinkle w

said Angel, "that's t

d, as of strong wings; our hair was lifted from our h

ow it would surge through the dim aisles of cathedral-like forests, ruffling the plumage of drowsy birds, stirri

oofs; a flock of little clouds huddled together above this, like timorous sheep at graze. The w

er of the new environment, as was his custom. I could hear the soft opening and shutting of

le drew me

up?" I d

at last," he muttered, "full of

omen's things; delicate, ruffly frocks of pink and lilac; and undergarments edged with yellowing lace. A sweet scent rose from them, as of some gentle presence that strove to reach the light and air once more. A pair of little white kid slippers looked as though they longed to twinkle in and out beneath a s

tion of the mystery-for hidden away with thimble and scissors as one would secrete a treasure, was a fat little book, "The Mysteries of Udolpho." Some one had drawn on the fly leaf,

er my shoulder now. We we

had she'd never have allowed her to wear these things. Look how she jaws when Mary Ellen spends her wage on finery. I'll bet Lucy was a beauty. And she's dea

came from the windo

ar has fallen down t

and the cobbler is

s wunning do

ll show you what Lucy was like-just a

ood a pier glass, whose tarnished frame was draped in white net. Before it Angel

lilac silk gown, and under the hem in the most natural attitude peeped the little party slippers. A small lace and velvet bonnet with streamers was hung at the apex of the creation, and in her lap (for the time has come to use the feminine pronoun) he spread

"Evwy bit of evwy fing is shinin'!

indow and leaned

boughs of peach and apricot hung over the gates of heaven, and rosy spirals curled upward from two chimneys. Pink-footed pigeons strutted, rooketty-cooing along the roofs. They nodded their heads as though to affirm the consummation of a mirac

all the glory of the morning and was releasing it in quivering spears of light that dazzled me for a moment; I rubbed my eyes, and stared, and shook a little, for in the midst of all thi

faint perfume of her, and I saw then that she was not looking at me, but at the fat little book of "The Mysteries of Udolpho" which I

her hands-saw her slender fingers curl around it-heard her little gasp of joy.

e door did open and-Mrs