The Gnomes of the Saline Mountains: A Fantastic Narrative

n he looked amazed around him. What had happened? He did not know at all. His limbs were helpless and he lay on the ground where he must have fallen. His treasured source

t up and trying to comfort him as much as he could, shaking his head wo

He did not see the gnomes anywhere. So it was n

nd heard must have been a stupid fancy of his tired brain. The best proof was, t

s daylight. "Thank God!" he exclaimed, while a feeling of unspeak

that stupid nonsense of tho

! What in Heaven's name, are yo

estion that he could pull himself together and answer in a st

ay. I was to give a humorous lecture at a neighboring hotel, and-and fell down," he s

h, my man. What can I do for you?" a

d have the great kindness to help bring me to the Mountain View Hotel. You see, I am expected t

ion. "My girlie must have all she needs. I-I couldn't stand it if they wer

right. I'll bring you there as w

ox," he heard the coachman say who stood by his si

riage was standing with two li

a while, and mysterious s

ithin the carriage. "To miss the table d'hote on accoun

e!... God

lightning. His eyes dilated, starting out of the

I still under the influence of that horrible hallucination?" he moaned

insolent gnomes, from the Traunstein, repeating the

Ogden, now in a sympathetic voice, and at the same time heeding the woman's

seat on the box, and then Mr. Ogden entere

es set off like the wind. "God

until he saw nothing but her seductive face, listened to nothing but her decei

d carriage with another man? No, no! It was

" he murmured smilingly to himself, drawing a long breat

isery into his life? Every fibre of his noble heart had been throbbing with uncontrollable love for her! And now--the light of life, the hope of future years,