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Colonel Dare refused to be comforted, unless, indeed, he could rejoice at the escape of the dove from the eagle’s clutches. Now that the girl was lost to him, Hammond was willing to accept terms before declined; and the Dare ancestral home was at once put upon the market for sale.

Eldon Brand had no near relatives, but there were many to mourn his untimely fate.

* * * * *

Some hours after the disappearance of the lovers, Stephen, the guide, re-entered the cave with a large bundle in his arms, and accompanied by a single tourist, a sedate man who was a stranger to the region. They proceeded along the short route to the chapel. Adjusting the torches, Stephen gave a low whistle, when from behind a mammoth stalagmite came forth a young man and a fair maiden, who took their stand in the Double Niche.

Eldon Brand had left nothing undone during his hours of preparation; and when the man of God stood before the youthful pair, he held in his hands the properly authenticated document which was to cement the marriage tie in the civil courts. He had never before officiated at so unique a bridal, and when once more on terra firma proper, he bore the secret away to his Northern home.

Days passed and still the tragic fate of the hapless lovers held a place in fireside chats.

Night had fallen. All was quiet in the sparsely settled neighborhood of Cave Hotel. Stephen, the guide, with basket and torch, swiftly descended the winding stairs and entered the grand colonnade, where the bats still held high carnival. He pushed on, sometimes a little cramped for space, till he reached the black avenue he had called Dan. Stooping he possessed himself of a string that was fastened to a stake in the ground, and followed its course through intricate windings till a light glimmered in the distance. Whistling softly, he advanced more rapidly. A shadow was flung upon the curtains of a doorway, and parting the folds, a figure appeared at the opening.

“Ah, old fellow, you never forget us,” was the cheery greeting.

“Not I,” said the man, “I think you will find your list all made out here,” depositing his basket inside.

The room was small and irregular in shape, but good taste and moderate expenditure had converted it into a rustic boudoir of no mean pretensions. Cretonne hangings concealed the rough walls, and a few small pictures served to confine their bright folds to the uneven surface of earth and rock. The earthen floor was covered by a mat. A couch of the light, portable kind was daintily spread. A shelving rock, covered with a mat of Japanese print, held a never-failing lamp, and two camp-chairs completed the furniture, which had been conveyed into the cave with the utmost care and secrecy. A few books and a number of papers lay scattered about. The presiding deity of the fairy bower looked a radiant welcome for the trusty ally upon whom they were dependent.

“You dear old Stephen! Don’t you think it is time we ventured out into the world again?”

“Why, I think this looks like Heaven!” he said, with the freedom of his office, “I don’t know what you’d leave it for.”

“Yes, but you know that if it were not for your basket we should be forced to appear. But I am learning to manage the ovens and pans. See here,” and opening an inner curtain she revealed an alcove, where a few primitive cooking utensils were collected beside a small gasoline stove.

“I reckon your cooking don’t come to much more than warming over my bill of fare,” said Stephen, with an involuntary glance at the soft white hands, and an indulgent smile for the young housekeeper.

“Oh, but I do cook, really,” she protested. “Eldon, did you ever taste nicer eggs? And the water down there carries off all the shells and scraps. Hear it rush along now!” and busily the stream did run to flow into Green river, so the knowing ones said. “But,” she added; “if my father only knew. The moment we hear that that hateful man has gone abroad we will defy all the rest. Do you know, Stephen,” in a lower tone, “we were very near being caught on the hill to-day. I was all bent over as usual in my old woman’s dress, and Eldon was limping along on his crutch stick when–hark! what was that?”