tructed view of the interior of the archway.
Through the center, where the lower disc of the open circles touched the
ground, ran a deep bed of coarse gravel, covered with a thick layer of
smooth round pebbles, forming a perfectly drained pathway about three
feet in width which extended uniformly from one end of the archway to
the other. Conforming to the contour of the arches, rising and receding
in unison, this pathway was bordered on either side by what appeared to
be a continuous terrace of three stone benches, each one foot high and
of the same width. These benches really were very heavy square terra
cotta pipes, ingeniously cemented together with telescopic joints, and
having thick, grooved covers which formed the protecting conduits for
the wires of the lighting system and the pipes of the irrigating and
heating apparatus.

Artistically arranged on these benches, in pots that were beautifully
modeled, colored and glazed, was a wonderful collection of choice ferns,
embracing all of the known varieties in prodigal profusion. The pots
were so arranged that the smaller varieties occupied the lower benches,
with the larger ones in gradually increasing sizes on the higher benches
farther back. Viewed from either end of the archway they formed two
matchless banks of the rarest verdure and the loveliest foliage
the world ever saw. Everywhere the eye was delighted by great
masses of drooping fronds of delicate green, like rare lace in
fineness--outrivaling in beauty the plumes of the famous birds of
paradise.

"This is simply superb!" exclaimed Fillmore Flagg. "I never saw anything
one half so lovely! Shall we walk through now?"

"Wait a moment, Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick. "The twilight shadows are
so deep you have, as yet, caught only a glimpse of the rare beauty of my
lovely ferns." Stepping quickly to the right side of the first arch, she
pressed a button and lo! those wonderful banks of ferns, and all the
space of the archway, was flooded with a glory of soft, clear light. A
thousand tiny bulbs, in a lovely variety of flower and fern leaf
patterns, gleamed and glowed from beneath the ferny banks or hung
pendant, rainbow like, from the roof of this rock ribbed archway.

Held spellbound for some moments by his surprise, admiration and
delight, Fillmore Flagg murmured softly, almost in a whisper: "Can
anything surpass this vision of perfect beauty?"

"Yes," said Fern Fenwick, radiant and smiling, "I think it can