Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-04
CHAPTER XXXI.

house he felt as if he had escaped from
prison, but once beyond the Valleyof Lilies
and out of immediate danger, the encbant-
ment returned. and it seemed to him that
he must have had glimpse OF the dominion
of a magician. AT the same time he was
animated by feeling of resentment to-
wards Rant. He glowed with indignation
at the afIront to which Ranf had subjected
him, not thinking that he had offered suf-
ficient cause for it. 1t was in a tone of
scornfuI defiance that Rant had said, q Use
your discovery" He was a young man,
eager for revenge, and not being cast in too
generous mold, he used it to RANTS dis
advantage. He did not make it public
He sought advice from high authority in
the isle, who, upon hearing the strange
story, enjoined upon him the advisability
of not babbliDg about it.
il affects the well-being of the COM
munity," said the elder, and until the
truth is ascertained, must not be too freely
discussed
1.-THE truth is as I have spoken.
There is no reason to distrust you, but
your senses may have been deceived. You
say you do not know the woman you saw
with Rant
IS 1 did not recognize her; her face was
NOS distinctly visible.
She must be woman of the isle.
Yes-if she is mortal
His interlocutor smiled, having no belief
IN the supernatural.
1t shall be inquired into. In the
meantime, be discreet
The matter was confded to six of the
elders. who. in their deliberations, found
themselves ever at loss when the subject
of the woman was introduced.
cit was not possible" they said, that,
unknown to them, Rant could have brought
female to the isle"
Rant was intimate with only three
women among then-the Sylvesters and
Evangeline. In their perplexity they sent
for Matthew Sylvester He listened to
the story in silence.
''Your suspicion, he said, ''points to
one of the members of my household but
to my certain knowledge not one was alb
sent from our home On the night of the
adventure"
This added to the complication, and they
determined that the hunchback should be
called upon for an explanation. A sum
nous was prepared in the following terms
"To him known as Rant:
Whereas it has come to our knowledge
that you are sharboring in your house a
woman of the Silver Isle. In this, unless
our informant is laboring under a delusion,
the honor Of the isle is concerned. You
are amenable to our laws, which we shall
not permit TO be violated, and we callupon
You to appear before US, and render clear
account Of yourself. If you refuse, we
shall know what course TO take"
To this was appended the day and hour
on which Ranf was expected to appear,
and the signatures OF the elders.
Who was to deliver the summons? It
was necessary that Ranf should receive it /
personally, so that he might not have the
excuse of ignorance to fall back upon.
The man who had given the information
would not undertake the task, having
sensible fear of the hunchback. In this
difficulty Matthew Sylvester offered him
self.
81 viii deliver the summons, and viii
bring back RANTS reply"
lie sought the hunchbaol, that very
day. and found him.
Rant read the summons thoughtfully,
and said
They are careful of their honor. What
course viii they take if refuse to at
tend :"
You will be banished from the isle"
THAT would please them but will
not give them the opportunity. So long
as l keep within the law, they cannot
touch me. I acknowledge their authority,
and viii obey the summons, on one con-
dition It is condition have right to
make"
Name it. II it is just, they viii not
object
"It is just. They say that I am har-
boring woman of the isle. II it be SO,
the woman is to be judged as veil as l.
That is So She viii be judged"
at is right that she should be judged
in my company. Tell them to amend the
summons, so that it shall include all who
are guilty. Women are weak creatures,
Matthew Sylvester, and I may be better
able to speak for this one than she for her
sell"
Your condition viii doubtless be COM
piled with"
make them my full submission in all
matters in which their honor is at stake.
They will, perhaps, also grant me little
grace. Being on my trial, have to pre-
pare my defense. The summons is some
what too sudden let it be fixed for two
days later than the day named herein"
There viii be no difficulty" said
Matthew Sylvester, and prepared to de-
part, but Ranf detained him.
"You have not too high an opinion of
me, Matthew Sylvester.
q have never spoken against you, and
have often thought of you with sincere
compassion"
&" 1 thank you. In the earlier years of
my life my spirit was sorely wounded; 1
suffered much from the injustice of men.
You see am not above advancing claim
TO your compassion; but only to You and
yours would l make such admission. 1t
has often brought balm to my soul to
think that in one house within this isle
was not regarded as an aceursed thing"
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