Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-07-27
Beautiful ] i'm.
BY John Strange Winter.

her I've never seen her since the week
was In London before met you
But how could Etuart know?" she per
sisted
Beautiful Jim's face turned like a stone.
"He knew that had no hand In it-that
! was absolutely innocent, he replied.
Don't ask me any more. darling The
subject is too painful to me. for you know
old Owen was the best friend ! ever had
In all my hfe
For some minutes Nancy stood looking
at him her sweet doves eyes filed with q
light such as he had never seen shining In
their clear depths before
Il believe she said. slowly THAT you
know who committed that murder
Beautiful Jim returned her searching
gaze wit h one US steady and as true. but
he kept silent
Apparently Nancy took 1t as an answer.
for she made no attempt TO press the ques
tion for "a question 1t was. though not
put In the form of one-further. instead.
she put anoihe and one much more ditf
cuh for Jim 10 answer
does Stuart know alsof'
The words rang out clear and sharp. as
such words might fall from the lips Of all
accusing angel
Jim said nothing. and she repeated the
question imperiously Then he spoke.
Nancy. my dear. If you love me and
trus, me- ask me no more about this mis-
erable affair. lie said imploringly If
keep silence when ] know will not you.
who trusted me when appearances were
dead against me. trust me stillY'
1T is not that do not trust you i'm
plicitly. utterly absolutely" she said,
gently. but if yon know anything and
are shielding guilty person. let me beg
OF you. for your own sake, for mine, to
hide nothing Jim. my dear. do you real
ize that you are not safe yourself so long
as this crime remains unpunishedf At
any moment matters might take fresh
turn against you and you might be-
hanged"
Jim shook bis head and smiled a.. her
fears
mo, could always speak"
"And you wouldf' eagerly.
"ln that case-yes
Then let me beg and pray Of yo,l to
speak now" she cried. earnestly linn.
believe me. 1t can do 10 good to shield the
guilty II is kind Of you-but in such a
ease 'silence- even from the kindest uo-
! tiees, becomes a crime Jim. dear. It is
the first thing ! have osSed Of YOU"
The sadness in Beautiful Jim's hoi rest
eyes turned to distress
My dear. he said. you don't know
how hard IL is for me to refuse you any
thing II had done it myself would
60 and give myself up at once; but as it
Is. if speak the blow will fall the heavi
est upon those v ho are perfectly limo
cent. who do not even guess that such 4
shadow has or ever could come near
them"
They would probably be the first to
say, Let justice be donei'" she cried
Jim looked at her keenly lie saw that
she had no suspicion of the truth; that it
never entered her mind that it might be
over her that this black and shameful
shadow hungl He knew that she had
been from her cradle taught to look upon
honor as before all that the traditions Of
her house contained many and many an
example of fair and gracious women who
had hidden the men they loved go forth
to battle, and, cost them what it might,
had never 1inched in the hour of parting;
who oven though the one life dearest of
all on the earth to them had been laid
down. had yet. heart broken as they were,
gloried In their own fortitude lie saw
that she was of the same race. this girl he
loved SO dearly
"Supposng that such a test came to
yourscliY' he asked.
IF il was my own brother | would de.
liver him up to justieel" she cried proudly,
And your father
MY fatherl Ali might hesitate for
him. she admitted, though. mind. he
would not hesitate himself"
That decides me. said JIM heaving q
great sigh of relief This man has "a
parent too. who is old and without re.
proach. That is why have stained my.
self with crime, Nancy; for crime it is,
though hope it will not 60 hard with me
hereafter. being committed through
mercy"
The girl was conquered.
Jim. you have better heart team l.
You are more nerciful by far. will take
back my request, but only on one condi-
tion."
(which is?" he asked.
"That If personal danger from this ST.
lence should ever threaten you. you will
speak out.
IL promise you that"
And you are sure it Is safe?'-anxi-
ously
FROM luc WoTSI-yeS! sLuii w DO
verely blamed, and probably severely pun.
ished, If it ever comes to light that have
hidden my knowledge, when my allegiance
to the queen commands me to speak; but
there will always be sympathy for re. |
think.
"And you actually have the proofsf
There is no mistake about that3" she per
sisted
II hold the proof myself" he answered;
land shall do so as long as live. or until
the truth comes to light.
She professed herself satisfied-gently
said that she would have been better
pleased If no such mystery had been hang
Ing over him, nor could he in any way
blame her for that
"You will SEQ my father when he comes
in2" she asked He is at his club now.
but he will be in to lunch
"Oh! yes would like to see him and
get 1t oil settled as quickly as possible"
Jim answered, with alacrity Poor iellow.
the prospect of seeing her father was
much more congenial topic of conversation
than the details of poor Owens cruel muir