Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-12-06

ates and projects the darkest and most
dreadful elements of evil in the charac-
ter naturally depraved.
Lieut.. Prescott reported to the head
quarters Of his company, which was near
the eastern outskirts of the town, and 40
soon as he could get leave went toward
the Fenwicke mansion, the most pre-
tentious residence in the place.
1t was now near eight in the evening.
and fog, which the breeze had kept scat
tered, now fell. all silvered by the moon
over everything as the wind ceased to
blow. Love was not a laggard.
The lieutenant was walking very rap
idly, absorbed in gentle reflections and
impatient to reach the gate Of the man.
sion where, perhaps, Rose might meet
him and welcome him in, when, as he
turned corner. he collided with man
coming quite as swiftly from the opposite
direction They both fell heavily, Pres
colt on top. There was momentary
scramble and some unintelligible ejacu-
lations before they arose and faced each
other, glaripe through the fog.
Am inprec& 10 IF no uncertain sort
now leaped from be strangers lips, and
at the same time. his. arm flew out, his
clinched fist striking the lieutenant full
in the chest with such force that he
reeled back and came near falling again
The blow was so sudden, heavy and alto
gether unexpected that the surprise was
greater than the injury. Before Pres
cort could recover himself his assailant
had passed ON and was lost in the fog,
leaving behind him the sting of a very
cutting insult added to the indignity of
the fist stroke.
Take that, you internal rebel dog
and keep out of a gentleman's wayw
With these exasperating words ring
ing in his ears, and with the dull pain
of the buffet on his breast, the young
lieutenant whipped out his sword and
blindly tried to pursue; but the man
was gone.
Turning about presently he resumed
his way. most thoroughly excited and
actually trembling from head to foot
Never before had he felt such anger.
such uncomfortable and savage rage
The mans face was as firmly fixed in
his memory as if it had been painted
there, although he had seen it but dimly
1t was a strong rather stolid English
face, with long mustache, firm, cruel
mouth and peculiarly heavy though
straight and by no means i'll shaped nose.
I'm know the scoundrel if | ever see
him again" the lieutenant gnashed.
''and I'll break his neck if | can. con-
found him! A British emissary, I'll
wager my life.
There had been that in the fellows
voice which bespoke him gentleman in
one sense of the word-that is, it was
the voice of an educated man-and Pres
colt was somehow strangely impressed
(as he became aware when his fit of des-
perate rage had subsided) with certain
power in it. the power of one gifted in
some extraordinary way.
Altogether the bit of adventure had
left a vivid reflection on the young mans
mind. and it was with the sense Of hav-
ing passed crisis in his life that he
strobe on rather slowly, his pulse still
abnormally quick and his nerves tin
Cling strangely.
When he reached the gate of Mr.. Fen
wicke's house he found it locked and
looking up he saw no light in the win
dows. He raped upon the oaken bars,
hoping that Rose might hear him were
she near All was quite silent and still.
save that large mastif growled threat
eningly from some point inside the mar
row space between the wall and the house.
What could this mean? 1t was not
late. not late enough for the household
to be asleep Could they be gone away?
Some dark presentiment began to take
form in his brain as he stood with his
hand on the top of the tall gate. Again
he raped loudly and listened as the
sharp echoes ratified through the recesses
of the rambling and rather gloomy build
ing, which seemed to stare vacantly at
him 1t was mostly his excited imagina-
ton. for presently the negro porter came
and unlocked the gate, after inquiring
who it was that desired to enter. The
mastiif was troublesome. Evidently it
wished to get at the lieutenant. trying
to break away from the negro even after
Prescott had mounted the steps and was
changing noisily with the heavy brass
knocker A pleasant surprise awaited
the young man, however, for, instead of
a servant, Rose came to open the door,
which she did with the manner of one
who doubts the propriety of the act.
"Oh!' she cried out, starting and near
ly dropping the lamp. "ls it you. Lieut.
Prescott? | was not expecting you and
-and"--
why, how you tremble!" he ex-
claimed, stepping in and closing the door
behind him, his hand outstretched for
greeting. What it, Rose? What has
happened?"
She was pale. and the la1fp she bore in
her hand shook violently.
go away; don't speak again" she
whispered. "Quick-go!"
1t was now his turn to show surprise