Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-09-23

lations with polite society and learned
its ways. Either before or after this
time she met my brother Henry, and
they fell in love with each other. After
the affair had gone certain length, be
it more or less, Henry deserted her. Her
with him had brought her
into contact with my uncle, whom Hen
ry perhaps was staying with. After
Henry left her she attached herself to
my uncle. he being childless, or having
lost his children, and widower, and won
his confidence.
At his death he left her what small
property he had and gave her the letter
which she brought to us, he being
prompted thereto, let MS say, by a lnowl-
edge Of the wrong done her AMI a desire
to see it righted. She came to us. ex-
pecting that sooner or later Henry would
return and that she would then be able
to force him 20 come to terms-either to
marry her or to account to her in some
manner. She would even be capable OF
stabbing him through the heart Il 1t
should come to that. Such was the -
pect Of my theory at the time of our in
terview in tho laboratory.
The result of tint interview, 50 far g
it had any result. was to confirm me in
the leading points of my theory that
she was a gypsy and that Henry wa' no
stranger to her. 1t was not conclusive,
but il was certainly not contradictory OF
these hypothesis. 1t would involve the
disappointment of Johns hopes. AID it
would com licate my own attitude to-
ward Sinire. Ought | to expose her a1
an adventures? No. For two reasons
first. that it is not absolutely certain tbs:
she il one; secondly, that even it she lie
all ina ;ine she still has ham-n ri5l ats
Of her own, aud the affair is Heary's
rather than mine. II it came TO an open
tri Il. l could almost briI.g myself On
general principles to es?onse her cause
against Henry, my best beloved brother
though lie is.
But here is another point. She must
be aware of my sugpicions of her. Nill
she refuse to allude to them. or will she
speak to ne openly If she does speak,
trusting to my friendship for her, what
shoull do? Imust either brutally cast
her off or become Involved in her intrigue
against the rest of the family. That
would DO strange predicament for n re
tiriny. una,gressive man of science like
myself, and there is no telling where it
might land us. / greatly prefer to stick
to my time honored role of onlooker.
But if do intend to expose her it would
be much easier 20 do so now, before any
irrevocable words have passed between
us, than after she has thrown herself on
my honor. II she surrenders me her
sword, cannot turn it against her.
And yet, il not against her, it must be
for her.
What is the matter with me? My
will rs well as my Judgment seems par
alyzed. can adopt neither the active
nor the passive course. l feel as If
changes were going on within me or
were at hand. A few weeks ago, recol-
lect, my longing was for an awakening
something to gold me out Of the torpor
tnat was benumbing me. Is it the first
faint prick of the goad that feel now,
vr am l about TO relapse into torpor
or the other will happen, am sure, but
standing here at the parting of the ways
l can hardly say which course incline
10 take.
Why should bother my head about
It? When the time comes. although shall
seem to make free choice, l shall do
as has been predestined from the begin
ming. The conditions and events of ones
past life determine his present action.
What has been steers one round toward
what is to be. In this sense we are crea-
lures of fate.
Nevertheless the future remains I'M
known. And that fact, which seems a
disadvantage to us, is in reality our sole
weapon against blind necessity, for if
we saw all beforehand we should be de-
feated before the struggle began, but as
1t is the surprise Of the unforeseen may
sometimes stimulate us to act above our
selves.
Well, then, will cease to prophesy
what may happen during the next few
days or weeks. But set out to record
a piece Of news which has an important
bearing on the situation. The other
evening as entered the house by the
veranda heard masculine voice talk
ing In the dining room. 1t was not
Johns voice. Ifelt myself grow hot and
cold. And then I stood in the dining
room door and saw Henry sitting ut the
table.
CHAPTER VII.