Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-09-16

accustomed to the gloom she perceived
that the walls were Of solid stone. left
undisguised in their naked simplicity.
The ceiling appeared to be vanlted. and
at the end opposite the door there was
large fireplace, with sort Of hollow ga
ole built over it, giving it somewhat the
aspect of cavern.
On the right of the fireplace as yot
faced it there was window in deep
embrasure, heavily curtained. On the
opposite side of the room was sort OF
cabinet Of dark wood fastened against
the wall and glazed in front with two
broad sheets of plate glass. The floor at
this end was covered with soft Indian
rug of a dull reddish hue. Beneath
the window stood large table covered
with a number of objects of singular
shape, apparently used by the alchemist
in his experiments. Other paraphernalia
were collected within the penthouse OF
the fireplace, upon the hearth of which
was placed a kind of brazier, wherein
hickered pale blue fame. A low sofa
or divan, furnished with silken cushions.
was SO arranged as to front partly to
ward the glazed cabinet and partly to
ward the fireplace. Upon this divan tn
alchemist motioned his visitor to take
her seat.
"You feel no nervousness" he said
letting his fingers rest for a moment Oh
her wrist.
II feel at home" she replied. ''for the
first time since | left lndiaW
II must be Indian then, for it is my
home" observed the other.
when first saw you and heard you
speak, you brought India to my mind, v
was her answer. mo one but Hindoo
ever had such black eyes as yours or so
soft voice. You are as different from
your brother as Calcutta is from Lin
colnshire."
81 have two brothers." said he.
"But Henry is not like you either"
"A connecting link perhaps. He is
hazel eyed, with curly chestnut hair. |
wish you could see him."
II can imagine what he is. | have
seen his portrait. He does not explain
you. But the Buddhists believe that
the souls of the dead live again in such
bodies as Karma appoints for them.
Perhaps you were Hindoo in your for
mer state"
"And Saprani was the queen of my
heartl Well, she would hardly have
been more beautiful as an Indian prin
cess than she is now. A serpent is the
only thing fit to be compared with a
woman"
Most women might not think that a
compliment"
But you are not like most women,
Sinfre"
Introduce me to Saprani," said the
visitor, leaning forward and clasping
her slender hands on her knees.
The alchemist rose from the divan and
advanced toward the glazed cabinet, He
wore long dark tunic confined at the
waist and falling to his feet. On his
head was a cap somewhat after the fash
ion of Turkish fez. Standing in front
of the cabinet, he drew from his girdle
q long slender wand and tapped with it
several times on the glass which protect
ed the left hand division of the cabinet.
The light from the brazier, mingling
with the red rays from a colored lamp
depending by chain from the ceiling,
shone family into the interior of the
cage and revealed something moving
there with slow and stealthy motion.
Gradually this object approached the
glass and partly reared itself up against
it. 1t displayed the head and glistening
black neck of magnificent cobra. its
sides spotted with gold. The alchemist
touched a pulley, and the glass rose up
ward like window, leaving the front of
the cage open.
He then retired three or four PAGES.
keeping his eyes fixed upon the serpent,
and crouched noiselessly down upon the
carpet until he squatted upon his heels.
Meanwhile the cobra remained motion
less in the cage, with its head lifted.
The alchemist now drew from the folds
of his robe short instrument of cylin-
drical shape, pierced with holes after the
manner of flute. 1t was made of ebony
and highly polished and was decorated
with bits of red coral and pendants of
sparkling crystal. 1t was toumril,
brought from India and used by the ser
pent charmers in their incantations.
Raising it to his lips. he drew from it
soft and plaintive sounds, pleasing to
the ear, yet differing in some essential
respects from the music of the west
The sounds gradually grew louder,
though never losing their soft, insinuat-
ing quality, until the vault of the cham
Der seemed to resound with echoes of
soothing potency.
At the first notes the cobra had changed
Its position, turning its head toward the
player. AS the music continued slow
continuous shifting was observable
throughout its glistening coils. The for