Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-30

presence OF tnrCe OJners-prleSls IN nigga
standing. But she was chosen and you,
my brother, saved her and restored her
to me. Then my fortune altered for a
time, and recovered some Of my money,
but yesterday d horrible thing happened.
] went again to his house and lost all
all; worse than that, alas!
Seeing me feverish blind. despairing.
he offered to wager all that he had won
from me- everything against my sis
ter, my Leila. You know that unde~ our
laws she is mine to he given away. sold,
bartcred or wagored-as the head Of tho
family possess hcr--and perhaps YOU
may not know that such debts "a these
are legal. Flushed with the aitsi which
he provides. and daz7led ut fine chance
to recover all my possessions, II accepted
the offer Tie next moncntW regretted
and tried to recall my hastv words, bat
it was too late. had lost! ] staggered
forth and rOamed about for hours. crazed
with shame and terror. ] thought of
self destruction, but what would that
avail me? Then l sought you, my broth
err, who know all things
Gilbert reflected for moment. 70
him, apart in thought and feeling from
kulcan and his people, the case seemed
almost trivial. Tie could not realize thaa
by the young priests indiscretjon he
might lose the very light Of his life He
viewed the transaction in IL seniludi-
CrOus light, and attempted to lay that
part Of it aside and consider only Kul-
cans financial condition, but the priest
soon convinced him that his terrible
wager was a reaity-a most serious and
momentous reality-and showed him tho
difficulty of an attempt to defeat Chal-
pas desires, in view Of the fact that the
entire priesthood and populace would
stand by him in exacting his just dues.
Kulcan reiterated his statement of the
legality of the wager. and said that
Chalpa had offered him bis revenge in
atfOrding him an opportunity to recoup
by wagerins,a thousand taos Of silver,
well knowing that he could by no posi-
bility obtain that sum. Herein, how
ever, Gilbert saw vague chance to es-
cape as he reflected upon lklapels ac-
count Of the fabulous sums Of gold and
silver in the underground vaults Of the
temple. In his character Of d god he
might. without doubt, convert some Of
this idle hoard in the endeavor to save
his darling. and he resolved to do 50.
But the difficulty was, even after the
money had been obtained, to play the
game to prevent Chalpa winning again.
Although convinced that the evil eyed
";l'ain had grossly cheated Kulcan, he
he'd no knowledge of the game and
knew of no means of detecting his
fraudulent practices.
Underlying all IN, medjtations WIS a
stern resolve to settle the affair, a3 well
as Chalpas existence, rs Il last resort,
by the argument of the pistol bullet,
but he determined TO try all other chan
nels before awaiting himself Of that
source.
Curiously enough. upon his suggesting
Chalpa's svindling, kulcan. whose IA
ture was utterly unsuspicioUS. himself
showed how he Thought it could badore,
and with IL wild sleam in his ewes as
the truth seemed for the first time not
merely to dawn upon linn. bur - hurSr
upon his mind in ncoullme glory. i'll Il
crushing. binding FISH Of conviction,
.t;rtcd up IS though to seek tire de-
stroyer Of his happiness and face him
with hisaccusutio.l, But Teic restrained
him. and after he had grown callu-~ 10
told him that lie would On ,4avor to help
him.
"But." he manfred. "Cocs Il5Ia,el OF
Leila know of tbi,:"
Not word" said Kulran, land how
shall tell Them? What viii they think
Of lnc.r
They mist Inc told "rrnl;ed Gilbert.
T and he linen hound Ku'csn ro foi.vrar
~nmIIiu~ forever by nm oafb which hs
devised nrou tbe suot an oath that
rhi}l.d tina sr,,ar.tition. nria-t's b4art "a
he rsprated if. for he feared G;lborrs
/ wondrous mower, with childlike ter
ror If was nlain to th4 Iar.ar Hat bs
meant 70 keen his promise.
/ sending HIM 10 illaneI with jnstruc.
/ tions TO Relate his Story to the old priest.
Gilbert went to Leila with much reluc.
,,nca fo,. he knew thar her love for hep