Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-10-14
CHAPTER XIII.

There was nothing miraculous in her
appearing at that moment, but it is GER
tain that | was never more startled In
my life. So far as have noticed genuine
surprises are not nearly so common as
they are popularity supposed to be. For
my own part at any rate have gener-
ally found myself in an attitude to ac-
cept whatever happens as something to
be more or less expected. 1t is not a
conscious premonition, but kind of in
slant and instructive accommodation of
ones self to circumstances. 1t simply
means that the man and his environment
are essentially in harmony. But now
and then there is an abrupt exception
to this rule. and then everything seems to
break away. and there is chaos.
The news Of Henry's death. profound
ly though it affected me and amazed
me. too. did not startle me at all. Per-
haps it struck too deep for that; perhaps
the dream from which had just awai;-
ened had been dream of foreboding. Be
that as it may. it steldied even while it
appalled, Inc. But this sudden appari-
tion of Sinfire at my elbow unnamed
me completely. had not been think
ins of her directly at all: she had formed
III my mind no more than Il feature Of
the general circumstances: ! WIS not
prepared to consider her separate rela.
tion to the event: she was 10 miles away.
as | supposed. and hours would pass
before any hint of what had occurred
would reach her. Yet here she was lnys-
teriously on the spot-almost before TIE
corpse of the man she had loved and
hated had stiffened into its final rigidity.
stared at her in silence. striving to
prepare myself for knew not what
other shock. Had she witnessed the
murder3 Had she any purpose to full
fill A score of wild conjectures few
through my head. loved her; she was
the great and only passion of my life;
she had transfigured me-almost created
me: whatever might do or be hereaf .er
would be due to her. but there are Il
time and mood for all things. and
was in no mood. standing where | did.
to think of anything tender and sacred.
Ny nerves and faculties We're tuned
to something different. aaa | could not
divest myself of the idea tsI2t she was
about to connect herself III some way
with the omnipreSent horror.
She was dressed in her scarlet riding
habit. which she had taken with her to
the lake. intending, as she said. to ride
back the next day. In the darkness of
the night it would have been indiStin-
guishable from any other color but with
the rays Of the lamplight falling upon it
its vivid hue CLEANED out with Il strik-
ing intensity. Her derringer hing in a
sling from her belt ON the right side,
Her lips were compressed, her eyes bril-
liant with concentrated light. Her glance
seemed TO question or challenge me, but
after II few silent moments she turned
her face slowly toward the conca. which
she approached lingeringly, Within Il
few feet Of it she paused and gaZel down
upon the dead.
"How came this?" she asked at length
not altering her attitude.
He was murdered in the wood We
brought Lim here"
Murdered in the wood! Murderelr
she repeated i'll murmur. Il thought
you were i'll" she added, CHANGING up,
and then before could reply. ~ hc
did ity" she inquired.
"The murderer alone knows" said |.
at seems cruel He loved to be alive
and he didn't expect it. was the next re
mark She fetched a long sigh. 81
would have spared his life
Would you have him alive again?"
demanded.
How can | tellT' she returned "lt
is donev
Those words. 1T is donew had sad
ness and solemnity in them that pierced
through my resentment and sternnes:
and made me feel. asI had not done be
fore, that the horror was not only hor
TOR. but that it was irrevocabie forever