Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-19

am more Of wizard than had my
self imagined
When told Sinfire three days since
that expected Henry to be here in few
days, told her white fib; at least ex-
pected him no more than have done
any time during the last three or ToUr
years. He might come, of course, but the
chances were about 10000 to that he
would not. The truth is was merely
trying an experiment. Various more or
less vague indications-some of them
trifies light as air-had suggested to my
mind the notion that Sinfre and Henry
had already met perhaps in India, and
that their meeting had not been without
an effect upon them both. What sort of
IN effect? | cannot pretend to say. But
taking into consideration Sinfre's beauty
and Henry's incorrigible susceptibility
and the power of fascination of both of
them it did not seem altogether unlikely
that they might have fallen desperately
in love with each other
So far, so good; there would be no par
ticular harm done. 1t was the sequel
able that they had come together it was
certain that they We're together no long
er. They had separated, and the tickle
ness of Henry's disposition made me sur
misc that Sinfre had not been the one to
blame. In other words, feared that he
had abandoned her Whether his wrong
had stopped there | had no means of
knowing. / could only hope-and be-
Eeve in lack Of proof to the contrary
that he had not shown himself villain.
Yet there was that in Sinfre's bearing
assuming my theory TO have some foun-
dation-that seemed to point to an ex-
perience much deeper and more tragic
than the mere jilting of a handsome girl
by thoughtless fellow.
Her misfortune, if she had been unfor-
tunate at all, could have been no trivial
one. Her self possession, her reserve. the
very transparency-so to call it-of her
expression, which, like the transparent
sky, concealed within its depths all mys-
teries-these things, and still more her
abrupt and practically unexplained APP
pearance among US, impressed me as tes-
timony to her being the victim but not
the resigned victim of some grave injus-
tice. She purposed to right herself, or if
that could not be to avenge herself, and
to that end had she come TO Cedarcliffe
Such was my line of argument. And
there was something more. | did not
believe that Sinfire was the daughter Of
my uncle. believed her to be of gypsy
blood. How she came TO know anything
of my uncle's affairs, and how she came
by his letter, could only conjecture,
but the problem was not insoluble. It
was harder to account for her cultiva-
ton, her perfect manners and her famil-
iarity with the ways of society, but great
natural tact and intelligence. Joined to
an unfaltering purpose, can accomplish
miracles. AMI. moreover, there might be
(and indeed must bel circumstances in
her past life, of which | know nothing
at present, that would partly explain it.
Still there is an enigma here that don't
pretend to fathom. But let Us recapitu-
late the situation as Iconeeiveit at pres
ent.
Sinfire Is gypsy who at some time,
in some way, has been brought into re-
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
ii more or less, Henry deserted her. Her
acquaintance with him had brought her
into contact with my uncle, whom Hen
~ 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 US say. by a knowl-
edge Of the wrong done her and . desire
to see it righted She came to rs. ex-