Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1894-03-24


would have sprung up and retained
Mere Lucas TO learn the worst and end my
suspense, but fear nnnerved me and made
me poweriess to move or act
The carriage drew mp before the door. ]
heard Mere Lucas voice, and then Taras
spoke in reply. could not catch his words
but there wss noshing IN the tone Of his
voice to indicate that appalling change for
which 1 had been prepared. What had the
men-Kavanagh' a9ents-done TO him that
night when they called him to the doorf
Had they inflicted such injuries a. TO do
prive him Of reasonf That was the greatest
calamity could imagine
He was in the hall now. Every word he
spoke was distinctly audible.
"Oh, there was plenty Of time" he said.
I'VE had nearly . quarter OF an hour 70
waat beSore the train came In. The air h
soft this morning. Spring has come again.
mothcr. Iwih go in the garden till lunch
.Ame.s
There was nothing in shis to signify nasn-
Isl defangemehs; che only thing that struck
me was that 10 spoke with Less decision
than Of cid. that there was an accent Of do
pepdsnce in his tone And observed that
the sound Of his footstep was not the sszne
At one time should have distinguished It
from q thousand. now l should not have
known It for his It had been firm and
light and quick. now Il was slow and heavy
and shutting, like the step Of old age. Mere
Lucas went out with him into the garden
at the back Of the house. passing 30 near
the room where sat that heard the rustic
Of her skirt. Did he need her support that
she accompanied him step by steps What
had they done 70 himi Was be manned
for lifeS
As their voices faded away, suspense b.
came intolerabis. l stole cautiously out Of
the room and along the passage leading 70
the garden at the back Approaching the
door, perceived Mere Lucas coming alone
across the lawn toward me. She saw me
and raised her finger to bid me be silent
then, stopping, she glanced back, raised her
two hands and let them TALL in pity and
beckoned me to advance
Invent as far as the door, and there on
the threshold | stopped spellbound. Taras
sat on garden seat on the opposite side Of
the lawn. his hands folded idly on his knes
Il was strange to see him, Of old so nervi
ously active. sitting motionless without a
book, paper or sketchbook In his hand
with nothing to occupy his eager mind. but
It was not that which made my heart stand
still. His face was turned directly toward
me, and yet he took no notice of me- l
moved forward a step. stretching out my
hands involuntarily, and still he sat un
moved and motionleas Then knew what
had befallen him--what those hired Villains
had done that night He was blind; they
had destroyed his eye&
My emotion was too deep and terrible for
teaxA Icould only stand there clAsping
my hands In an agony Of pity
Tia tears were running down Mere Lur
cas- cheeks as abe came 70 my side and laid
her hand in sympathy upon my arm. She
would have led ms away. bat I shook my
head, refusing TO 60
HE will sit like that for hours" she
whispered, listening to the birds It Il ali
be can do" ..a
Silently crossed the lawn and dropped
upon my knees before him. awestricken
By bis passive inconsistencies, his help
lessness aIsl the calm. sad reeignation In
his noble face. In that sweet presence no
~bsn I isft him nv .oni WAS sfirrsS w;th
y,ndict,ve nassion and a great CRAVING sor
ysnoesnca nnon the rem orseless Villain VINO
Ma S,r.cL II tha I;sa ~ ~. fr;ara ,,os.....d
ma + vowed frat Ksvana0h .bonId h.
hronobt to sccount thas hs shonld snfF.r
=. he had msde Taraa anfYer. ana that n
iustics refnaed 10 nnniah Rim then INV hAnd
shonid striLs ths Nov
This burning passion sharpened INV vita
uhinnad ,tn nv aa0oin0 spergv and n.
animated INV courase. The nscesssitv uf
srorecv was more evident 10 ma now than it
hsd bsan hitherto
.v 49,. ~