Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-08-17
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curtains of the palanquin, called out:
Master, we are here. Look! This Is
Beraresw
Ere long the bearers halted at q
charming villa outside the city. In an
other moment Sir George was clasped
in the welcoming arms of his father
and his brother. When they had
grown calmer, Sir John exclaimed:
But what delayed you, George? We
expected you yesterday"
George smiled.
ga singular incident" he answered.
''Both Stop and took an uninterrupted
nap Of twenty-four hours. We were
overtaken by the storm, and sought
shelter in the ruined Temple of Silva"
'"The ruins of the Temple of Siva?"
repeated Sir John, a shudder passing
over him as he uttered the words.
eyes. father"
"And you and Stop have slept twen-
ty-four hours, you tell me?"
eyes"
"And Kazil?"
Gle, too, slept, presume; although
he maintains to the contrary. For my
part, have had the most charming ev-
idence of my slumber in dream"
"Ah!" murmured Sir John Malcolm.
"a delicious DREAM" continued Sir
George, chat would not exchange for
the most intoxicating reality, If it
might be renewed"
"And, by chance, did a woman take
part in it?'
eyes, father-a woman most ador-
able!w
"rell me your dream, emitting moth
iDr ,,occi,,o ovor ,Othin~S
but why?"
"You shall know later-speak first"
Sir John listened with an attention
that never wandered, as, somewhat
surprised George acceded to mis- re-
quest
When he had finished, he spoke, for
the first time since the beginning Of the
recital.
eff 1 have understood Alright" he
said, ''this woman was masked?"
Yes
"You insisted many times that she
should permit you to see her face, but
She always refused?"
yes"
"What is the last memory of your
uream-her last action?"
'She made me breathe an intoXicat-
chief was saturated
"Ahr' cried Sir John, with an accent
of triumph. 81 was sure Of it!'
"Of what, father?" asked George, i'll
firitely puzzled
THAT the skillful creature had en-
p1oyed to put you to sleep anew, one Of
the most powerful Indian narcotics.
You have not dreamed my boy-your
inns
masked woman lives! More than once
I have sought to trace her in her role
of siren"'
SIS it possible?" stammered George.
'Possible and positive!' replied his
father.
'srhen I have not dreamed" contin-
ued the young man; adding, as to
himself: II would like again to see
her,
The judge made a sudden movement.
You cannot love her, he cried,
stsince YOU have never seen her face"
Love her? No! Why should love
her? But there is about her Il fascina>
ton which allures me-"
"Happily, you will never see her
again.
.Who knows?' thought George NAL
colin.
at is not to this mysterious siren you
must give your heart" continued the
old man. "a pure and lovely child is
to claim it; and when you know Agnes
Bartell-whom, 1 hope, Will become
your wife-you will dream no more Of
the entertainments Of this Gree of Hin
dostan. You will understand that your
happiness and destiny are near this
~, ,1, iS q
as her body"
"Agnes Bartell"' repeated George.
esWhen, father, am I to meet herr"
every soon-in a few days, at the
latest. few weeks. Her sister, Helsl,
is your brother, Edwards fiancee.
They are both orphans, and my wards"
"Ard YOU believe that shall love
Agnes?"
mot to love her would be to own
yourself blind and deaf. The charms
of her face and the sweet music of her
voice would conquer her heart, were it
armed with indifference and colder
than MARBLE
s4Ah we'll. SO much the betterv cried
George Il have never truly loved, and
am most anxious to make free gift of
my heart"
But not of this hearts claimant was
the young man thinking. as, the even
ing of the second day following his ar
rival he sauntered out alone beyond
the limits of the garden surrounding
the villa.
Through thiclly shaded path he
slowly strolled, wondering if his father
had guessed rightly, and if his dream
after all, had been reality, and all I'M
conscious that, a few steps behind him,
followed tall, white shadow, whose
feet made no sound upon the gravel OF
the path.
Suddenly he shuddered-a hand rest
ed upon his shoulder. He turned to
find himself facing gigantic phantom
an apparition enveloped from head to
foot in long. white veil, three open
ings in which indicated alone the posi-
ton of the eyes and mouth.
John Malcolm had obtained a prom
Use from his son that he would never
;; go out without carrying in his hand q
Hindoo pogiard and two small pocket
pistols. He now sized one of the lat
ter. crying out:
'sTake care--I am armed"
"Yolr wea pom is useless answered
voice, in bad English. "You have
nothing to fear from me-"