Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1901-09-04

A MAN and woman stood upon
IA the broad piazza apparently in
the act of parting. cat, black as
midnight, perched upon the girls
shoulder and formed a pleasing con-
trast to her white dress, and set off
to advantage her blond loneliness
Flora, in defense of her pet, was
wont to declare that it possessed a
soul that had once inhabited the
body of one of the Magi, or even that
OF Zoroaster himself. For, said she,
"he literally wOrships a fire, adores
all the sunny places, and his powers
of divination are wonderful
Mr.. Lyndon did not share her adj
miration of the animate seemed to
regard him with n peculiar malevo-
lence.
Just before leaving, she asked his
assistance in closing a number of
windows, which had been left open
on account of the warm evening.
The situation of the house was
somewhat remote, sheltered from the
street by extensive grounds and inter-
cepting shrubbery, and to one I'M
familiar with the place, might have
appeared lonely.
This tendency was ordinarily re-
stricted through reason of The i'm
mediate family consisting of some
five or six persons, but for various
reasons, as Flora explained, almost
every member had been called away
from the city, and now there was
only her brother, at home, though her
father was expected on a train that
arrived about midnight
Mr. Lyndon listened to this expla-
nation with great apparent interest.
1t was surprising, indeed, with what
gravity and attention he hung upon
her words, or, rather, it was natural
and fattering. Not the least pleas
ing element in his consideration was
that his regard seemed more deeply
enlisted as the evening wore to a close
"a striking tribute to the girls fasci-
nations.
He performed the task of closing
the windows with great care, which
may have accounted for the time it
occupied, or perhaps he was de-
liberate rather than careful, so as to
extend his visit and engage to the
furthest limit social intercourse SO
charming.
Indeed it must have been the latter
reason, for one of the windows was
left unfastened, though the negli-
gence was not apparently detected.
1t was now near IL o'clock, and al
having been arranged, Mr.. Lyndon
took his departure.
Flora passed into the house, and as
she did so, certain uneasiness pos
sessed her-an occult prophecy of evil
which she vainIy tried to Danish
As is usual with these impre ssions
the cause was direct, end, in this
case, even Immediate; but failing
to appreciate the logic of the s.tua
ton the girl cit tormented anG
mystified. She proceeded to heI
room more agitated than she would
admit, and especially oppressed by
the ghostly silence of the spaciou:
house.
A bat careered through the hall
creating intense alarm with its 81
lent ghost-like rushes.
The silence and the sound were
eqsally terrifying and intollerable
She determined to knock on he1
brothers door, that. even though rid
iculed, her fears might be allayed
There was no light within. but she
persisted in her summons, first will
timid appeal, then with peremptory
vehemence.
No answer was elected and finally
she opened the door. The bed was
unoccupied, and the girl realized that
she was alone in the house.
She proceeded with Difference to
unknown conditions and softly opened
the door to her own room. as though
fearing to intrude. To her relief there
We no one within.
She then very cautiously deposited
upon the bureau package, the con
tents of which had quite recently oc
cupied Mr.. Lyndon's attention as wei
as her own.
She felt now that she had been
little indiscreet, for Mr.. Lyndon wa
comparative stranger, yet the de
sire for display had overcome he
scruples and her Judgment, and sh
felt, with some regret, that she ha,
allowed to go unchallenged laugh
ing estimate of the casket's value
one very largely in excess of tn
truth. The casket contained SOM
score of diamonds.
Mr.. Lyndon, in the meantime, pur
sued his way towards the center O
the city. Happening into a salool
which was frequented by colleg
BOYS, he saw, with half dozen com
ra0es, the brother whom Flor
thought safe within his own room
While lounging near the group he in
advertently heard that the rart
were about to adjourn to certain pr
vate rooms where the great Amer
can game would occupy their after
ton for some hours.
This, of course, was but slightly in
teresting to Mr.. Lyndon, so he pre-
seeded on his way, after discoverin
NAT the train which Flora expects
At twelve was some hours late.
he slowly extracted a purse fror
his pocket and proceeded to examin
It's contents. This was effected wit,
speed and accuracy the purse bein
empty.
He stood and studied the time tabl
tith earnest attention, seemingly en-