The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-02

worthy of her. and that nobody knows
1t better than / do. There are thous-
more than ! can. and who would be
eager to offer 1t. But when I asked
her to marry me-, I though myself the
son of a wealthy man. When I found
myself q pauper I wrote at once to re-
lease her. She replied thai when she
wished her realese, She would ask for
1T; that 1T wasn't my money she was
In love with. Then I came out here
n a a talk with her father. He
was kind enough. but pointed out that
the affair could not go farther until
l had established myself. I agreed, OF
course; | agreed, too, when he SUI
gested that it would only be fair to her
to leave her free-not to see her or
write to her, or try to influence her in
n a | wanted to be fair to her.
Since then. / LAY not seen her, nor
heard from her. But her fathers feel
ings have changed coward me-.
In what way?"
Il thought he might be interested to
what / was doing, and two or
three months ago., / called and asked
to see him. Instead of seeing me, he
sent word by a black faced fellow in a
white robe that neither he nor his
daughter wished to see me again"
His a was red with the remem-
bered humiliation.
Il wrote to Miss Vaughan once, after
that" he added. but my letter was not
answered.
Evidently she didn't get your let
ter"
Why do you think SOP
IF she had got it, she would have
known that o were no longer at 1910
Fifth avenue. Her father, no doubt,
kept 1t from her."
He flushed still more deeply. and
started to say something, but I held
him silent.
H was justified in keeping it," I
said. YOU had promised not to write
to her. And I don't see that you have
given me any reason why l should as
sist you against him."
L haven't" Swain admitted more
calmly, and under ordinary circum-
stances, my self respect would COM
pei me to keep away I am not a
i can't stand on my dignity. When
she calls for aid, / must go to her, not
for my sake but for hers, because
she needs to be protected from her
father far more than from me-"
What do you mean by that?" I de-
manded.
Mr.. Lester" he said, leaning for
ward in his chair and speaking in a
lowered voice and with great earnest
ness. her father is mad-I am sure of
it. No n but a mailman would live
and dress as he does; no one but a
to the study of the supernatural; no
one but a madman Woul believe in
the supernatural as he does"
But l shook my head.
I'm afraid that won't do, Swain. A
good many fairly sane people believe
in the supernatural and devote them
selves to it's study-there is William
James, for instance
But William James doesn't dress in
flowing robes. and worship the sun.
and live with a Hindu mystic"
No l smiled. he doesn't do that"
and | thought again of the mysterious
light and of the two white clad figures.
docs he live with a Hindu mystic 2"
Yes" said Swain, bitterly. "An
adept, or whatever they call it. He's
the fellow who kicked me out"
Does he speak English?"
Better thar I do. He seems a finely
educated man"
sIs he a lunatic; too?"
II don't know" he said, finally. II
only saw him once and I was certain
ly IMPRESSED wasn't one two, three
with him. I suppose mysticism comes
more or less natural to a Hindu; but
I'm convinced that MIR. Vaughan has
softening Of the brain.
How old is he?"
ABOUT 3D.
Has he always been queer?"
"He has always been in
mental suggestion, and all that
sort of thing. But before his wife's
death he was fairly normal. 1t was
her death that started him on this SUI
pernatural business. He hasn't thought
of anything else since"
Are there any relatives who could
be asked to interfere?"
None that l know Of"
l thought over what he had told me.
Well, u said at last, "I can see no
harm in your meeting Miss Vaughan
and finding out what the condition of
affairs really is. If her father is really
mad, he nay be a good deal worse now
than he was when you saw him last
1t would. Of course. be possible to have
his sanity tested-but his daughter
would scarcely wish to do that"
mo-, of course not" Swain agreed.
Her letter tells you nothing?"
Nothing except that she is in great
trouble. and wishes to see me at once"
You are to go to the house3"
No; there is an arbor In one cor
ner of the grounds. She says that she
will be there at 1880 every night for
three nights. After that she says It
will be no use for me to come-that it
will be too late"
What does she mean by too late? p :"
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