The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-23
CHAPTER XXI (Continued.)

The motion ceased. I was gazing
down upon a great city, built upon a
narrow spur of land between two riv-
ers, a city of towering buildings and
busy streets: then upon a single house,
set IN the midst Of lofty elms; then /
was IN a room, a Doh With books
against the walls, and a door opening
upon a garden. From the garden the
light faded. Inc the darkness came,
and a clock somewhere struck IL. Then,
suddenly, at the door appeared two
white robed figures, an old man and a
girl. The mar was talking violently,
but the girl crossed the room without
a backward glance, and passed through
a door on its farther side. The man
stood for a looking after her,
then flung himself into a chair, and
put his hands before his face.
With creeping flesh, I looked again
at n outer door, waiting who would
enter. And slowly, slowly, the drapery
was put aside. and a face peered in. I
could see it's flashing eyes and work.
ing mouth A hand. in which a knife
cleaned, was raised cautiously to the
cord, n it was lowered, it held
a piece of the cord within its grasp. 1
could see the eager fingers fashioning
a knot; then, with head bent, the figure
crept forward foot by foot; it was at the
chair back, n even as the old man,
conscious at last of the intruder, raised
his head, the cord was cast about his
throat and drawn tight. There was a
moments struggle, and [ saw that the
hand which held the cord was red with
blood. From the wrist, a stained
handkerchief fell softly to the floor.
And then the assassin turned to steal
away; but as he went, he cast one
light fell upon his face-and l saw that
it was SWANS!
l opened my eyes tt find myself ex-
ended full length o n the divan, with
Silva standing over me. a tiny glass of
yellow liquid in his hand. :
Drink this he said, and I swallowed
it obediently.
1t had a pungent, unpleasant taste,
but l could feel it running through my
veins, and it cleared my mind and
steadied my nerves as though by
magic. l sat up and looked at the
crystal. The other lights in the room
had beer switched on, and the sphere
lay cold and lfeless. l passed my
hand before my eyes, and looked at it
again; then my eyes sought Silva's He
was smiling softly.
The visions came" he said. Your
eyes tell me that the visions came. Is
it not SOP"
Yes" 1 answered; strange visions.
->Ao "ASil l. AllG" tllGlI
origin"
Their origin is in the Universal
Spirit" he said, quietly. Even yet you
do not believe"
NO" n I looked again at the Y
tai. There are some things past be-
lief"
Nothing is past BELIEF he said, still
more quietly. You think so because
your mind is wrapped in the conven-
tons amid which o exist. Free it
from those wrappingS, and you will be-
gin really to live. You have never
known what life is"
."How am 1 to free it, Senior Silva ~
/ questioned.
He o a step nearer to me.
by becoming a disciple of the Holy
One" he said, most earnestly.
But was myself again, n [ rose
to my feet n shook my head, with a
smile.
No [ said; you will get no con-
vert here. l must be going"
L will open the gate for you" he
said. in another tone, and led the way
down the stairs. through the library
and out upon the gravelled walk.
After the drugged atmosphere of his
room, the pure night air was like g
refreshing bath. and I drew in Ions
breaths of it. Silva walked beside me
silently, he unlocked the gate with g
key that he carried in his hand, anG
pulled it open.
Goodnight, Mr.. Lester he said
The sphere is at your service should
You desire again to test it. hin owe,
what 1 a said to you"
Goodnight" l answered, an:
stepped through, into the road.
The gate swung shut and the key
grated in the lock. Mechanically,
turned my steps toward Godfrey's
house: but 7 seemed to b. bending I'm.
der a great burden-the burden of thu
vision.