Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-23
CHAPTER XXI (Continued.)

The motion ceased. 1 was gazing
ao"n upon a great city. built upon q
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 room with books
upon a garden. From the garden tho
llsnt faded. and the darkness came,
ana a clock somewhere struck II. Then,
suddenly, at the loo appeared two
white robed figures, an dc man and a
SirI The man was talking violently,
put the girl crossed the room without
a backward glance, and passed through
a door on its farther side. The man
stood Tor a looking after her,
then flung himself into a chair, and
put his hands before his face.
Wlth creeping flesh, l looked again
at the outer door, waiting who would
enter. And slowly, slowly, the drapery
was put aside. and a face peered in. l
could see Its flashing eyes and work
ing mouth. A hand, in which a knife
cleaned, was raised cautiously to the
cofd, ana when it was lowered, it held
a piece of the cord within its grasp. |
could see the eager fingers f]ashioniug
a knot; then, with head bent, the figure
crept forward foot by foot; it was at the
N'SNH' "iu even as INC OlQ man,
conscious at last of the intruder, raised
MS head, the cord was cast about his
throat and drawn tight. There was a
moments struggle, and l saw that the
hand which held the cord was red with
plooo. FROM the wrist, a stained
handkerohief fell softly to the floor.
Ana then the assassin urned to steal
away; put as he went, he cast one
awful glance over his shoulder. The
light fell upon his face-and ! saw that
it was SWANS.
l opened my yes to find myself en-
tended full length on the divan, with
silva standing over me, a tiny glass of
yellow liquid in his hand.
Drink this" he said, and swallowed
it obeGiently.
1t had a pungent, unpleasant taste,
but could feel it running through my
Veins. and it cleared my mind and
my nerves as though by
magic. sat up and looked at the
crystal. The other lights in the room
had been switched on, and the sphere
lay cold and l~ifeless. l passed my
hand before my eyes,. and looked at it
again; then my eyes sought Silya's He
was smiling softly.
The visions came" he said. "Your
eyes tell me that the visions came. Is
it not 500"
yes" 1 answered; strange visions,
Senior Silva. l wish l knew their
origin"
Their origin is in the Universal
Spirit" he said, quietly. Even yet you
do not believe"
No" and 1 looked again at the crys-
tai. There are some things PAST he
lief" past 'e-
Nothing is past belief" he said, still
more quietly. You think SO because
your mind is wrapped in the conven-
tons amid which You exist. Free it
from those ~wrappings, and you will be-
gin really to live. You have never
known what life is"
How am l to free it, Senior Silva ."
I questioned.
He took a step nearer to ne.
BY becoming a disciple of the Holy
One" he said, most earnestly.
But ] was myself again, and I rose
TO my feet and shook my head, with a
smile.
NO" I said; you will get no con-
vert here. l mus be going"
81 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 drugSed atmosphere of his
room, the pure night air was like a
refreshing bath, and I drew in long
breaths of it. Silva walked beside me
silently; he unlocked the gate with a
key that he carried in his hand, and
pulled IT open.
Goodnight, Mr.. Lester" ne said.
The sphere is at your service should
you desire again to test it. Think over
what have said to you"
"Good-night," I answered, ana
stepped through, into the road.
The gate swung shut and the kew
grated in the lock. Mechanically, +
turned my steps toward Godfrey's
house; but I seemed to be bending un-
der a great b~urden-the burden Of the
vision.