The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-15
CAMDEN, SOUTHCAROLINA, FEBRUARY Is, 1850

your early gravel
With tears-with groans-with cries, in the
silent watches of the night, Traford continued
to mourn and wall over the one whose sun had
set before its time. He would never leave Ve-
nice. Months and months rolled on, and still
Traford lamented wildly over his loss.
1t was in the spring of 1924, two years or
more, since the death of Nina, that Traford was
accosted one day in St Marks Place by an old
English friend. Trevor was an agreeable COM
panion, and a kind.hearted man. He compass
sionated the state of Traford, and persevered in
seeing good deal ofhim He visited him, and
went one evening into his room to sit for an
hour or two with him. He spoke, at last of
Trafford's loss
Trafford sat, his hands clasped, his eyes
streaming
"She was an angel-too much fonme to keep!
Oh, Heaven, to recall one hour of those days
one line, one look, of that face, is more than my
heart can bearw
'"Have you any likeessg" said Trevor.
"No, no." said Traford, mournfully, IL nev.
er thought of it! Oh, had but one likeness,
l could look at it now, perhaps! have only
thisw
He Showed, wound round his wrist a thick
braid ofraven hair, clasped with gold He held
out his arm uncovered, then kissed the relic pas
sionately, and then again hid it with the sleeve
of his coat. He was perfectly insane still, Ire
vor thought, as he looked at him, moping and
crouching gloomily over the fire they had light
ed, for the evening was chill: it was the end Of
February.
In the course of conversation, Trevor spoke
of some mesmeric experiments then being made
by one of the doctors in the town. A Greek of
the name of Pananno was said to be endowed
with wonderful powers of magnetism. Traf-
ford's wild, excitable imagination was interest
ed. That night, unknown to Trevor, he went.
The entertainment or what shall call it,
was held in large, deserted room, in one of
the Oldest palazzos, then for sale.
The Greek was mesnerisng young girl
The light was dim; a crowd of pale and dark
anxious faces lined the room 1'rafford sat in
corner unobserved. He listened: at last he
rose, approached, and spoke to Panarmo.
The hand of Trafford was laid on the breast
ofthe sleeper She muttered, and ut last said
"lnfelice, 81 muore."
"Ma perches" said Panarmo.
"Di duolo," said the girl.
"E il rinedio!" inquired Panamo.
".Ah~ the sleeper moaned. sci son due"
ditto pure" :,
She was silent
LA pazza la morte, 10 guarira."
A shudder ran through the circle. Traford
went home.
Every night he attended the mesmeric lee
lures. He liked the mystery the supernatural
excitement of that dark chamber in the old pal
ace.
On that dark and mystical subject, mesmer.
ism, | cannot write beyond the facts that have
come to my knowledge; but, in this "world of
wonders, it appears to Inc that the power thus
impaired is not a whit more wonderful than that
which sends the words of one man flying to the
ears of another from the north to the south of
England in a few moments. True, one is ex.
plicable and the other is not; but the curtain,
may be it is only us yet half raised from the
scene where we can see but the most striking
and evident of the marvels yet to be developed.
1t has been said that man now stands on the
threshold of discoveries known to and misused
by the antediluvians; that the vast powers they
held, aided by internal agency, would have
thrown down the barriers between the visible
and invisible world; that for this very reasoIr'
was it necessary to cface from the corrupt mind
of man the knowledge" the science of the
gave him powers he only used to
his own eternal destruction. Now that the day.
star of Christianity has arisen, as it shall "shine
more and more unto the perfect day." so shall
Science unveil again her face, hidden awhile,
and man once more possess the secrets of the
mystical science of body and spirits, and eat
"the angel'sfood' of the full perfection Of know
ledge.
The night Traford went to Panarmo's lee.
ture: it was the time of the Carnival. Venice
was full of masques and gayety. In that still
room there was little sign, however, Of the rev.
elry without. In a corner sat the figure ola la
dy, wrapped in long dark mantle. Her face
Traford could not see, yet was there something
in her air that attracted him. Trafford rose
and approached the sleeper whom Panarmo
had mesmerised. Again his hand was laid OIL
her breast. The sleeper moaned Again the
words
"Ci son due, due; la pazzi, o Ia morte."
The figure in the corner listened, and rose rs
Trafford turned away He fingered for one
moment. He heard the words
"Non sperar, piange sempre," addressed to
the lady.
That night, on going home, Trafford found a
note on his table. 1t was in hand he had nev.
er seen exactly, and yet--lt was anonymous.
II 4 al 10 ,f <1,o Eo