The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-09-13


to to you, because she fears you do not
like her" = ~ i -. =.
II have always treated her With thye,
most courteous friendliness, for your
sake, Helen. She is girl Of talent :; l
admire her talent more than I do her
disposition. But1 must 20 now. STAY
Eta; dinaer2 Thank you, not to-day; I
am coming. again tins evening. Be
bright and che erfal my darling, and I
viii promise to blow away this cloud
which has darkened you-blov it away
Withaa breath. IF you, your mother.
and Annie, will ali be- 1t home this
evening, I would like TO call With !
friend ~ =. - -''"-T J. &c -Es:l:
He kissed the inquizing look; from
her face aud went'away.zs d .j5 a.:3..
oae That esemugsAR . Marshall and the
etxo young Indies awaited Jip the WE'LL
lighted soau; hack efsthelong parlor,
1.-The. arrival az the eaxpeeted' Company:
Helen ohpd1ehesas sth;sanaon, sas Being
fretized from chance callers, as ihe is.
,terred from: her. lovers, manner that
something connected with the recent
unpleasant affair, might be- brought on
the carpet. What il could be-what
revelation could be made, or explana-
tions given what breath could blow
away the memory of her remarkable
state and behavior, she puzzled herself
in conjecturing. As for Annie, think
ing that MI. Thornton's friend might
be some one of the other sex worth
| pleasing, She had dressed herself care.
fully, smoothing the heavy braids of
her black hair, and relieving the SAL
lowness of her: complexion with warm
tints, until she looked almost handsome.
Those keen black eyes betrayed
nothing OF their inward disappointment
however, when the servant admitted
Mr.. Thornton and Mrs. Kole Oyl.-
Mrs. Marshal and her daughter were
surprised; for although they at
tended Mrs. Kole OyPs grand par
ties, and she theirs, yet there never
had been any Of that intimacy which
warrants q social evening visit. That
lady laid aside her hood aud cloak, took
the comfortable chair offered her before
the:glowing crate, and the circle were
soon in animated conversation. Only
Annie Kirkland experienced an unac-
countablc, uneasy sensation. She was
more audaciously CAV and elitterino
than usual, seeming in the highest
spirits, fingirg all kinds of sparkling
sallies at Mr.. Thornton, who sat oppo-
site her, and who gave her all, and more
attention than she coveted. 1t was the
consciousness of his eyes continually
upon her, which made her so restless ;
this restlessness she endeavored to Goa.
ceal by ybrilliancy.
For once, tho subtle, mastering spir.
1t had met its master. Strive as she
aget gsts3 eRe a8s a8s k4nssaoa7 ns t; sunk sta s.
lence oppressed apd anxious. The resi-
of the circle were all unconscious of the
influence ut work !; but to one who
could have read the inner consciousness
Of those present, it would have seemed
like the hawk floating high and silen,
in the heavens; ready to swoop down
upon the serpent, in its turn busy
charming the innocent dove. -
Mr.. Thornton, always a good talker
touched lightly on many themes, until
at length the company found themselves
interested in some suggestions he made
about spiritualism-and from that tt
mesmerism.,
"By the way, Miss Marshall, did yor
not tell me that your cousin dispelled
your headache, not long ago, by mes
merism ?"
| "Yes. She can nearly always cure
it."
"Has she strong mesmerio powers p
~ think she has. What do yor
think, Annie? You obtained an ipau
ence over me very readily, though
believe mother has proved more stub
born. Your success with her has beer
only partial"
"Did Miss Annie ever attempt any
thing further with you than to dispe
headachc? Did she ever obtain any
power over your soiNF' .
/ Helen blushed and hesitated.
"Not untilquite recently. She wish
ed to experiment upon me, and 1 allow.
ed her to put me to sleep sew
eral times. With = few passes sht
could put mo to sleep, and l would
awaken At the time she willed. W.
never experimental much, ,as do DO,
approve of it. Not longsince-I I think
it was the day before your party, Mrs
Kole Oyl-she stopped me as I wat
walking across the floor. She was be.
hind me, at the other side Of the room
+ could net tell what was holding me
uutil she laughed and willed me to &c
on l did not like any one, even Al.
ME, to hold such power over me asthat
go I begged her to exercise it no MORE u
"No," said Mr.. Thornton, solemn,
"y1ee .oiu is Gods great gift-it is al
sinful as it is dangerous for US to
yield up this noblest OF our privileges
Who would be the slave-the mental,
worse than the bodily slave-ot anoth.
er? But you told me. did you not,
Miss Helen, that your cousin cured
your headache the afternoon Of ou1
friends rarty ?" ::
ayes, and that was the last time.
wished to go SO much that I begged of
her to charm my head into better behq(
vior:. |
"well, Miss Kirkland;" said Nh
Thornton, rising to his feet and looking
her steadily in the eyes "I know not
what evil purpose you had III bringing
such unpleasant notoriety upon your
friend and cousin !; bur'thisS I know,
aud now assert before these Witnesses
that it'was your will, soontrollin ng that Of
Helen's, which caused her singular
conduct at Mrs Kole Oyl's. Iwatch.
Id you upon that occasion. I saw the
steady, concentrated look you kept up
on her. Itewould have been natural
that you should have been distressed
and acrvous-that you would: have
gone TO her and taken her down: from
the chair. Instead Of that you .zsmain-
ed motionless, directing her, words and
actions. The moment | spoke to you: =:
forced you by ny; earneetness, to At
tend 70 n.e-the spell. MS Ebseksn;
your vietim left Of her play, came 70
IIyoa and e a.tsd yon What she had bean