Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-07-26

when fully explored, TO work wonders This
was my excuse for my, now frequent. absence
from the society which had before been the
charm Of my life, but under the enchanting
promises of my new region, it had grown stale
| and lnslpd
A few days after our occupation OF the Mu-
scum rooms, we began, in regular course full
search into the subject Of the magnetic philo:-
ophy and course Of training after the Bra
minical method for the practical exercise Of
the art Rudy health, cleanliness to purity,
and an eQuanimity of mind, were the essentials.
4 bath house near byS gave us the adv antage
Of one a proper diet and exercise were relied
on to promote health, and we jointly agreed TO
abandon all occupations Or thoughts which
might in the least interfere with constant sc
renity Of disposition.
Having secured the best collection Of books,
treating Of the occult arts, We could obtain,
which, by luck, included highly valuable San
crit manuscript, which Wroe had found among
the Arabic manuscripts, brougLt from Tnpis by
Major Mounsford, we hogan cur course
Three weeks passed, in pursuance ofour plan;
one or two days at Sebastian Springs, and the
remainder OF the time at the Museum. At it's
close / could induce sleep upon many animal
the room to the other, and began to feel that
[ vas indeed upon the royal road. knowledge
was, DOW, power; indeed, every step new en-
piIe to rule, q new region to inhablt.
Wroc's success had been far greater than his
pupils, and would tax not only the creduity, but
the imagination Of those who shall read these
lines, were / TO tell what these eyes have seen,
worked by him 10 that quiet town beside the
Potomac
My visits home, (which Wroe never suspect
ed had, in this period, been both few and short.
A pleasant Sabbath afternoon, about this time,
| grew restless under the monotony OF our stu
dous life, and thinking HONE would more than
aught else restore ny eQuanlmlty, bent my
steps homeward and was soon within doors,
which have been to me, and seem yet, OF all
things on this whirling world, most like the
gates Of heaven.
Lingers still in meuory's greenest valley that
happy Sabbath eve; sacred to all in my nature
worth transplanting to better world to the
irestcd ambitions, the wild hopes and cark
log cares Of life, it IS what sluuberous vales-
l0llad By murmuring waters, breathed upon BY
sweetest flowers and cool beyond the touch of
sultry sun-is TO hot roadways, beetllug cliffs,
and arid deserts. Thither go |, in spirit, when
LIE preys most upon me, and there, in memory,
find. Hope. Sister seemed more her Wonted-self
than Tor months Sweet musc-the music of
her voice. all that was best in fugitive litera
ture, her taste was perfect; and more than that,
all the Vnrestrained intercourse OF affection, Jul
ed every ruffling thought and bsdc NE wish |
had never RECOMMENDED the toi!somc path to
hidden knowledge The spirit OF he time was
csndor, and | told her all had kept back; all
[ knew, all | hoped for! For the first time, in
her lie, she opposed my plans: told me it was
evil and begged NE TO abandon them. laughed
at her scruples, but from that time continued
on 10 the practice Of the art, under an unQuiet
feeling which forebode Ill for my success
WrUe's Whole soul was IN the pursuit. lie
believed, as have said before that with full
command Of it, he might acquire power sut1i-
cent to coutrol alike animate and inanimate ma
turc, and exercise an influence upon human
destiny, to whicn the power of Alexander or
Napoleon would be as nothing, and that, too.
without fleets, armies, Or cabinets, but by the
mere force of his ac5W.
believe that, at first, he desired my success,
nay, that be was anxious for it. iay slow pro-
gress and frequent failures evidently ve1ed him
He told ne at length. that there must be some
reason, unknown to him, why | had so sudden
" lost my interest in the great search. I dis
senbled the matter, and finally, he accused me
VI NSalit;:5 uuIdliiJ Will ILio NtLS tHC
first sign of rupture but the breach rapidly Wi
dencd I soon felt certain that be disiked inc
and with bis temper and his power--tor, Of late,
[ almost always failed in experiments-it was
necessary to keep myself always watchful, cool
and collected, and to be very wary lest he wove
the net Of bis enchantmen5 about me. True,
this suspicion grew By what it fed on More
than once, | believed, detected him using the
magnetic influence to subdue ne to his power,
but each time he was discounted. Still we pur-
sued our investigations together. certainly more
cool. but still on the surface, far from ennlity.
This constant watching and hourly suspicion
soon began to tell on my health. I was moody
and uneasy, scarcely dared to visit my sister
lest / should be watched and i'll befall her, when
I was not by. | knew [ was failing, and dread
ed, with terror that exceeded anything NOR
tai, the prospect of becoming subjected to his
WILL. Yet stricken as I was | shuddered at
one dark shadow that seemed waiting at my
right hand as if waiting my bidding. Away
| cried, can triumph without MURDER. Yet,
ever afterwards, could detect steathy tread
far behind yet following me-and knew that
would need it. Only vaguely. never in reso-
luton, did such thought come to my braln
for | had other eXpedients to change the cur
rent which threatened to oVerwhelm me.
TO BE CONTINUED.