Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-10-27
Selette0 Storn.
JUST IN TINE.

New Orleans to St. Louis. The night wa'
oppressiyely warm, and ! had gone GU
upon deck for breath Of fresh air. There
were only two other persons there, mar
and a woman, who were walking back anc
fot.h conversing together in low voices, -
As passed them | heard her:
"Do you want to make me crazy l tel
Won can't forget him, aud It's no use talk
ing TO me about my duty And dont
believe o word that wicked woman says, -
He isn't married again, he isn't dead he'f
alive and true to me, I'm sure OF it.
The words were low, but intense and
passionate, and stopped Involuntary.
Don't get excited and unreasonable, my
dear woman. Look at the facts OF the case,
You bayn't heard from your husband in
nearly two years; he left You with scarcely
q weeks provisions on hand and SlU
in money; if it hadn't been for eyou and
your child would have starved Yet you talk
as if it was your duty to remain faithful TO
the memory of such man, and that, too,
in spit of the proof you have received, by
q direct revelation from heaven, that he
not only deserted you, but married anoth-
or woman and lived With her as his wife
three months before ne died
| can't tell why it was, but there was
something in the smooth, insinuating voice
of the speaker that sounded to me like the
hiss of serpent, and inspired me with a
feeling OF abhorance that | couldn't over
come, But | felt that | was doing wrong
in listening to this conversation, and so |
turned away, somewhat reluctantly, for
my sympathy and curiosity We're both ex-
cited.
The next morning scanned the faces
of the passengers eagerly, for | wanted to
know how the man looked whose voice
had impressed me so strangely. 1t had
been so dark the night before that |
couldn't see his features distinctly.
After o brief search found him seated
at the breakfast table, a long-haired, hank
visaged man. with thin lips and light blue
eyes, that looked hard and cruel. with .
sanctimoniousness pervading his whole
aspect. | might have been prejudiced,
but his face didn't impress m, ny more
favorably than bis voice had dos.
A little pale-iaced woman sat Oh his right
hand whom recognized at once as his
companion the night before. She held in
her lap child two or three years old, and
was rather pretty than otherwise, although
her eyes were red as il from continued
weeping
But the face which chiefly attracted my
attention was that OF the woman on his lett
hand. Her omplexion, in its unearthly
pallor, resembled that OF a corpse her lips
were liyid and her eyes deep sunken, and
with dark circles around them were dull
and expressioness. 1t was face that, at
the same time, repulsed and fascinated
you. She, too, as well rs the other woman,
seemed to be under the control Of the man
whom have described
noticed great many curious glances
directed toward these persons during
breakfast Afterward, learned who they
we're from the talk otthe passengers among
whom various rumors We're 0tiost concern
ing them; but the oaly inform ton upon
which relied was given me by the cap
tain. The man, it appeared, was cele.
brated spiritu.list with a wonderful gift OF
healing in his hands, whosubscnbed him.
self S. S. Johnson, NJ. d. The woman
with the corpse like face was clalrvoyant
who always travelled with him, and went
into frances for his benefit as often as he
desired. Tho two together were said to bC
very successful as healing mediums,
II don't know what to think Of it," sale
the captain There is something remark
able about this clairyoyance. am con
WINGED that Johnson rs an impostor, but a
to the woman why, ia take my oath tina
she isn't conscious OF what she says anC
does in those frances johnson has cur
ious kind of power over her and heliev
hrs will actually forces her into a seml-com
atose state, aud puts the WORD in he
mouth that she is 20 say
''But who is the little pae.mced oreo
ture who accompanies themt' ! inquired
'IS she carvoyant, too2'
ooh, no; but her husband lett her near
" two years ago, and this johnson han be
friended her, Cor reasons of his own, Nv
no doubt There's mystery about Il
somehow was well acquainted with he
husband He was a steady hard.workin
man, but times were poor, andhe though
he could better his fortunes 10y trip
the mountains, 80 he went leaving h
vito md child rather scandiy provided 70
but it was the hes, he could do Hohope
that before their money and provision
wore exhausted he would be able 70 sen
them more, This Dr. Johnson was b
principal adviser III the step be took, Al
promised to see that his family did n
come TO want From that day to thi
however, no direct communication hl
ever been received from Joe Morrison,
is known tlat he arrived IN St. Louis sat
ly, that he embarked there tor the mon
t5ins, that is an His wife Is aweak, bel
. less little creature. strong only IN deN
ton to her husband, and would have sn
under the blow II i, had not been for {
child"
The captain sto ped as Il ha bad dnis
ga his story, but turned to him cagerI
FOR the conversation Of the night bei0
REQUIRED to my memory.
isn't there some rumor about Nj