Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-11-02
Seleeteo Storu.

From the 81. Louis RanI1hliran


The words were low, bat intense
passionate, and stopped involrntarily.
''Dont get excited and unreasonable, nv
dear woman. Look at the facts of the case
You havn't heard from your husband in
nearly two years; he left you with scarcely
q weeks provisions on hand, and SO
in money; if it hadn't been for me you and
your child would have starved. Yet you talk
as If it was your duty to remain faithful to
the memory of such q man. and that, too,
in spite of the proof you have received, by
direct revelation from heaven, that he
not only deserted you, but married anoth-
er 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 tt me like the
hiss of a serpent, and inspired NE with a
feeling OF abh0rance tnat | couldn't over
come But felt thai [ was doing wrong
In listening to this conversation. and SO
turned away, somewhat reluctantly, for
my sympathy and curiosity were both ex-
cited.
The next morning I 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 I
COuldn see MS IS2turo oE GlStllctIy.
After brief search I found him seated
at the breakfast table. a long-hairad, lauk
visaged man. with thin lips and light blue
eyes. that looked hard and cruel with a
sanctimonioasness pervading his whole
aspect I might have been preiudicsd,
but his face didn't impress me any more
favorabiY than his voice had dona.
little pale-faced woman sat oD 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
Ter eyes were red as if from continued
weeping.
But the face which chiefly attracted my
attention was that of the woman on his lett
hand Her complexion. in its unearthly
paIior. resembied that of q corpse, her lips
were livid and her eyes deep sunken, and
with dark circles arourd them, were dull
and expressionless. It was g face that, at
the same time, repulsed and fascinated
you. She too, IS well as 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
were from the talk ofthe passengers among
whom various rumOrs were afioat concern
ing them; but the only inform ition upon
which I relied given me by the cap
tain. The man, it appeared, was ceie-
brated spiritualist with wonderful gift of
healing in his hands, who subscribed him
self S. S. johnson, NJ. d. The woman
with the corp6e-like face was clairvoyant
who always travelled with him. and wen
into frances for his benefit as often as he
desired. The two together were said to be
very successful as healing mediums.
u don't know what to think of it," said
the captain. There is something remark
able about this clairvoyance. [ am con.
vipced that johnson is an impostor, but as
to the woman-why. I'd take my oath that
she isn't conscious OF what she says and
does in those frances. Johnson has cur
ious kind of power over her, and believe
hrs will actually forces her into semi-com-
atose state, and puts the wcrd in her
mouth that she Is to say"
''But who is the little pale-faced crea
ture who accompanies them?" [ inquired.
SIS she clairvoyant, too?"
son, no; but her husband LETT her near
Iy two years ago, and this Johnson bas be-
friended her. for reasons of his owp, I've
no doubt. There's a mystery about it.
somehow. [ was well acquainted with her
husband. He was steady, hard working
JidD, but LILIES NSiC t'SbA, p4h AC tA4ObSAat
he could better his fortunes by trip to
the mountains. So he went, leaving his
wife and child rather scantily provided for,
but il was the best he could dc. Hehoped
that before their money aud provisions
were exhausted he would be able to send
them more. This DR.. Johnson was his
principal adviser in the step he took, and
promised 20 see that his family did not
come to want. From that day to this,
however, no direct communication hai
ever seen received from Joe Morrison. It
is known that he arrived IN St. Louis safe
", that he embarked there for the noun
tains, that is all His wife is weak, help.
less little creature, strong only il devo-
ton to her husband, and would have sunk
under the blow if it had not been for the
child"
The captain stopped as If he had finish
ed his story. but l turned to him eagerly,
for the conversation of the night before
recurred to nay memory.
isn't there some runor about Nor
rison's being dead or married again? And
what about this johnson? Has he kept
the promise he made her hUsband?'
The captain didn't seem inclined at first
to sLg anything more. but was finally per
Buaded to tel me the rest CT the story, to-
gether with his own suspicious as to the
relations existing betwean DR.. johnson
and Mrs. Morrison.
L can't deny" be said, 'that johnson
has befriended her. but he is man
wouldn't trust and | believe he has done
it for purposes OF his own. As to what
those purposes are have my suspicious.
After Morrison had been gone over a year,
JohnsLn advised her to consult Sarah
White, his clairvoyant friend. Lucy, that's
J I
relief from the doubts and fears that al
most distracted her. Bat imagine her bor.
ror when informed by Miss White that hel
husband was alive and well and married
10 another woman! She would not believe
it, and refused to have anything more Ic
do with cIairyovance, But the communi
cation had It's effect, undoubtedly, on hel
weak and creduious nature, for wbeL
n@nths passed on and there wss still nc
word or tidipgs she az ain consulted Miss
White. This tine she received direct
message from her husband himself, who
had been killed ii a melee among some
ninera, according 10 his own assertion
and was thus enabled through spirItua
mediumship to console his wife personally
He confirmed the former statement OF Mis-
White as 20 his having committed blgam,
before he died, and expressed degree 0
cOntrItOn lnefeioL ttOlS oHL'y LhS' LUG.
was overwhelmed with what she heard, ant
ont Of sheer desperation resolved TO so I
st. Louis and there seek for tracks OF he
husband. AS it happed, D.. Johnson wa
going North, and kindly ~ TOOK her unde
his protection. 1t is mY private oplnloi
that he was in love with her, and has bee1
plotting ell along how to get her into III
power. Whether or not he has anythlni
to Go with Mr.. Morrison's mysterious 81
lence Is more than / can tell
'Fnere is no use, Lucy, in crying an
more" she said, ''for 1 am miserabl
4,oandIel. and not worth the tears Yo