The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-03-31

as relief from the doubts and fears
that almost distracted her. But i'm
agine her horror when informed that
her husband was alive aud well and
married 10 another womanl She
would not believe it, and refused to
have anything more to do with clair
voyance. But the communication had
its effect, doubtless, on her weak and
credulous nature; when months passed
on and there was still no word or It'd
ings she consulted Miss White. This
time she received a message direct
from her husband himself, who had
been killed in q melee among some
miners, according to his own asser-
ton, and was thus enabled through
spiritual mediumship to console his
wife personally. He confirmed the
former statement of Miss White rs TO
his having committed bigamy before
he died, and expressed degree OF
contrition therefor truly edifying.
Lucy was overwhelmed with what she
heard, and out Of sheer desperation
resolved to go TO st. Louis and there
seek for traces of her husband. As
it happened, DIR. johnson was going
north, and kindly (?) took her under
his protection. 1t is my private opin-
ion that he was in love with her, and
has been plotting all along how TO get
her into his power. Whether or not
he has anything to do with Mr.. Nor
rison's mysterious silence is more than
/ can tell"
Its strange story" I said mus
ingly, "but I am inclined TO think you
are right in your suspicious" and in
return for the captains confidence, !
related the conversation had acci-
dentally overheard.
"Just the plea thought he would
urge duty duty TO her child,
probably. The hypocritei he knows
she won't marry him for any other
reason; but what are the crowd doing
over there 2" and he pointed to the
opposite end of the cabin. 'tAh. /
understand. Isn't that johnson and
Miss White? He asked my permis-
sion this morning to display her won
derful gift as clairvoyant. Come
along, l want to see her in a trance"
am not suspicious, but there was
something uncanny in the air that
morning, and thrill Of actual dread
ran over me as We approached the
clairvoyant. Her eyes were open, but
rolled back in her head, and there was
n CHASTITY expression on her face ]
shall never forget. She was talking
and gesticulating earnestly, and near
her stood DIR. johnson, whose fixed
magnetic gaze meyer left her for sim
gle instant. As soon as / could dis
cover what she snid, / discovered that
she professed to be under the control
OF Joe Morrison, and the captain in
formed me she perfectly initiated his
tricks Of voice and manner. What
made this more remarkable was the
fact thHt that she had never seen him.
There is no use. Lucys in crying
any more" she said, "for I am mis-
erable scoundrel, and not worth the
tears you shed. You are wrong, too, in
neglecting your duty TO Willie in the
way you do. He is our child, remem-
Der, and / want yoti TO consider what
will be best for his future; instead Of
mourning fer me any longer. You are
altogether too headstrong and suspic-
ious, and won't even listen to the ad-
vice Of your friend"
At this point her discourse was in
terrupted by a stir in the crowd; Mrs.
Morrison had tainted. The captain
and carried her to sofa and sprink-
led water in her face, but it was some
time before she regained consciousness,
and not until after the clairvoyant had
como out of her trance.
The next morning we reached st.
Louis. put up at the Planters, as
usual, and so did DIR. johnson and his
lady friends. had several business
commissions TO attend to; and did not
see ANYTHING of him for several days.
But ono evening as was going TO my
room, little Willie came running along
the hall Che hsd taken fanty to me
on the boat, soEbing as if his heart
would break.
"Why, what's the matter, Willie ?"
I said. taking him up in my arms.
All could make out of his broken
speech was that somebody had "hurt-
ed" his mamma, and that she was
crying "dreffil hard" and wouldn't
speak to him..
a sudden impulse came over me TO
offer my friendship to Mrs. Morrison,
and thwart the plans of johnson il
possible, for I felt convinced that he
had occasioned her tears. While ]
was thinking how to do this without
wounding her deficacy, she. came oui
out III the hall looking for Willie. He
ran up to her eagerly, dragging me
along, and I was really shocked at the
change in her appearance. She was
thinner and paler than when saw hel
last, and there was look in her kinG
eyes like that of hunted animal al
bay. I cant tell how it wss that ]
gained her confidence so readily, bu
We hadn't been talking ten minutes
before she began 70 tell me of hel
troubles. My white hair and vener
able appearance had something to dt
with it probably q am not SO old as
look, however), and then. too, he
need of friend was urgent and i'm
i perative.
She couldn't get the slightest clu
to her husband, it seemed, in st
Louis, and was almost ready in he
despaif to believe everything tn
clairvoyant said. But the idea @
/ marrying another man was abhorren
to her, and DIR. johnson was contin
ually urging her to this step, min
Cling threats with persuasion and al
!, fegfhg the impossibility of his remain
ing her friend otherwise. This ne
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