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

from New Orleans to st. Louis. The
night was oppressively warm, and
had gone out upon the deck for q
breath of fresh air. There were only
two other persons there, man and q
woman, who were walking back and
forth conversing together in low tones.
As passed them heard her say:
DO you want to make me crazy I
tell you can't forget him, and it's no
use talking to me about my duty. And
I don't believe q word that wicked
woman says. He isn't married again,
he isn't dead; he's alive and true to
me, I'm sure of it.
The words were low, brit intense
and passionate. and I stopped invol-
UNFAIRLY.
Don't get excited and unreason-
able. my dear woman. Look at the
facts of the case. You haven't heard
from your husband in nearly two years; ;
he left you with scarcely weeks pro-
visions on hand and $40 dollars in
money; if it hadn't been for me, you
and your children would have starved.
Yet you talk as If it were your duty to
remain faithful to the memory OF such
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 he died"
1 cant tell why, but there was some
thing in the smooth insinuating voice
of the speaker that sounded like the
hiss Of serpent. and inspired me with
feeling of adherence that couldn't t
overcome. But felt that was do
ing wrong in listening to this conver-
sation, and SO I turned away, some
what reluctantly, for my sympathy
and curiosity were both excited.
The next morning ] scanned the
faces OF the passengers eagerly, for I
wanted to know how the man looked
whose voice had impressed me so
strangely. It had been 80 dark the
night before that I couldn't scan his
features distinctly.
After brief search I found him
seated at the breakfast table, q long,
haired, lank-visaged man, with thin
lips and light blue eyes, that looked
hard and cruel, with sanctimonious-
ness pervading his whole aspect. /
might have been prcjudiced, but his
face didn't impress me any more ia
yorably than his voice had done,
A little pale faced woman sat OF, his
right hand, whom recognized at once
as his companion the night before.
She held in her Imp child two or
three years old, and was rather pretty
than otherwise, although her eyes
were red asif from continued weeping.
But the face which chiefly attracted
my attention was that OF the woman
On his left hand. Her complexion. in
in its unearthly pallor, resembled that
of q corpse, her lips were iivid and
her eyes deep sunken, and With dark
circles al nund them, were dull and
expressionle 80. It was face that at
the same time repulsed and fascinated
you. She, too. as other women.
seemed to be under the control Of the
man have desci; bed.
I noticed q great many curious
glances directed toward these persons
during breakfast. Afterwa.d. Learned
who they were from the tak OF the
passengers, among whom various ru-
mors were aaoat concerning them; but
the only information upon which re-
he'd was given by the captain. The
man, it appeared, was q celebrated
spiritua1ist with a wonderful gift OF
healing In his hands, who subscribed
himself S. s. johnson, n. D. The
woman with the corpse-like face was a
clairvoyant who always travelled with
him, and went into frances for his ben
eft as often as he desired. Tho two
together were said to be very success
full as healing mediums.
"I don't know what to think of it, /"
said the captain. There is something
remarkable about this clairvoyance. !
am convinced that johnson is an inn
poster; but as to the woman-why, I'd
take my oath she isn't conscious of
what she says and does in those
frances. johnson has curious kind
of power over her, and believe his
will actually forces her into semi
comatose state and puts the words
in her mouth that she is to say"
"But who Is the little pale-faced
| creature who accompanies themY' ]
| inquired. ''Is she aclairvoyant, tooY
"oh, no; but her husband left hel
nearly two years ago, and this John.
SON has befriendcd her, for reasons oi
his own, I've no doub.. Ths res q
mystery about itsomehow. I was vel
acquainted with her husband. He wa.
d steady, Woodworking man, but times
were poor, and he thought he couli
better his fortunes by trip to th,
mountains. So he went, leaving hi
wife and child rather scantily provides
for, but it was the best he could do
He hoped that before their none.
and provisions would be exhausted, h
would be able to send them more
This DR.. johnson was his principa
adviser in the step he took, and prom
ised to see that his family did not com
to want. From that day to this, how
ever, no INSTRUMENTATION has eve
been received from Joe Morrison. !
is known that he arrived in st. Loui
| sdfely and there embarked for th
: mountains, that is all. His wife is
weak, helpless little creature, stron
only fl her devotion to her husband
and would have sunk under the blo'
l.if It had not been for the child" !"
The captain stopped as if he ha
finished his story, but turned to hiI
eagerly, for the conversations of th
night before recurred to my memor,
Il ssIsn't there some rumor about Mo