The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-01
MARK TUFTS.

.ttst MARK TUFTS..
Ten years ago, I was spending the
summer in Epping-a quiet, pleasant
country town in New England.
One morning in the middle OF July
i was evolving q plan OF action as ]
stood by the window in the Office Of my
friend Wynn, whose guest 1 then was.
While I stood there IN individual en-
tered the office, whom In spite OF null
tifarious disguises, such as dyed hair
and whiskers, false teeth, and IN as
Bumed name, I OF once recognized as
MY own fellow.t .townsman, and as arrant
sconndrel as II had ever been my lot
to encounter. He had an air OF much
pretension, wore large seal ring, q
snowy breast-pin, and several crossings
OF heavy gold chain,- over a bright
patterned vest, all Of which decorative
trunpery served the purpose Of yarnish
toayery ugly picture, Tightening the
disfinctness OF every bad point. His
errand, TO obtain the use OF the town.
hall for the delivery Of lecture on ami.
NAL magnetism, being speedily accom-.
plished, he took his leave.
"wynn, said ], as the door closed
upon him, "do you remember Mark
Tufts, who was convicted Of burglary
in Charleston, and who aiterward es.
capped from the State Prisonf"
nYes,r answered Wynn; "and i
could not think Of whom this man re-
minds me: yes, II ID OF Mark Tufts"
ait Is Tufts himself replied. az
recopnized him before he had uttered
three sentences. i came across the
room lust now TO look for the scar Of
wound on the left check, given him by
n companion in drunken broil. The
mark Is there. And I know that the
little finger and the first Joint from the
one next it are missing from the hand
which he carries in sling, and which
he AYERS TO have been hurt in q recent
railroad accident"
"Pierson E. LefIingwell, " was elab.
orately engraved on the card with
which he had introduced himself. ]
looked from the window; the man had
crossed the street and was standing on
the piazza Of the Epping House.
Presently he entered, and shortly after
reappeared, accompanied by o showilly
dressed woman and q young girl IN
the appearance Of tae latter l remarked
nothing except peahaps extreme fragil-
programme indicated that at the
close Of The lecture some interesting
demonstrations would be exhibited.
Mrs. and Miss Louise Ieffingwell, It
was stated, were both mediums, and
the former gifted with remarkable
powers OF reading tho future.
We decided at once to "assist" Of
this PREDICTION. The mans extreme
yillainy and audacity made him inter
esting. Indeed, SO entire had been the
popular conviction, in the trial to which
fhaye referred, Of the mans deliberate,
yindictiye malice, that there had been
felt very general disappointment that
his sentence was not more severe.
Not very large audience, Of course,
was TO be expected in o place like
Epping; but it.was a pretty fair turn
out-seyeral hundredl-and they were
mostly collected before Mrs. Letting
well and the young lady made their
appearance. On platform at one side
Of the hall were plnced table with
lights and several chairs. Mr.. Letting
well came in, arranged these, Withdrew
again. and soon returned conducting
his assistants. The woman seated her
self in q bustling, important way, ar-
ranging and rearranging her dress.
The kirl took her place quietly, without
raising her ewes, until the falling Of o
window, which had not been properly
fastened; then she lifted them o mo-
ment, with q startled, expectant look:
I observed the group closely, for had
begun TO grow interested in them.
The lecture was o tissue Of trashy
plagiarism, through which what the
man would be at was not clearly percep-
tible. II was evident, however, that he
had himself sort Of grotesque faith
in what he was trying to say; kind OF
trembling belief involved in his diabol
ism. And this suggested TO me plan
forthe solution Of O query which had
enteredm my mind how far, namely, that
siirht yoting girl, sitting there with an
AIR Of such utter abstraction, was
voluntary accomplice OF Mr.. and Mrs;
lefingwell. That they were. well
matched admitted scarcely q doubt.
Not 30 the girl claimed by the LEI.
finRwells as their daughter. She looked
at most fourteen, and might bo o year
or two younger. Her face wastoo pale,
but the features we're exquisite in out
line ;the browlow, with Shadowy chest
nut hair the eyes, blue, were 50 Large
and fringed with such thick, long
lashes, that they seemed TO make hall
her face. There was an occasional slight
compression Of tie under lip that
showed her 10 be i'll at ease. She wore
no ornnments. 7fia.ti. &.
OF courae I do not pretend in any
way 10 account fer the phenomena lam
about to describe. Notheory that ever
came In my way. has seemed TO me to
bear adequate credentials. In most in.
stances, too, which have been related
70 me, have felt myself compelled TO
doubt facts and references. Twill give
M unyarnished statement Of occsr.
renoev, promising only that 1 had pre-.
viousiy, and precisely when ! had found
mynoll IN mood similar to that which
i have described ns particularly belong
Ing 10 mo on this day, been ablo TO e1-
orf the influence 10 which have been