The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-14
A STRANGE 1pYENTbRE.

(FIOm the GenIlenan'S MCCARTNEY
A pleasant place Of resort Is tho Impc-
rial Library Ut St. Petersburg, especially
during the dismal supremacy OF those
halECaste November days which arc
neither pure autumn, nor pure winter
lhongh combining the worst qualities Of
both. ,.'.a.a' a.t.,--'. -'.i ~ -
The table lamps had been lighted, the
other occupants of the room In which
sal Ia smaller and glOOmier one than the
great salon devoted TO Journals and maya
zints) had dropped of one by one, till
was LETT quite alone; and the utter silence
aud loneliness, the lSLGncss Of the hour
the dimly.lighted room, with its long
ranges OF dusty folios and worm-caten
manuscripts, as well rs the lrlghtflll story
lhat had been reading, combined to OK.
cite me in way OF which | had had no
experience for years past. All Of sud.
den, Just at the moment when my nerves
wuTc strained 10 tho utmost, l became
cnlsCiOus,oi d feeling OF uneasinesS akin
IL that which arOuses the sleeper when
some one gazes sLeadastly in his face. ]
lnnkrd up, aud found myself confronted
by tall, slender, delicate featured man,
III deep black, who was gazing at me
with the intense e4rncstness Of one who
sees the object Z for which he has long
srivcn 10 vain at last within his reach. 30
suddenly and silently had he risen upon
me that could not restrain Il slight start
which he seemed to notice.
Pardon me il disturb you" said he in
u soft but strangely impressive voice; land
allow me to ask (il It be not too great q
liberty whether you are a resident OF St.
PetersburgY" ......
"For the present am; but IeXpecl to
leave shortly on u foreign tour. Allow
me 10 ask, in turn, whether you have any
special motive for inquiling ?'
81 will frankly own that ! have" he
replied, with a courteous bow, "it is in
your power TO do me great favor"
Now, when perfect stranger tells you
that you eau do him great favor, II Is
natural 10 anticipate that request Of" 0
lri1ing loan" and to fell ones purse
strings culver in every nerve; but on the
Meuus ViatoT principle, was perfectly
easy upon that head. My approximations
took another form. The famous d" Pich'
Ter rnbberics had been discovered but q
lew weeks before, and il respectable
German professor could be guilty of
such wholesale plundering, might not
even man as seemingly respectable as
10y new acquaintance harbor similar de-
signs? And yet, when looked again at
his finely cut features, and grand massive
forehead, felt ashamed OF my moment.
ury suspicious.
am aware that, Gs a stranger TO you
lam taking great liberty" he resumed
changing suddenly from Russian tC
French d" but must trust your kindness
10 let the urgency Of the case excuse my
want Of ceremony. The factiS1 am on
tue brink Of great discovery TO science
aud can sec that you are admirably quail
flied to assist me-"
81, qualified TO assist you, my dear SilS'
answered I compassionately; "no man
less so, | assure yOu have received Q
sound classical education-a sufficient
guarantee that know nothing Of science,
or anything else likely tobe useful" O.
"YOu are pleased 10 jest, ! conclude"
said the unknown, with slight smile;
have myself the greatest respect for the
English universities, though, unhspily, l
have never had the pleasure Of visiting
them. But II is not Of such qualifications
aS these that speak. have been OBJ.
serving you for the last ten minutes, be.
before addressing you, and have convinced
myself that Of all whom have meet in
81 Petersburg, you arc capable OF doing
what require"
Was the man mad? His tone was
perfectly calm and rational, but the light
IN his eyes as no spoke the last words was
decidedly "uncanny." A vague reCOlleC.
ton fitted across my mind Of an old Ger.
man legend, the drlmdtts persona OF
which were a student and n courteous
stranger in black, while a certain mystic:
rious bond signed with blood figured
largely 10 the denOuement. Was the pres.
rut Interview 10 end In similar way
To my disturbed fancy the lamps Ap.
pearcd to burn DINNER than before, and
tue room seemed to have grown suddenly
darker ani colder.
what do you want me 10 do then p
asked |. somewhat abruptly; for as the
man spoke | became aware Of q feeling
N'PpACubIJ NNNhbluleu ny MS IucoCuSCl
which is very hard to describe intelligi.
bly,. My thoughts seemed dsOrdered, or
rather had lost the power Of framing
them cUhCrenily; a strange and not un
pleasing excitement, such as have, coca.
sI0nally experienced al the sound OF Ger.
tain kinds Of muelc, completely possessed
ne; and blended with 1t was vague
sense Of sukitctiOH las Il under the domin.
ion Of will stronger than my own
which WAS altogether new To me. Had l
been believer III mesmerism, should
have said that e powerful "magnetizet"
STOOD beside me; as 1t was, l judged II
high time 10 cut short tho interview.
But before the unknown could reply the
custodian oil the department, who had
been having chat with his brother OH
Ger in the next room, entered, with a
warning that The library (which is never
open after 0 4. NY was about to close
AS we descended the stairs, the stranger
who had taken out his poCket,boOr, an
sWered my question by offering me q
card.
III you will favor me with visit any
evening next week" said he, ~ shall b
able 10 explain to you more fully the ex
pertinent 1spoke Of. May l hope Tor YOU
kind assistance"