National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-11-28
MARK TUFTS.

MARK TUFTS.
Ten years ago, l was spending tn
summer in Epping-a quiet, pleasau
country town IN New England.
One morning in the middle of Jul,
was evolving a plan of action as
stood by the window in the Office Of IN,
friend Wynn, whose guest l then was
While | stood there an individual en-
tered the office, whom in spite of mul
tfarous disguises, such as dyed hail
and whiskers, false teeth, and an as
sumed name, l mt once recognized a'
NV own fellow-townsman, and as arrant
scoundrel as it had ever been my lot
TO encounter. He had an air of much
pretension, wore large seal ring, g
Snowy breast-pin, and several crossings
of heavy gold chain, over a bright
patterned vest, all of which decorative
trumpery served the purpose of varnish
to very ugly picture, Tightening the
distinctness 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, edo you remember Mark
Tufts, who was convicted of burglary
in Charleston, and who afterward es-
caped from the State Prison p
YES" answered Wynn; "and I
could not think of whom this man re-
minds me; yes, it is of Mark Tufts"
at is Tufts himself" replied. 81
recognized him before he had uttered
three sentences. / came across the
room Just now to look for the scar of a
wound on the left cheek, given him by
companion in a drunken broil. The
mark is there. And l 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
lie AYERS to have been hurt in a recent
railroad accident"
"Pierson E. Lefiingwell," was ela'
orately engraved on the card witt.
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 showily
dressed woman and young girl in
the appearance of the latter l remarked
nothing except peahaps extreme fragil-
lty.
A programme indicated that at the
close of the lecture some interesting
demonstrations would be exhibited.
Mrs. and Miss Louise Leffingwell, it
was stated, were both mediums, and
the former gifted with remarkable
powers of reading the future.
We decided at once to "assist" at
this protection. The mans extreme
yilany and audacity made him inter
esting Indeed. so entire had been the
popular conviction, in the trial to which
| have referred, of the mans deliberate,
vlndictive 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 place like
Epping; but it was pretty fair turn
out-several hundreds-and thev were
mostly collected before Mrs. Letting
well and the young lady made their
appearance. On platform at one side
Of the hall were placed a table with
lights and several chairs. Mr.. Letting
We'll came in arranged these, withdrew
again. and soon returned conducting |
has assistants. The woman seated her
self IN bustling, important way, ar
ranging and rearranging her dress. |
l4e girl took her place quietly, without |
raising her eyes, until the falling of
window, which had not been properly |
fastened; then she lifted them mo-
ment, with startled, expectant look.
! observed the group closely, for [ had
begun to grow interested IN them.
The lecture was q tissue of trashy
Plagiarism, through which what the
man man would be at was not clearly percep-
ub.e. 1t was evident, however, that he
Lad himself a sort of grotesque faith
IN what he was trying to say; a kind of
trembling belief involved in his diabol-
Ism. And this suggested to me plan
ior the solution of query which had
e,Ateredmy mind how far, namely, thai
Nlght young giIl, sitting there with an
AR ct such utter abstraction, was
voluntary accomplice of Mr.. and Mrs.
Lefingwell. That they were well
matched admitted scarcely doubt.
Not SO the girl claimed by the LET
hngwells as their daughter. She looked
"I most fourteen, and might be year
or two younger. Her face wastoo pale,
ont the features were exquisite in out
line the brow low, with shadowy chest
nut hair the eyes, blue, were SO large
ana fringed with such thick, long
ii1shes, that they seemed to make hall
her face. There was an occasional slight
oppression of the under lip that
showed her to be i'll at ease. She wore
no ornaments.
VI course 1 do not pretend in any
way to account fer the phenomena am
ABOUT to describe. No otheory that ever
: came IN my way has seemed to me to
Dear adequate credentials. In most in
stances, too, which have been related
70 me, have felt myself compelled to
uouot facts and references. / will give
an unvarnished statement of occur
i noes, promising only that I had pre-
viously, and precisely when had found
! myself in a mood similar TO that which
! nave described a. particularly belong
.Dg TO me on this day, been able to ex-
err the influence to which have been
gwen the epithets magnetic. odic and