The Portland daily press., 1874-05-23

would it not be better 70 proceed with my eA-
periments before the academy? Seized VIII
this idea carefully packed away tne seeG 10
whose singular properties woui9 sooh pun al
IMAGINATION. that folly which never sleeps,
made me heeye this night, that my voyage
was accomplished.
7 returned to Orizava carrying parchment
,oadad with seeds and initials, document in
virtue of which, the full and entire pardon OF
Eyornia Aceval was granted to Doctor Ber-
naeirs as recompense tor his studies upon the
eliminated Seeds"
CHAPTER FIFTH.
Monday evening came, damp, warm, OPP
pressive.
The great black clouds chased by the north
west wind ever since morning had been
sweeping around the peaks of the Cordlleras,
too heavy to rise up higher, slowly settled
down upon the smiling valley of La Perle.
The air was charged with electricity, irri-
tating nervous people, especially women.
Twenty times during the day had been call
ed by nv patients. They complained of diz-
illness, impotence, and secret fears, desire
to cry-disorders of the organism which
would pass away with the fearful storm which
threatened us.
From time to time a flash of lightning fill
ed my library with white dazzling light. l
expected thunder clap, and listened in Or
der to follow the direction Of the sound; but
the lightning, always silent, was repeated,
tinted with red.
Two beautiful xylophages that 1 had col
lected the evening before, and fastened on my
table, struggled furiously. The luminous
points which ornament the corslets of the in
sects and cause them to be sought for as jew
els by the Mexican women, burned with an
extraordinary intensity. Was there any con-
nection between electricity and the phospho-
resent organs of my two beetles? l was on
the point Of trying the experiment when re-
membered that Evornia was waiting for me.
l went out; it was night. Flashes of light
ming every moment shot up from the horizon.
Orizava, its domes, houses, steeples and
mountains appeared suddenly as in full sun
light. When reached the plaza Saint Gean de
Dieux, two clouds mingled their electricity SO
beautifully, that woman who was walkin 6
before me, fell ON her knees. l drew out IN Y
watch. A report shook the mountains. The
sound running $40 metres second,
was able to calculate the electric fluid must
have struck at $500 metres from .he place
where L was. But where, or in what direc-
ton? The senses deceive us, il is only by a
long education that we are able to guard them
against mistakes. The child who wants the
moon is neither a fool, nor weak; his inexper-
fenced eye shows it to him on the same plane
as his playthings. So have always, in vain,
attempted to make the Indian comprehend tina
sound can be reflected, as well as light, and
to explain to him the phenomenon of the
echo. A useless attempt. They called me
an imposter while the imposters are the
senses.
One day crossing with Ayotepetl the gorges
of the Selma Juichtlan the echo repeated a
yell given by that celebrated Apache chief.
10 ooiI 1n cfa Il
horse and looking doubtfully at me. ''Noth-
ing, l answered but the echo" ''Some one is
there he repeated imperiously. SIS he of
your company" l took pains to explain
that his ear deceived him, that the yell he had
given bounded upon the air waves and struck
against a rock returned to us by the angle of
reflection, equal to the angle of incidence.
The angry Indian suspecting treason, or
furious at being belied struck me blow with
his fist over the right eye which made me
see-another mistake of the senses-a rain Of
sparks like that produced by the combustion
OF iron in oxygen. The vulgar, the common
herd, sagacious observers, are right in de-
claring that in experiences ofthis nature, the
patient sees thirty-siX lighted candles. I'm
der the double influence of pain and anger 1
replied to the aggression of Ayotepetl, by a
blow from the horse whip which set us at
variance forever, and this man of the plains
died, without comprehending the phenomenon
of the echo,
Evornia was waiting for me. found her
little nervous, and excited. She received
me with the gracious Mexican greeting,
which surprised me so much the first time l
received it. We sat down to the table. The
old native whom ! had left with her served
us. With what Kind care was l surrounded
during this evening! One would have said
that the young woman wished to pay me
once for all for the anxiety she had caused
me; that she had OWNED the great effort 1
was going to make in her behalf, and would
recompense me in advance. After dinner she
took me into her own room, and made me sit
down in large easy chair. Leaning her charm
ing head upon my knees,she began to speak
of the past. What a memory! how many
forgotten incidents she recalled to me, not
counting those of my bees so Enthusiastically
arranged had it seems purchased her first
doll, and the ugly doll as long as she lived,
was named Rita Bernagius.
From my botanical researches, I always
brought back some pretty wild flowers for my
little friend. She knew the names of all these
flowers, order. family, tribe. She mentioned
penn-ywort to which the servant Richard
has given my name.
Foreseeing, no doubt, the honor which
was reserved for me I had jumped for joy
once, sure that my flowers were unknown,
and how she laughed.
She talked of my books, and the poor that
she had obliged me to visit. They went to
her when they wished to obtain something
from me. would say no, but she made
me obey unknown TO myself
One day gave her name to toucan; she
rebelled, the bird seemed too ugly with its
enormous bill. Then dedicated to my little
friend humming bird with its plumage of
gold, emerald, ruby and purple. "EvOrnia
mirabilis.o
Evornia although she had not heard it
since her infancy remembered the refrain
with which l had lulled her to sleep. / had
been rocked myself by the aid of this same
song doubtless, for l know not when, or
where learned it. Hearing it hummed by
Evornia, whose soft foreign accent possessed
an indefinable charm, I was overcome. She
noticed it and did not finish. We remained
silent. Near ten o'clock was going away
but she detained me. She did not speak,
but leaned her forehead upon my knees.
She seemed to be sleeping. Only now and
then a feverish involuntary sigh or SILVER.
thought she was asleep and leaned over her.
''Do not move," she said, II am so COM
Portable here, doctor, could wish to rest
always. How l love you my friend, my
to you often? Have you ever felt it? When
was little l was always at your house, and
to tease me, they called me Madame Ber-
nagius. They succeeded only in making me
proud. If you had wished it, doctor, 1
should have been your wife,
commenced to laugh thinking of my ap-
pearance and hers, her age and mine.
''Do not laugh" she said quickly, cit
makes me angry to hear you laugh"
SIT is late, and your nerves are excited by
the storm; you must rest, my child, adieu."
''Not 'adieu', but 'au revcir' my friend"
/ had scarcely entered my house, when the
storm so long threatened burst at last upon
the city. During an hour or more the wind,
the rain made hurricane. Never in
all my recollection had the elements COM
batted so fiercely in our little valley. By de-
grees the tempest ceased, the rain continuing
to fall. l went to sleep thinking of the Pc
tition which l should present to Comonfort,
| wished to make it irresistible.
n
At eight O'Clock in the morning received
an order to go to authenticate the decease OF
Donna Evolnia Aceval, who died at mid
night, yesterday. 1 must have courage. She
counted on me, when she said to me eau
revoir''-I stifie. Happy are they who can
cry!