Litchfield enquirer., 1874-08-20
vent on, daunted but for an instant.
 svou 're liable for half the debt, But I'll

went on, daunted but for an instant.
 ''you're liable for half the debt. But I'll assume your share on certain condition. have in my head the plan of smother en- tertainment Our friend here is right; we
 have been too intellectual. Very good v and he nodded at the empty Benches.
 'I've learned the lesson. Henceforth I'm going to be sensational. My great sensa-
 tion''-and he paused moment to engage
 again the eye of tho Colonel, who present
 ly looked vaguely up at hin-''is this
 young lady l" and he thrust out a hand
 toward Miss Clifford. "Allow mo to OK
 hibit your daughter for a month, i'll my
 own way and according to my own mo-
 tions, and I assume your debt" Tho young girl dropped her eyes on the ground, but kept her place. She had evidently been schooled. The Colonel slowly got Eup, glaring and trembling with indignation. wished to. cut the
 knot, and I interrupted his answer. "Your inducement is null, I said to the
 Professor. '1 assume the Colonels debt.
 It shall be paid this moment.
 Professor Fargo gave an honestly glee- full grin this was even better than the
 Colonels assent. ''You refuse your con
 sent then," he demanded of the old man,
 ''to your daughters appearance under my
 exclusive management.
 "Utterly!' cried the Colonel.
 You arc aware, suppose, that shes
 of age?"
 The Colonel stared at me with groan,
 What under heaven is the fellow coming
 to?"
 '"Ho this p responded the Professor and he fixed his eye for moment on the | young girl. She immediately looked up ! at him, rose, advanced, and stood before him. Her face betrayed no painful con | sclOusness of what she was doing, and l | have often wondered how far, in her strangely simple mood and nature, her
 consciousness on this occasion was gull 1 ty one. I never ascertained. This was
 the most nnerring stroke I had seen the Professor perform. The poor child fixed
 her charming eyes on his gross, flushed
 face, and awaited his commands. She was fascinated she had no will of her l own. You'll be so good as to choose"
 the Professor went on, addressing her in spite of her deafness, 'between your | father and mo. He says we're to part. | say you're to follow me. What do you say.
 For all answer, after caressing him a ! moment with her gentle gaze, she drop
 ped before him on her knees. The Colo ] nel sprang toward her with sort of howl ] of rage and grief, but she jumped up, re- treated, and tripped down the steps of the platform into the room. She rapidly made her way to tho door. There she paused and looked back at us. Her father stood I staring after her in helpless bewilderment. The Professor disappeared into the little | antc-room behind the stage, and came back III moment iamming his hat over his eyes and carrying the young girls shawl. He reached the edge of the plat form, and then, stopping, shook tho fore finger with tho turquoise ring at the Colo nGl.
 ''What do you say now ?" he cried. Is spiritual magnetism humbug?" The little Jew rushed after him, shriek- | ind and brandishing the unpaid bill but | tho Professor cleared at half dozen | strides the interval which divided him | from the door, caught tho young girl
 round tho waist, and made triumphant es- cape Half an hour later tho Colonel 1 and left tho littlo Jew staring distract edly at his unretributed gas- burners. walked home with the old man, and,
 having led him into his shabby refuge,
 suffered him to make his way alone, with
 9toans, and tears, and imprecations, into
 his daughters empty room. At last he
 came tottering out again it seemed as if
 ho was going mad. I brought him away
 by force, and he passed the night in my
 own quarters. He had spoken shortly be-
 fore of tho prospect of an asylum for his daughter, but it became evident that the
 asylum would have to be for him. 1 sometimes go to sec him. He spends
 his days covering little square sheets of paper with algobraic signs, but am as- sured by the superintendent, who undor- stands the matter, that they represent no coherent mathematical operation. I nev-
 CT treated myself to tho ''sensation of at-
 tending. Professor Fargo's new entertain ment. HENRY JAMES, JR.