The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-08-22


awaited her appearance with the great
est eagerness. One of the girls, Frances
Grey, had just reported to US that the /
gentleman who had come with Miss
Church had driven away, when mes
sage came to say Madame wanted US all. |
As we entered the room all our eight T
eyes turned to the newcomer before /
Madame had time to introduce us and |
hand her over to our care. a.
She was perfectly different from what |
we had expected, bearing not trace of
English birth about her. She was very
fully developed, and of medium height, |
with face rather broad, but with hand
some features. Her hair, of which she
had great masses, was jet black, and she |
had large dark eyes, with most pecu-
liar and weird expression. In short, it
was a, thoroughly Italian face; and we
found out afterw ard that Mr.. Church,
her so-called uncle and guardian, had
picked her up in Italy. He was struck
with the picturesque beauty of the child
who was playing on doorstep; and as
certaining that she was a founding, and
that her foster parents could ill-afford
to support her, had adopted her himself
had passed, Madame asked me if I would
60 and assist Miss Church to arrange
her things; which accordingly did. she
in the meantime sitting by and looking
on. We were thus occupied, when look
ing at her, saw her face suddenly as
sumo the most curious expression; all
light seemed to have died out of her
eyes; her form became somewhat rigid,
and she began speaking in a low tone,
but rapidly and fluently, in French. I
was much alarmed; but at that moment
Madame entered to see how we were
| getting on. On catching sight of
Lilian's face, she murmured to me-:
g Hush! Don't notice it. She's
somnambulist, and falls into these
frances at times. Isuppose she has the
dread of us foreigners on her mind.
Whatever you do, do not rouse her; it
might be fatal.''
"But, Madame, her eyes are open"
" Yes, my dear; they always are in
such case.''
And then Madame, thinking it best to
let me know the real state of the case,
/ though warning me not to let Lillian
know aboutit, told me the circumstances
under which the young girl was sent to
school.
For many months the peace of Mr..
Church's house had been greatly dis
turbed by suspicion that there was a
thief among the servants. The things
which disappeared were of no great
value, and all belonged to Miss Church
pin cushions, brushes, articles of
clothing; but though safe at night, in
the morning no trace was to be found of
them. At last the mystery was solved.
Miss Church, who slept at the top of the
house, had friend a few doors off who
slept on the same floor. One night this
friend was reused by tapping at her
window. With wonderful presence of
mind she opened it gently, and in
climbed Lillian Church. She had
clambered all along the ledge at the top
of the house; but how she had escaped
death no one knew. OF course, after
this her window was secured, and she
was watched; and it was discovered
that she had herself got rid of her things
by going down at night in her sleep and
burying them in the garden.
Upon this further discovery of her pc
culiarity, an eminent doctor was con-
suited, who prescribed perfect change OF
air and scene and the society of young
companions. Lillian was therefore sent
to school in Paris. M
doubt whether Madame had any idea
of the task she was undertaking. Ger
tainly, if she hoped to keep Lilian's
condition secret confined to two or
three she was disappointed, for this
strange girl used to fall into frances at
all hours of the day. The most re-
markable part of the case was that al
though she was downright stupid, and
deficient of intelligence when awake,
as soon as she fell into these sleeps she
became quite as remarkably clever
Her French was of the very baldest
/ English school girl possible. Happen.
, ing, however, to fall asleep some days
, later over French lesson, to the as
J, tonishment of her teacher she began te
, speak with ease. In one of these trance:
, one of the girls noticed that the top O.
! her thumbs-or rather not quite the top
, but the part just opposite the nail-was
black. She took hold. Of her hands
) and touching it, said:
: whats the matter with your hand
, Lilian?'' .s.s.se.......ss..f
Lillian snatched away her hand, cry
+ ing: s..# s.t..5 sa.i.. = w
aOh, dont't! You hurt my eyes"
, We noticed after this that all readin.
e while in these frances was conducted b,
: means of the thumbs; her. eyes fixes
$ on vacancy, she would sit passing he
E thumbs from line to line of the book
r The lessons thus learned were never re
5 membered in her waking moments, bu
s always came hack in anY Succeedin