The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-10-03

the sitting. room, which was favorite
with Julia.
There she was, reclining on sofa
asleep, her figure displayed to much ad-
vantage for the gaze of an enraptured
husband. / stole into the apartment,
intending to place the parcel on table
and retire; but the sight that met my
view chained me TO the spot. One of
Julia's eyes was shut, the othe: wide
open, and glttering like diamond of
the first water. 1t fixed itself on me,
aud caused thrill TO pass down me
right into my boots, as if had received
a galvanic shock.
All kinds of surmises raced through
my troubled brain, and in my horror |
would have cried out, but my tongue
Glove dryly to the roof of my mouth.
After all, was mesmerism science and
a truth, and had married one who had
the power to lead me about by her sweet,
strong will like lap-dog at the end of
string, or was my Julia afflicted with
paralysis of the optic nerve? Was she
human, or only bewItching, beautiful
female Polyphemus2 Could there be
anything of the vampire in her compo-
sition? Could there-could there
Great beads of perspiration gathered
on my agonized brow, and the parcel
dropped to the floor with bump, which
caused Julia to start up and utter little
shrek, which sent me plump into a
chair.
"What is the matter, Algernon ?" she
asked.
"The heat-I have been walking
FAST" gasped.
And for the next ten minutes | was
subjected to process of sal UOldtiIe to
my nostrils and vinegar to my temples.
How got over that evening don't
remember; but do recollect that felt
dreadfully shaken, and was in nervous
way for several davs afterward. Low
ing Julia dearly and afraid of hurting
her feelings, made no remarks, nor
asked for an explanation. There was,
however, growing upon me feeling
that there was some mystery connected
with my wife, which only time could
unravel.
took to the study of biology in all its
branches, that of the so-called mesmer-
ism with avidity, but as may be imag-
ined, in secret. and to little purpose,
for | was neither Darwin nor HuX-
ley. | was getting tranquilized, for
Julia had not exhibited the popularity
again, and was about to toss my stu
dies and perpleXities to the winds Of
fOrgetfulness, when an event occurred |
which quite upset both my Judgment
and bodily health.
1t was a lovely autumn morning, and
| stood looking down upon my Eve like
one who was utterly distraught. That
eye, that terrible bright eye of hers, was
shining brighter that the morning star.
The other was closed, and the long LASH
es casting faint shadow on her alsbas-
ter cheek. She would have presented
pretty picture as she lay with her rosy
lips slightly parted; but that eye spoiled
it, and l, in kind of frozen mechanical
silence, reused myself and left the cham
Der.
TO walk in small garden before
breakfast and mediate maybe healthful,
but to be pursued into every angle by
an eye belonging to the being you love
the best in the world is, TO say the least
about such thing, bewildering. | was
bewildered, bewitched, mesmerized,
and when came indoors and sat down
to breakfast, l could only stare at my
Julia in a stupid way.
"What is the matter with your" she
asked several times, and | could only !
return for answer something between
an hysterical giggle and groan.
| went to business, and blundered as
never did clerk before. On my way
home | stopped at secondhand book
shop, and purchased mouldy cyclope-
dia, which contained articles on "The
Eyil Eye,' Vampires, Paralysis of the
Optic nerve," &c.
The article on the evil eye riveted my
attention during the whole of the re-
mainder of the day, and when l retired
to bed, dinnerless, tealess, and supper
less, it was not to sleep, but to lie with
my face to the floor, and behold eyes
glaring at me from every corner of the
room, which threw me into fever, in
which / lay for weeks.
One day as lay exhausted, the fever
almost gone, overheard low conver-
sation, which tended very much to accel-
crate to my recovery.
"The deception was cruel"
That was my mothers voice.
at was not my fault"
That was my mother-in-law.
"It was mine, wholly mine. l was
afraid of losing him, and loved him.
Oh, loved him so dearly"
That was my Julia.
cit must end, and at once, or / will
not answer for the consequence.
That was man, and, slightly turning
recognized in the speaker a medical
gentleman whom had known for years.
"Who is to make the reyelation?"
whispered my mother.
81 WILL" exclaimed Julia. milne
was the wrong doing, and mine is the
duty to make all the reparation in my
power, even If am divorced"
And at this latter supposition the poor
girl sobbed outright, upon hearing
which uttered some loud remark, and
4l,n nn,rt instnn NJ fnlt snm OF III o. nnrnlin o.