Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-02-13
aEMoDEBN seRoEREss.


the winter none of their kinsfolk at
home could at all understand. Young
Mrs. Elphinstone was nervous" it
was understood, and entertained
an English" prejudice against the
bare big house, on its lonely moor
land, where her husbands ances-
tors had been content to dwell for a
couple of centuries. And this was par
ticularly ungrateful of her, because
much had been done to improve it, on
her coming. Carpets everywhere; bed
curtains; even a manglel She thought
it "lonely," forsooth, and said the
sound of the wind kept her awake.
"Sheer nonsense" pronounced sundry
grim maiden aunts. "Though, really,
what could Archie expect better, after
going out of his way to wed q poor,
freckless creature like that, when hearty
Scotch lassies were to be had by the
score, who had never been guilty of
listening to the wind in their lives and
would disdain to be lonely under any
circumstances whatever"
Major Elphinstone cared little for his
maiden aunts, and nothing at all for
their opinion. He liked Elphinstone
we'll enough, and a sort of hereditary
affection had brought him back there
to reside, when he left the army, on the
death of his father; but he was passion
ately in love with his young wife, and
felt that the place was absolutely harm
full to her. He noted her huctuating
spirits, watched her fairness fading into
pallor, the luminous blue of her eyes
spiritualizing into languor, and was in
haste to carry her to a more cheerful
atmosphere. Paris was chosen, as af
fording more variety and winter sun
shine than London. Besides, Mrs. Ell
phinstone herself had been born in Par
is and had strong fancy that the baby
soon to come should be born there also.
"It is such perfect place for ba-
bies," she told her husband "You
see them by the hundred in the Champs
Elysees on fine days, and all looking so
rosy and happy. Here, the little thing
would be housed for weeks together"
looking out of the window with a shiver
as she spoke; "but in Paris it will live
in the air and only come indoors to
sleep. You will enjoy it, too, Archie, l
am sure you will"
Major Elphinstone was less sure; but
not for the world would he have said
anything to dampen his wife's happy
fancies. They left the moors in Octo-
Der, being joined on their way by Mrs.
Elphinstone's mother; crossed the
Channel on a smooth afternoon, and
without long delay, established them
selves in a comfortable rez de cbaaSSee
in the Rue Royale.
happened to meet them soon after
their arrival, and was struck by Mrs.
Elphinstone's singular beauty. 1t was
of the exquisite and fragile character of
Sir Joshua Reynolds most refined por-
traits masses of hazel-tinted hair,
picturesquely disposed; large eyes of
wistful gray-blue, shaded by thick,
dropping lashes; complexion ivory
fair, with soft pink in cheeks and
mouth; and an expression of great
sweetness, tinged with melancholy-al
together face full of charm and in
terest, but not, as said to myself, the
face of o woman meant for life of un
broken happiness. l saw them but
once. Mary's baby was born in Feb
ruary, and Major Elphinstone and his
mother-in-law, Mrs. Aske, were alb
sorbed from that time on by the ankle
ties of the moment, so that the rest of
their story know only from hearsay.
The baby-a boy-throve and flour
ished. Not so his mother. Weeks
passed, leaving her still listless and
feeble, with none of the reaction -
prophesied and waited for by her SAN
guine doctor. AT last Doulan, a man
of theories, suggested the employment
of a professional rubber Ga woman, }
who had the reputation of imparting
strength to her patients by the commu-
nication of a certain magnetic quality,
with which she seemed endowed.
'She is no impostor. That avouch, ~
explained the Doctor, in the careful
English of which he was justly proud.
II have heard of her sometimes, and
once | seen her do. She are truly full
of the electric, and she make your good
lady like electric as she; and she speak
little English too. That will be good
for Madam Aske. Employ her, my
dear sir. l will guarantee the result -
Rash DR.. Boulan! In an evil hour
Major Elphinstone consented, and an
appointment was made for the atten-
dance of Madam Olympic.
She came punetually, and was re.
ceived by Mrs. Aske, kindly, sensible
woman, with nerves at their Just level
The froteuse was sallow, middle-aged
Frenchwoman, with regular, sharply.
cut features, thin mouth, and eyes OF
an odd amber tint, which had the
strange power of contracting and ex,
paAding at will, so as to be at one mo.
mefit mere dull, lifeless Sits in her face
aud at another wide open and full Of
light and heat. Her plain, perfectly.
nj fiVsaa Tod ha oku 1. IA
as the dress of true Frenchwoman al
most always does. Her manner was
supple and earessing. Altogether, Mrs
Aske saw nothing to which to object
and Madam Olympic was, accordingly
shown into Mrs. Elphinstone's room.
Mary was in bed. She had sat III
little since her baby's birth, and thii
was one of her languid days. Sh,
barely opened her eyes, and spoke no
word, as Madam Olympic, having re
moved cloak and gloves, began he
manipulations. The rubbing LASTED
nearly an hour. Toward its close Mar,
seemed brighter, asked a question o.
two, even smiled; and Mrs. Aske, sur
prised and pleased, felt that the ex
pertinent was a success, and then anC
there entered into an arrangement will
the froteuse to come at regular houl
each day for the future.
So, morning after morning there
after the deft, insinuating French
woman rang the bell of the res d
chdases at her appointed moment, ant
slipped noiselessly through the doc
and into the room Of her patient. Mrs
Aske made a point at first of beinl
present. In fact, Mrs. Elphinstone'
nervous condition was such that I,
leave her alone with a stranger was no
TO be thought of. But, gradually, thi
relaxed. Mary was not nervous wit
Madam Olympic. On the contrary
her presence seemed soothing an
tranquilizingi and after while Mr.,
Aske learned to regard the hour of th
daily ruhhino % a E.aa i,,,a,,,o1 1s-