River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-30


over thee undin,laed the moon girt planets shine
On thy uaie~tia altars fade the fires
That filled the ..ir with smoke Of vain desires,
And al the uuc'5lljcd blue Of heaven IS thine.
STRANGE CHRISTMAS
Thirty Christmas nights have come
and gone since that one so memorable
in my life, ard yet sitting here in my
solitary room. a gray-haired, lonely wo-
man, the Whole scene rises as wildly
before me as though it had occurred
but yesterday | can see the comfort
ably but plainly furnished, low-ceiled,
old-fashioned room, with its dark
wainscoted walls, and its dim corners,
that the feeble light of couple of COM
posite candles could scarcely reach:
can see the hglf circle of faces gathered
round the hearth, looking glowing and
pleasant in the ruddy glare of the fire
hght-a!l except one, that Of a man
who sat in tho corner opposite to me.
| could no keep my eyes off that
face, which had for me the fascination
Of uglintss; 81 the lights and shadows
made by the Iickering fame touched
the shocI, Of bristly hair that half con
cealed the low, narrow forehead, the
/ cayernous eyes. sunken checks, and
/ huge mouth. half open with Il cynical
smile that showed lhe tusklikc teeth, |
could compare it only with shifting
series of gargoyles from some old
I monkish ruin
( We were all members Of the com
/ pany Of the theatre Royal ", and
/ it being non play night, we were as
I scmbled 1T tic lodgings of one Of our
members, lady, to do honor to her
birthday Oar usual theme, the affairs
Of the theatre, past, present and future,
being exhausted, the conversation, |
can not remember how, had turned up
/ on mcsIDcrisr and clairvoyance, and |
I was stoutly declaring my utter disbe-
( lief in either my Skepticism being
greatly intensified by the circumstance
! that Tony ArupId-the man have Just
! described, and who was one of the low
! comedians Of our company took
/ the opposite side. There had ALWAYS
/ been an antagonism between us, and
although had no actual cause for such
/ a feeling, positive dislike upon my
/ part. which | believe was pretty strong
( Is reciprocated upon his.
/ Although ] was scarcely 20 at the
I time, | was what people would have
I called rather strong minded girl, with
/ opinions of my own that never shrank
/ from asserting. with an obstinancy that
no argument tould overcome; and on
/ this night, excited by spirit of def
ance TO my yis-a-vis. | expressed them
+ with bigotry and contempt that were
/ anything but polite to those who diff
I fcred with me.
BY your poSitiveness, Miss Grace, :"
sneercd Arnold, II presume you have
/ had a very large experience of the
trickeries Of mesmerists.'
Oh, indeed ! have not, | replied
sharply. Il was never mt any exhibi-
/ ton of the kind in my life, and never
intend To- | should not have patience
even to witness such a transparent I'M
4 posture
suppose" lie said and there was Il
gleam in his eye which indicated rising
/ temper, suppose | could give you oc-
/ cuIar demonstration that you are
/ wrong by placing some one in this room
/ under mesmeri" influence; have done
the thing often. If | did this before
your own eyes, when you would be
quite assured there could not he trick
or collision, would you believe it them
Il don't know that | should" | an
swered doggedly. If you have such
a power. | added with con
temptuous smile, why don't you try
ii upon me?'
Arnold was evidently taken abdck.
DO not think hetdrcamCd OF my taking
up his challenge. He regarded me
some seconds with a doubtful, waver-
ing glanc", which | met detiantly and
mockingly:
Il would prefer any one else in the
room. ne answered hesitatingly.
.Of course You would" | replied
with lnaliciod. laugh. Il am not a
good subject; the mystic influence is
powcrlc~s over disbelieycrS. Oh, /
know all the i4rgon"
And ! cast triumphant glance
round the company, who were exceed
ingly amused st our discussion.
Arnold tanned alternately waite and
red with rage and modification.
1t is rot that. Eeanswered quickly,
then paused. but, evidently stung by
my contemptuous laugh, he added in
stantly; Very we'll, be it 50, since
you desire it.
The prospect Of having the discus
sion 50 SUMMARY tested and adjudged
created an intense excitement, and |
could feel my own cheeks burning and
my pulse gllloping at fever heat as Ar
mold proceeded g. make preparations
for tile cNuerin ent.
/ anticipated the usual passes and
J hand wayiucs of which | had read. but
| soon perceived that his method was
going to be entirely different He
began hy placing two chairs exactly
1 opposite IT, one another. in one of
/ which he requested me to be seated
/ then he drapcd Ia large black cloak
around me so HAT only my face rose
above il then lamp, borrowed from
/ the landlddy of the house, was set in
such a position that the light should
/ focus upon my face, after which he
( took the chair opposite to mine and de-
sired me Ia fix any eyes tirmally upon
/ his. and not remove them for q second.
followed his instructions and the
/ next moment was staring intently
INTO a pair Of e. cni,h-brown orbs that
i could feel die not meet mine with
equal ,tcaIinessi There was profound
/ silence. broLcn only by a little sup
/ pressed eiggle from the females, and
an occasional lDw whisper from the
men.
We had been thus only Il few seconds
when Arnold : rang up, eXclaiming
1t, no use, ear not do it.
\ shout of laughter hailed this con-
ressiou of defeat. and throwing off my
drapery. jumued up and joined heart
lily in the chorou~,
Arnold was white as death, and cx-
. tremely agitatcd He made nc reply
! to the volIcy OF "chatf7 that assailed
him on MI sides hut again turning to
me, said in tone of intense earnest
ness Il can n5t meSmerize you, but
/ You can me: those strong, steelgray
eyes Of yours, with their metallic lustre,
are far more .etent than mine. Come,
viii YOU trN2'
| did not need the Indictment Of
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