The Red Cloud chief., 1880-03-04
A MODERN S~ORCERESS.

Why the E~lphinstones of ~Elphinstone
should elect 10 90 to Paris for the winter
none Of their kinsfolk at home could at
all understand. Young Mrs. Elphin-
stone WAS nervous" il was understood,
and entertained an English" prcju-
dice against the bare, big house, on its
lonely moorland, where her husbands
ancestors had beer content Ia dwell for
a couple of centuries. And this was
particularly ungrateful of her, because
much had been done to improve it, on
her coming. Carpets everywhere; bed
curtains; even a mangle, She thought
it "lonely, "forsooth, and said the sound
of the wind kept her awake. "Shecr
nonsense" pronounced sundry grim
maiden aunts. Though, really, what
could Archie expect better, after going
u of his way TO wed a Door, feckless
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
well 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 10 her. He noted her fi~uctuating
spirits, watched her fairness fading into
pallor, the luminous blue of her eyes
spiritualizing into langour, and was in
haste To carry her 10 a more cheerful
atmosphere. Paris was chosen, as af-
fording more variety and winter sun
shine than London. Besides, Mrs.
E~lphinstone herself had been born in
Paris, and had a strong fancy that the
baby soon TO come should be born there
also
at is such a perfect place for babies"
she told her husband. "You see them
10y the hundred in the Champs Elysees
on fine days, all looking so rosy and
happy. Here, the little thing would be
housed for weeks together" looking out
of the window with a SILVER rs she
spoke; :. but in Paris it will live in the
air and only come indoors to sleep.
You will enjoy it too, Archie, | am sure
you will"
Major Elphinstone was less sure: but
not for the world would he have said
any thing 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 Chan
mel on a smooth afternoon; and, without
long delay, established themselves in a
comfortable re- dc chauSsee in the Rue
Royale.
4 happened to meet them soon after
their arrival, and was struck by Mrs.
Elphinstone's singular beauty. II
was of the exquisite and fragile char
acter of Sir Joshua Reynolds's most re-
fined portraits-maSSes of hazel-tinted
hair. picturesquely disposed; large eyes
of wistful gray-blue, shaded by thick,
dropping lashes; a complexion ivory
fair, with soft pink in cheeks and mouth
and an expression of great sweetness,
tinged with ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a
face full of charm and interest, but not,
as l said TO myself, the face of a woman
meant for 4 life of unbroken happiness,
+, L saw them but once. Mary's baby wa:
J born in February, and Major Elphin.
stone and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Aske,
were absorbed from that time on by the
anXietes of the moment, so that the res,
of their story 1 know only from hearsay.
The baby-a boy-throve and -four.
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 DIR. Boulan, 9
man of theories. SUGGESTED the employ.
ment of a professional rubber Ga
woman), who had the reputation of i'm
parting strength to her patients by the
communication of a certain magnetic
quality, with which she seemed en-.
( dowed.
"She is no imposter. That I vouch,'
explained the Doctor, in the careful En-
glish of which he was Justly proud. 81
have heard of her sometimes, and once
l seen her To- She are truly full of thu
electric, and she make your good lad,
like electric as she; and she speak a Lit
tie English too. That will be good fol
Madame Aske. Employ her, my deal
sir. l VIII guarantee the result"
Rash DIR. Boulani In an evil houI
Major E~lphinstone consented, and al
appointment was made for the attend
ance of Madame Olympic.
She came puncuually, and was received
by Mrs. Aske, kindly, sensible woman
with nerves at their just level. Tb
frottuse vas a sallow, middle-age,
Frenehwoman. with regular, sharpen
features, a thin mouth, and eyes of al
odd amber tint, which had the strang
dnswer Of contracting and expanding q