The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-02-13

with nerves at their Just level. Inc
frofeuSe was sallow, middle-aged
Frenchwoman. with regular, sharp-cut
features, q thin mouth, and eyes Of an
odd amber Iint, which had the strange
power Of contracting and expanding ut
will. 50 as To be 1T one moment mere
dull, lifeless Sits in her face, and at an
other wide open and full OF light ana
heat. Her plain, perfectly cut dress
suited her station and herself. as the
dress of true Frenchwoman almost
always does. Her manner WAS supple
and caressing. Altogether, Mrs. Aske
saw nothing TO which TO object. anu
Madame Olympic was, accordingly.
shown into Mrs. Elphinstone's room.
Mary was in bed. She had sat up
little since her baby's birth, and this
was one If her languid days. She bare
IL opened her eyes, and spoke not
word, as Madame Olympic, having re-
moved cloak and gloves, began her
MANIFESTATIONS. The rubbing lasted
nearly an hour. Toward its close Mary
seemed brighter, asked question or
two. even smiled; and Mrs. Aske, sur
prised and pleased, felt that the expert
ment was a success, and then and there
entered into an arrangement with the
frotcuse to come ut a regular hour each
day for the future.
So, morning after morning thereafter
the delft, insinuating Frenchwoman rang
the bell Of the res dc chausee at her APP
pointed moment, and slipped noiselessly
through the door and into the room OF
her patient. Mrs. Aske made point at
first Of being present. In fact, Mrs
Elphinstone's nervous condition was
such that to leave her alone with n
stranger was not to be thought OF. But,
gradually, this relaxed. Mary was not
nervous with Madame Olympic. On the
contrary, her presence seemed soothing
and tranquilizing; and after while
Mrs. Aske learned to regard the hour of
the daily rubbing as free interval, dur
ing which she could safely absent her
self for purposes of exercise or the do
ing of ncedful errands. The Doctors
prediction with regard to the treatment
seemed justified. BY slow degrees Mrs.
Elphinstone grew stronger ~ could
stand; could walk from room to room /;
at last was able TO drive out. So things
went on for three months. At the end
of that time Mary was so like herself
that further rubbing seemed needless,
and it was proposed that the visits OF
Madame Olympic should be discontin-
ued.
You really don't need her now,''
suggested Mrs. Aske.
.Oh, L do. think I do" replied
Mary, with an odd, breathless intensity
in her manner. Don't say any thing
to her, Mamma. Let her come little
longer
sWell-but. Mary -"
"Please don't!" interrupted Mrs
Elphinstone. ~ can't bear it. shall
speak to Archie. He doesn't wisf
me to 60 without any thing want,
am sure.
Mrs. Aske was surprised. Petulancs
was so foreign to Mary's nature that thu
answer gave her shock. She mad
haste to soothe, to acquiesce; but
shade Of trouble rested on her mind
Why did Mary care so much aoout thi
woman? She did not 90 out that day
but sat by during the rubbing, watchin.
and considering. 1t seemed to her
though she scolded herself as fancifu
for the idea, that reversal had take
place in the position of the two, ant
now that 1t was Madame Olympic VIII
commanded and Mary who obeyed, an
obeyed with an unnatural and read
subservience. II seemed, too, as thong
Madame Olympic employed quite ne'
manner toward her patient--a name
! authoritative, almest insolcnt; Will
Mary watched her eye as timid do
watches that Of his master, doubtfl
whether to expect blow or cares
| IL was like bad dream, to sit by, far
/ cying these things, and yet distrustin
) her own imaginings the while, an
hating herself for them. But bcfol
r the end Of the seance Mrs. Aske was |
thoroughly uneasy rs 10 resolve on col
/ sulting her son-in-law. The result I
: this consultation was the resolution I
! dismiss Madame Olympic without col
4 sulting Mary.
! "She won't mind, once il is done,
I. said her mother. ~ think she Is afrai
! of that woman's temper and feels x
!; weak still to endure the idea Of
/, scene
4 "There shall be no scene,'' declare
!, Major Elphinstone. ~ won't ha'
n Mary married and distressed by an
!. body. / don't care who it is"
5 Madame Olympic took her dismissa
/ which was effected with all possib
), courtesy and liberality, quietly enough
Ie bu. there was look in her eye n
Il pleasant to see.
'. ~ sail now enter to bid farewell |
+ Madame" she said, closing her wall
l. over the Napoleons just paid her as fin
II settlement
I" Major Elphinstone interposed. NJ
o. dame must be spared agitation.
a farewell was undesirable. He hims'
v would convey the adieu to her. And
Ia bowed the Objectionable female, as
n his own mind he called her, out Of Il