Sharp County record., 1880-02-26

! features, q thin mouth, ana eyes OI III
odd amber tint, which had the strange
power of contracting and expanding at
will. so as to be at one moment mere
/ dull. Iifeless Sits in her face, and at an
other wide open and full OF light and
heat. Her plain, perfectly cut dress
suited her station and herself, as the
dress of a true FrenchwOman almost
aiWays does. Her manner was supple
and caressing. Altogether, Mrs. Aske
saw nothing to which to object, and
Madame Olympic was, accordingly,
shown into Mrs. ElphinstOne 5 room.
Mary was in bed. She had sat up
little since her baby's birth, and this
was one Of her languid days. She bare
! ly opened her eyes, and spoke not a
word, as Madame Olympic, having re-
moved cloak and gloves, began her
manisuIations. 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
meHt was a success, and then and there
entered into aa arrangement with the
jroteuSe to come at a regular hour each
day for the future.
So, morning after morning thereafter
the deft, insinuating FrenchwOman rang
the bell of the res de chGuSee at her ap-
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
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 needful 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, I do think I dol" replied
Mary, with an odd, breathless intensity
in her manner. "Don't say any thing
to her, Mamma. Let her come a little
longer"
Well-but, Mary -
"Please DON'T" Interrupted Mrs.
Elphinstone. 81 can't bear it. I shall
speak to Archie. He doesn't wish
me to 60 without any thing want, I
am sure.h
Mrs. Aske was surprised. Petulance
was SO foreign to Mary's nature that the
answer gave her shock. She made
haste to soothe, to acquiesce; but
shade Of trouble rested on her mind.
Why did Mary care so much about this
woman? She did not 60 out that day;
but sat by during the rubbing, watching
and considering. 1t seemed to her,
though she scolded herself as fanciful
for the idea, that reversal had taken
place in the position of the two, and
now that it was Madame. Olympic who
commanded and Mary who obeyed, and
obeyed with an unnatural and ready
subservience. 1t seemed, too, as though
Madame Olympic employed quite a new
manner toward her patient manner
authoritative, almost insolent; while
Mary watched her eye as timid dog
watches that of his master, doubtful
whether to expect a blow or a caress.
1t was like bad dream, to sit by, fan
cying these things, and yet distrusting
her own imaginings the while, and
hating herself for them. But before
the end of the seance Mrs. Aske was so
thoroughly uneasy as to resolve on con-
sulting her son-in-law. The result of
this consultation was the resolution to
dismiss Madame Olympic without con-
sulting Mary.
"She won't mind, once it is DONE"
said her mother. 81 think she is afraid
of that wOman's temper and feels too
weak still to endure the idea of
scene.n
"There shall be no scene!" declared
Major Elphinstone. 81 won't have
Mary harried and distressed by any
body. | don't care who it is"
Madame Olympic took her dismissal,
which was effected with all possible
courtesy and liberality, quietly enough;
but there was a look in her eye not
pleasant to see.
81 sail now enter to bid farewell to
Madame she said, closing her wallet
over the NapoleOns just paid her as final
settlement.
Major Elphinstone interposed. Ma
In ln