The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-22

/. that johnson and Miss White? He
asked my permission, this morning. to
display her wonderful skill as a clairyoy-
, ant. Come along; want you to see
: her in trance.
| | am not superstitious, but there was
something uncanny in the air that morn
ing, and thrill of actual dread passed
over me as we approached the clairvoy-
| and. Her eyes were opened, but roll
ed back IN her head and there was a
CHASTITY expression to he face [ shall
never forget. She was talking and ges-
tieulating earnestly, and near her stood
DR.. johnson, whose fixed, magnetic
gaze never left her for single instant.
As soon as | could distinguish what she
said | discovered that she professed to be
under the control of Joe Morrison, and
the Captain informed me that she imi-
tated perfectly his tricks of voice and
manner. What made this more re
markable was the fact that she had
never seen him.
"There is no ute, Lucy, in crying
any more" she said, ''for am misera-
bic seoundrel, and not worth the tears
you she'd You are wrong too in neg
lecting your duty to Willie the way you
do. He is our child remember, and |
want you to consider what will be the
best for his future, instead of mourning
for me any longer You are altogether
too headstrong and suspicious, and
won't even listen to the advice of your
friends
At this point her discourse was inter
rupted by a sudden stir among the crowd
Mrs. Morrison had tainted The
Captain and l carried her to sofa and
sprinkled water in her face but it was
some time before she regained conscious
ness, and not until after the clairvoyant
had come out of her apparent trance.
The next morning the boat reached
St. Louis. put up at the Planters, "
as usual, and so did DR.. johnson and
his friends | had several business
commissions to attend to, and did not
see anything of them for several days.
But one evening, as [ was going to my
room, little Willie came running along
the hall, sobbing as if his heart would
break
'HWhat is the matter Willie 2 L SAID,
taking him up in my arms.
All could make out from his broken
speech was that somebody had ''hurted"
his mamma and that she was crying
''drefful" hard and would not even speak
to him.
A sudden impulse came over me to
offer my friendship to Mrs. Morrison,
and thwart the plans of Johnson, if pos
sible; for felt convinced that he had
occasioned her tears. while was think
king how to do this without wounding
her delicacy, she came out into the hall
looking for Willie. He ran up to her
eagerly, dragging me along, and was
really shocked at the change in her ap-
pearance. She was thinner and paler
than when | had seen her last, and there
was look in her eyes like that of a hun
ted beast at bay.
| can't tell how it was that | gained |
her confidence so readily, but we hadn't |
been talking ten minutes before she be- |
gan to tell me of her troubles. My
white hair and venerable appearance |
had something to do with it, probably;
and then, too, her need of friend was
imperative.
She could not get the slightest clew
to her husband, it seemed, in st. Louis, |
ard was almost ready, in her despair, to
believe everything the clairvoyant said.
The net had been subtly laid. johnson
had placed her under pecuniary obliga-
tions that CALLED her womanly spirit, |
snd made it the harder to reject his pro-
posal. Then too, he promised to care |
for and educate Willie, and love for her
child pleaded strongly on the mothers
heart.
johnson was going to Chicago the
next day, and was coming to her in the
morning for a final decision. Ifshe re-
fused to accompany him thithet as his
wife, then all was to be at an end be-
tween them. But what was she to do
in st. Louis alone and penliless
[ did not hesitate as to the advice |
should give her, and [ promised to do all
could to assist her
I slept but little, for 1 was thinking
of her. Late the following morning l
went to breakfast. Opposite to me was
a traveller, ,sun-burntan and coarsely attired,
but honest and genial looking. We en-
tered into conversation, There was
something Ill his voice and manner that
seemed strangely familiar, although |
could not recolleet that | had ever met
him before. But it came over me like
q fash of light, when he spoke of Just
having returned from the mountains,
that this was the man whom Sarah
White, the clairvoyant, had personated
on the steamer Dresden.
"Pardon, me, sir; but isn't your name
Joe Morrison? And didn't you use to
live in--f"
He started to his feet.
"For Gods sake, sir, can you tell me
anything of my wife and child? 1t is
nearly two years since I've heard word
from them"
Joy seldom kills, and Ihad not the
heart to prolong his suspense.
eyes, yes they are alive and well"
| answered, "and are here in this very
house in No."
"My God ? it isn't possible !" he cried,
rushing away from the table like a
madman.
followed leisurely, and found him
with Willie in his arms, pressed closely
to his breast, laughing and crying at the
same time, and frightening the child
nearly to death. Mrs. Morrison was not
in the room. She had just gone out
with DIR. Johason, the chambermaid
said.
A thrill of apprehension ran over
me.
"Do you know where they went2" I
asked.
But she could not tell certainly.
"The gentleman had said something
about Squire Dawson's," she answered.
That was enough. l rushed down
stairs and through the streets, dragging
Morrison and Willie with me. We did
not stop to see whether people stared at
US or not. Just as we reached the door Of
Justice Bawson's office, johnson and
Mrs Morrison came out, and my heart
sank within me. Willie caught q
glimpse ofthem and cried out shrilly,
Mamma Mamma I"
She started and turned, and Morrison
4