The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-29

the lamp was set SO that the light should
shiie upon my face, and Arnold was enycl.
Oped in the cloak, rs | had been,
Ana now, with all the nerve power nos
se>>ed, I fastened my eyes upon Arnol:s.
White and CHASTITY looked his face rising
out OF the blackness Of the draperv. which
gave it almost the appearance Of being III.
vided from the bodvand suspended in space.
The lips were wide apart. and the rreeniSh
eyes were dllated to their utmost extent,
with strained fascinated look, such as they
might have worn under the influence of a
ra!tlesnake: | could scarcely suppress a
shlvrr AZ THIS uncanny-looking picture: but
wild spirit took possession Of me that night
which soon swept away al! such "com-
punct!ous vistings OF nature" Everybody
seemed to be thoroughly impressed by the
Weirdncss Of the situation: there was no
S'gSi'ng, no whispering. all was silent as
oeath. Alter about minute my ewes grew
rlSld III their intense stare, until it seemed
10 me that | no longer had the power to
move or close them, or even wink 4 lid:
gradually could feel the pupils diate. until
| they seemed to become two huge flies glow.
ing with lambert and metallic fire. | could
see that every nerve OF the white face was
qul'er'ng, the breathing was short and la
tored, and dull, stony glare came into the
starting eyehalls, far-away. trance.like
look, mar told me that consciousness was
gone, ana that the very soul Of the man had
passed over to my keeping. And I felt 4
colu, cruel, hard triumph in this, a desire to
straln my mastery to the utmost. l rose
from my seat, slowly moved backward, and
lmp"r'ously heckoncd him, never relaxing
my, fixed stare. which seemed to scintillate
ana flash. As rose. he rose, cutchng the
cuge OF the table TO guide his trembling steps.
slowly moved, he following. seemingly i'm
pelled by an involuntary but reSistless i'm
pulse. stopped suddenly: he stopped.
! "What is your name" asked, impera-
lively.
! In q forced. hollow voice he gave one, that
afterward discovered was his family name,
Arnold being only a theatrical sobrquet.
At this one Of the gentlemen broke in, pro-
testing;
| questions"
"It is time to put an end to it; don't like
it," said another.
son! yes" added q lady, sit is too nor.
rible."
The interruption seemed to exercise the
mend that possessed me, and call me back to
myself; with an effort wrenched my gaze
from that CHASTITY face. As | did 50, Ar
mold, as though he had been only upheld by
my eyes, fell upon the floor in strong con-
missions.
Our experiment in mesmcriSm spoiled the
rest OF the evening; for although after a
copious outward application of cold water,
and judiciOvs inward one of neat brandy,
he soon recovered and tried to laugh off his
illness, it left a creepy, diSagreeable depres-
sion upon all, which no amount of hot
spirits and water and forced joliity could sue
coed in dispe!lng.
As it may be supposed, the effect was
strongest upon me, and it chiefly took the
form Of intense annoyance at the part | had
played; | would have given anything to
have recalled the past few minutes. After
Arnold's recovery, by a tacit understanding,
10 one made any reference to his strange ill.,
ness. indeed, all seemed DESTROYS foI Il time
Ofputting it out Of their thoughts-and none
so much As The principal actor in it, who
laughed and TESTED in feyerish manner and
never allowed the conversation to ilay for a
single moment, as though he feared the SUBJ
jcct might crop up again.
Everybody, however, was eagerly discuss
ing the singular event next morning at re-
hearsal. avoided the gOssiping groups, for
the remembrance Of the scene was horror
to me; so did Arnold, whom I studiously
attempted to avoid, but he took an exactly
opposite course, following me wherever I
went, trying to engage me in conversation,
and to catch my eye, as though some of the
fascination OF the previous night still sur
rounded me.
After rather late dinner, for the rehearsal
was very long, l was doing in my chair
when there came soft tap at the door, and
to my sleepy "come in,' there appeared
upon the threshold the tall, gaunt figure OF
the man whom of all others least desired to
see. 1t gave me quite shock. 1t was the
i,rst time he had ever called at my lodgings.
In common courtesy was obliged to ask
him to take seat and draw near the fire. as
the weather was cold. In vague, listIess
manner he placed chair in such a position
that it exactly faced mine, dropped into it
without word, and tried to fix my eyes. I
immediately shifted them and stared into
the Ere.
He made no attempt to account for this
visit; he talked very little, and in an absent
manner-that betrayed his thoughts were
not on his tonguc-about the business of the
theater. l felt very embarrassed by his
presence, and presently rose and rang fol-
tea. What could do but ask him to remain
and take it with me? He said" Thank you, ,
and kept his seat. Ifelt quite terrified by
the change that had come over him-from q
noisy, jesting, rollicking kind OF fellow. who
had always gibe for me, to this silent sub.
dued man, with those dreadful eyes ever
yearningly seeking mine.
Atlength he went away, and never in nv
life did feel so thankful for anybody's de.
parture.
But he came the next day, about the same
time, and acted in just the same manner,
until the lights were brought in; then all al
np fw0S III pn1,n :a -
where was sitting, and, laying his hand up
Mesmerize me!'
l started back and answered, shuddering.
ly: "Not for worlds"
"You must" he answered, passionately
And somehow or other, can not tell how
Z few minutes aftcrward we were sitting
ris-a. ris staring into each others eyes. II
less than a minute there was in his the dull
stony vaglleness Of insensibility.
l covered my face with my hands, but
withdrew them, rs I heard something fal
heavily upon the floor, to see him huddled
at my feet in commissions, the froth bubbline
upon his lips.
/ did not call for assistance; luckily had
some water and some brandy in the room.
knelt down and copiouslv bathed his head
and face. and then with some difficulty
forced little Of the spirit between hi!
clenchcd teeth.
When he recovered I nearly tainted my.
self: but. rallying by an effort, told hin
very positively that he must not come any
more.
~ can not stay away; must come" was
his answer. And again the dilated ewes
began to wander crayingly in search of mine
lean not describe the horror felt at these
visits, and at length begged lady friend
had in the theater to come and stay with me
The following afternoon he strol'ed in al
usual, but finding l had companion HI
looked very annoyed and remained only :
. few minutes.
Several days passed and met him only il
business. His manner was sullen. Amos
rude to me, at which was much relieved
for now began to entertain hopes that h
would prosecute me no more. The chang