The Worthington advance., 1882-08-24
THE STORY OF A HAND.
Tho Gallo Idea Of 4 Scotch Lovers
RuSe.

not break the wheel or cause the rain:
and as my narrative is true, assure you
that the wheel of Lord Fergus's. carriage
broke opposite the door Of an inn; also
That there was a terrific storm in the
mountains.
Lord Fergus was not an ordinary man.
That he was q gentleman was evident
Aside from that, however, it would have
been difficult to decide whether he were
young or old, good or bad, handsome OF
otherwise. Sometimes brusque, his
manners at other times were Of capti-
waiting gcntleness.
Occasionally without apparent cause,
he had sudden accessions Of wild gayety
or rapturous meditation. At such times
all that was obscure and strange about
this incomprehensible being was re-.
vcalcd, and seemed to concentrate, rs in
double focus, in his eyes, intense, un.
tathomablc, and majestic. His gaze ex-
ercised such mesmeric influence over
the sentlcr sex, that the noble lord al
ways took the precaution of putting on
green glasses when he desired to be
loved for himself.
1t is needless to add that he was gen
orally regarded As magnetizer. In
vain did he contradict this explanation
with great sincerity that it was not by
magnetism at all, but by irradiation, SYM
pathetic projection, that he sometimes
quite involuntarilv exercised Il sort of fas-
cination over some refined natures. No
one believed it, 50 persistent are the
vulgar in wishing to have explained by
ordinary methods effects of which they
cannot comprehend the cause.
BE that as it may. After Lord Fergus
had been sufficiently discussed, they all
agreed 1t to be impossible to understand
the man. The secret of his power lay
entirely in the expression Of his eye.
large waiting room Of the inn. The roll
ing OF 4 carriage and the cracking Of
viii ps suddenly disturbed his revery.
Curious and idle as are all travellers, he
hurried to the balcony, and saw il young
tdy descend from 4 fOurhorse carriage
who, as well as he could Judge from 50
great distance, appeared to be marvel
ously beautiful. The lady proved to be
the princess Gelsolnina Cordileone. At
that moment a heavy roll OF thunder
shook the house and made every VIM
dow rattle. The princess, deathly pale
and with claspcd hands, hurried tow
ards Lord Fergus exclaiminy:
In heavens name close all the doors
ard windows and remain with mc!'
In the midst of the frightft,l tumu't of
the elements they were imprisoned for
TWO long hours. Every time Lord Fer
S'!S attempted to speak the princess,
with a gesture of terror, entreated him
10 be silent. But ifspecch were denied
them, their eyes were eloquent, and
when the last crash Of thunder had
passed away, their destinies were more
indissolubly united than if their acu,aint-
aimee had extended over a period Of
years: 'Tis true, they had not spoken,
out silent love is the most vehem ellt.
"Milord," tllcn said the princess. I'll
thank you for the service whicl, you
have rendered me-. Now if You will be
50 kind as to order the carriage, my graf
itudc will be complete"
Lord Fergus, with lightning rapidity,
went to do her bidding, and returning
Immediately, announced the carriage.
The princess bestowed gracious smile
upon Lord Fergus, who bowed pro-
fOundly as she passed. Eut at that mo-
,nent an expression of pain distorted the
face of the princess. She stopped
pressed her hand to her left cheek, and
exclaimed, with suggestion Of tears III
her voice:
"Oh, how suffer" As she spoke she
x,nk into chair.
Lord Fergus felt no surprise. He
had watched her preparations for de-
parture with imperturable calmness,
but understood the language of love too
we'll to suppose all adventure happen
ing to two such powers as this lady
and himself could end thus abruptly
| say two powers, for if Lord Fergus
had magnetic gaze, the princess pos.
sesscd a voice of wonderful sweetness
The human ear has never heard any
thing comparable to its music. Clear
rich, and vibrant, it ruled, carressed
and inspired. At the first words she
contestable that # that voice commanded
the sacrifice of my life, 1 should ODE,
without hesitation" Therefore, in re
sponse to the lady's plant he approach.
cd her, and having contemplated he
with his supernatural regard, asked:
Are. you i'll, princess?" and his in.
t:nse look seemed to add: Do yor
think will permit you to suffer-"
The princess raised her fine eyes con
fidingly to his face-eycs doubly beau
full from the tears Of pain glistening lik.
diamonds i'll their depths. Eyes, suffer
ing intensely from neuralgia" she re
sponded. "O(, if some one could hell
me!'
II will relieve you immediately" said
LORD Fergus. Lift up your head ant
look at me-" As he spoke helaid thu
point Of his index finger between hel
eyes. 0mnipotence Of irradiation and
without the slightest hesitation. with
70 embarrassment whatever, lifted up
her head at once, and the operate,
passed his finger lightly along the right
eyebrow. This prelude was SO assured
90 grave, that the most cautious mind
could not have refused to recognize in Il
q p''wer sure of itself, and Of its inflli.
bility. The princess felt it instantly. and
all the sympathetic currents Of her M.
ture s*'emed to concentrate beneath tha,
lovely brow which the light fingers OF
the ope rator were caressing What fol-
lowed, human language has no words to
describe. The whole soul of Lord Fer
gus had passed into his fingers, and
seemed t. emanate in waves OF electrici
ty from their very extremity. He be.
gan by lassing his hand over the fore.
head and cheeks Of the princess, scarce,
~ grazing them, causing the delicate
skin to tremble as if brushed by q soft
zephyr. Returning afterward to the
= juncture of the two eyebrows, he follow.
- ed the contour of the delicate arches
with his thumb, swept, going back. the
cheeks. and upward to the inner can.
thus of the eye, to touch lightly the
nose, glide along the upper lip, fnger
= moment at the corner of the mouth.
and reach at length ;t1e;Aenter of the
chin where hak stopped:
Lord te1 as an experienced oper-
ator, hsons for stopping thus al
this first .phase--preliminary phase, in
tact-for in starting anew from the chin,
the operator became more energetic
and animated. He had sometimes en-.
countered caprice and resistance from
the sick who were unable to bear his ir-
radiations. He hesitated, then. to OBJ.
serve the result of his efforts. But in
this case the expectant and completely
resigned expression Of tile lady left him
in no doubt; and after. remaining mo:
ment with head thrown back and ewes
closed. in order to collect his powers he
resumed .his magnetic man Pulations.