The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-11
AN OCCULT SCIENCE.
Story of the Most Eventfm Year
Of My Life.

1t was dear old Aunt Judith who first
instigated me to attempt an account of one
year of my life, which, though it contained
more uncertainty, more thought and more
unhappiness than any other, is neverthe-
most thankful, and to which l am fondest
of looking back.
was engaged to Ernest Crofts, and had
been SO for six months. We were to be
married in the summer, by which time
Ernest assured my father that he would
have a sufficient competency upon which to
marry. l then thought I was very fond of
him; probably in a way I was. 1 admired
bin; ne was better-looking, and had a
more distinguished air than any one in the
village. Even young Walter Fardyce,
who was articled to old Mr.. Welsh, fell
into the background on occasions when
Ernest came down for a day or two; and
it was not without pride that I noticed the
unmistakable looks of admiration cast upon
him as he walked up the aisle of the church
on Sunday, and reflected that it was just
to see me that he had torn himself away
from the many attractions of London, and
come to spend his Sunday in quiet Stoke
bourne. Ernest was Gin the city," He
had to sit in an Office a great part of the
day; but he assured me chat his work was
very different from what it had been. He
was in a much better position thar form
erly: held a responsible n trusted post,
and had the management of considerable
sums of money.
That was about all that I knew of him.
My father had made all necessary inqui-
ries when we were first engaged, and my
duty was not SO much to inquire how he
obtained his income, as to study the way
in which l was to manage it best.
There was considerable excitement in the
village that winter. Old DR.. Williams had
died at Christmas, and everybody was
naturally much exercised about his success
sor. We had heard vague rumors concern
ing DIR. Browne, who, it was stated, had
made all necessary arrangements about the
purchase of the practice. 1t was quite GER
tain that a stranger had been down to see
old Mrs. Williams, and Walter Fardyce
had put on a very knowing and mysterious
accounts DIR. Browne was a wonderful
mans; had been abroad a great deal. Some
said in India, others were sure it was Cali
fornia, and deaf old Miss S~edgewick, who
somehow or other always managed to hear
most things, assured me it was Egypt.
Walter Fardyce committed himself to the
statement that he was leaving a good prac-
tice in London, in order to obtain greater
leisure for his scientific studies than was
possible in the metropolis. 1 won
dered at this, for, from all I had
heard from Ernest, it seemed to
RAAS0 SOa4o 10 oO COL dDl6
for a residence as London. In comparison
with it Stokebourne was a mere desert.
remember well the first time 1 spoke to
DIR. Browne. There was a party at the
Welshes', and Earnest was present. He
had certainly made a great favor of it,
for he hated these 'rustic festivities" as
he was pleased to call them, but supposed
it would be as well to accept sometimes.
Besides, I had begged him to come.
/ suppose the Stokebourne parties were
nrxr Irr11 q. E-v,1 - o.sI Ix IL -
been to any others, and felt that I was nc
competent judge. There was a bagatelle
board in the hall at Mr.. Welsh's, and some
of the younger guests generally amused
themselves there. Ernest despised it, but
that was no wonder, for in London he was
in the habit of playing billiards. In thu
~drawing-room four of the elders played
whist, and a round game of cards wal
organized at the large table. In addition
to this there was a piano in the room, an
least pretensions to musical ability, wa,
called upon to do his or her little utmos
for the entertainment of the assembly.
never quite saw why, for nobody listened
and with the exception of the whis
players, who undoubtedly hated the music
everybody talked.
DR.. Browne arrive late. He had BEEF
called out to a patient and detained Ionge
then he had expected to be, and there wa
quite a futter when he made his appear
. duCc. L uau JuSU DeeQ singing, with ErneS
to turn over for me, and we were standin,
in the hall watching the balls runnin,
round the end of the board, instead of go
ing into the nine hole as the player wished
The doctor was not handsome, certainly
1 glanced at Ernest as 1 made this menta
comment, and the sight of his feature
strengthened my opinion. But handsom
or not, l felt sure that not even my love
could have been more self-possessed on en-
tering the room, or made his apologies t
Mrs. Welsh in better turned sentences.
Tn game of bagatelle came to an enc
DIR. Browne expressed his willingness to d
anything that was desired of him, and
soon found that l was to play on one sid
With Ernest, against Annie Welsh an | tn
newcomer. Was he young or old? Tha
was a question difficult to decide. I ha
heard Miss Sedgewick speak of him as sou
young DOCTOR" but that was probably /
comparison with DR.. Williams, who had die
at the age OF seventy. Walter Fardyc
~jocularly spoke of him as sold Brow ne,
and l could see that his forehead We
wrinkled and that he was slightly BALI
He did not talk much at first. but SCENE
to be noticing everything around him wit
an amused smile ON his face. There wa
however, one thing that struck me, an
that was tllrt whenever Ernest placed b
hand on the edge of the board, or on tb
back of a q .air, he always gazed at it in
tently, and then slightly frowned, as
dissatisfied with something. I had Away
thought Ernest's hands rather nice; the
were whittier and softer than most mems.
heard DR.. Browne ask Annie Welsh who b
was, and soon after we went in to suppe
changing partners at Anuie's suggestion
i wore mittans Tho doctor obearua1 :