Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-06-05
sT do not know. -

| NOANOs
She shuddered and clasped her
hands.
"Why do you not answer me-" he
said, bending closely oher, Itell you
1 love YOU"
81 know it" she said in faint mur-
mur. She could not move hand or
foot.
"Then why do you not answer meq'
he asked.
She was silent,
"You love me, then. This silence
comes from your shyness. l might have
known it."
And leaning forward he clasped her in
his arms and kissed her lips.
The charm was broken. With long,
quivering shrek, she broke from his
arms and rushed madly into the parlor
among the startled guests. Sholbach
followed her, but she fed to her father
for protection.
"Take him away!" she cried. "Take
him away! He will kill me with his
icy eyes-those serpent's eyes. Take
him awayl"
The next morning Sholbach had dis
appeared from the town, after announc-
ing that he would never return, and Irene
lay in fever
A year had passed away and Irene had
long ago recovered her accustomed health
and spirits. Sholbach, true to his prom
ise, had never come back to Montrose
In the meantime John Manners, stall
wart young physician, whose ability was
unquestioned and whose physical beauty
was the envy of every young man in the
town, had found the way to Irene's
heart. She loved and was loved in re-
turn, and it had been arranged that they
should be married at her uncles magniti-
cent mansion in st. Louis in the fall
The days rolled on, and a week before
the day appointed for the wedding Irene
and her parents, together with her lover
and his parents went to the city.
The first thing which met Irene's eyes
when she arrived in st. Louis was bill
announcing that Professor George Shol-
bach would exhibit his wonderful illu-
sions for one week at a certain hall. The
bill stated that the magician would intro
duce his new feat of cutting off a man 8
hand and restoring it to its place again
without hurting the man. Irene shud-
dered and turned pale when she saw this
bill. Her lover noticed this, and, on
being told the cause, laughed.
my darling, he said, "you ought to
be cured of that trouble by this time
Remember that in few days you will
have husband to protect you. know
your horror is only temporary. |
shouldn't be surprised if you asked me
to take you to see him in few DAYS"
Was it prophetic2 The desire to see
Sholbach's performances again grew
upon Irene. The simple knowledge that
she was in the same city with him had a
strange fascination for her. She strug-
gled against her growing desire to see
Sholbach, but found herself unable to
conquer it. At length, in sheer despera-
ton, she asked her lover one evening to
take her to see the magician. He laughed
heartily.
81 knew you were cured of your
strange aversion for him. There's moth
ing like a light heart and a good diges
tion to remove unpleasant fancies."
Accordingly, they went in the evening
| " IhC Adll anu SCCulCu ScdlS uCdI IllG
stage. When Sholbach's eyes fell upon
them he started as if he had been shot.
He fixed burning glance upon them,
and in moment understood their posi-
ton; for Irene cung to John for protec-
tion. Then Sholbach bowed slightly and
smiled reassuringly. From that time
until near the close of the entertainment
he appeared to take no notice of them.
The usual tricks had been performed
and he began his concluding feat. A
man was summoned from among the
audience to go upon the stage. Then
he removed his collar and necktie and
coat. Then Sholbach appeared with a
large knife and suddenly seizing the
man plunged it into his throat The
man screamed and struggled. The
blood poured from the wound. The
audience, convinced as they were that
the man was confederate, were silent
with horror. Presently Sholbach
whirled the knife around with a quick
movement and then held up the mans
head. A murmar of horror ran through
the audience The body was removed
and the professor treated the audience to
a three. minute lecture. He was inter.
rupted by the appearance at the other
end of the hall of the man who had been
decapitated, alive and smiling. The au'
dience heaved a sigh of relief and then
awarded the successful magician round
of applause.
"You may think" said Sholbach,
"that the man who has just been on the
stage was confederate. Now, in order
to convince you that he was not, de,
sire any gentleman who has the courage
to come upon the stage and l will repeat
the experiment.
AS he said this Sholbach looked al
John Manners. The powerful young
physician suddenly felt an irresistible
desire to go upon the platform. He
arose as if to start
"John, you are not going" exclaimed
Irene, in a tone of terror.
Eyes" he replied, laughing; 81 wan
to find out how it was done"
"Lct me go with you3"
And without waiting for his answer
she followed him.
''This IS hardly the sort of exhibition
for lady to look upon at close quar
ters," said Sholbach "You had better
sit behind this screen until it is over"
"Nol mol" said a voice from tn,
house. "Let the lady see how you do i
il she can."
Sholbach bowed, and gave Irene
chair on the side of the stage, opposite
to Manners. AS he went off to get tn,
knife he paused for a single instant il
front of her and glared into her eyes.
Don't you move or speak," he whis
pered.
Poor girl! She could not hav
stirred if her life depended upon it