The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-11
With dextrous hand she noiselessly opened
the door and let him into the room.

the door and let him into the room.
XII.
A table of oblong shape stood midway between
the drawing room walls At the end of it which
was nearest to the door John Zant was seated,
stirring some liquid in silver cup. Taken COM
pletely by surprise, he showed himself in his
true character. He started to his feet and pro-
tested with an oath against the intrusion which
had been committed on him; Needless OF MS
action and his language, Mr. Rayburn could look
at pothing, could think OF nothing, but Mrs
Zant.
She was standing at the opposite end of the
table, in the full flow of sunlight pouring at that
moment into the room Her eyes looked out
straight before her-as void of all expression as
if they had been eyes composed in sleep. Her
lips were a little parted; her head dropped
slightly towards her shoulder, In an attitude
which suggested listening for something or
to the sudden opening of the door, to her
brother-in-law's violence, to the words of SYM
pathy which Mr.. Rayburn addressed to her
there she stood between the two men, living
creature selfisolated in stiffness like the still
ness of death.
John Zant's voice broke the silence. His tenn
per was under control again; he had his reasons
for still remaining on friendly terms with Mr..
Rayburn.
Il am sorry I forgot myself Just now" he
said I'VE are both of us naturally anxious
about her." He pointed to his sister-in-law. and
went on stirring the liquid in the silver cup.
when did this happen?" Mr.. Rayburn asked.
Not half an hour ago-iust as she was at the
door of this house. l was fortunately at homo.
Without speaking to me, without noticing me,
she walked up the stairs, like a person in a
dream. She placed herself where she stands
now. She has not moved since. It's nervous
seizure OF peculiar kind. Something resem-
bling catalepsy, as you see."
Have you sent for doctOrW
"A doctor is not wanted"
II begyour pardon. 1t seems to me that med
ical help is absolutely necessary"
BE so good, sir, as to remember that the de-
cison rests with me, the lady's relative | I'M
derstand the nature of the attack; and am
about to apply the remedy"
Mr.. Rayburn approached him, determined to
get possession of the cup IA remedy of your
own devising1n he asked moving a little nearer
His face probably betrayed him: John Zandt
increased the distance between them Advanc-
ing round the right side of the table. he drew
near to Mrs. Zandt She moved, before
tween them. Her still figure began to
tremble She lifted her dropping head. Fora
moment there was shrinking in her-as if she
had been suddenly touched by something She
seemed to recognize the touch: she was still
again.
John Zant watched the change.
''She is beginning to recover her senses" he
said ''the remedy will help her."
He advanced again; ne passed into the flood OF
sunlight flowing over her. Mr.. Rayburn fol
lowed him. determined to prevent it, if he of
fered the cup. He waited a little-closely OBJ
serving her.
Rouse yourself" he said
She remained in the same position; absorbed
in her thought or in her dream.
"Rouse YOURSELF" he repeated, "and drink
this"
At the instant when he held it out to her-at
the instant when Mr.. ayburns hand was lifted
to seize 1.-THE cup dropped from his fingers
His arm remained outstretched. With shrek
of horror he struggled to draw it back-struggled
in the empty brightness of the sunshine, as If
some invisible grip had seized him. What
has got me?" the wretch screamed "Who is
holding meY Oh, the cold of it! the cold of it,"
His features became convulsed: his eyes turned
upward until only the white eyeballs were visi-
BILE. He fell PROSTATE with crash that shook
the room.
The housekseper heard it and rushed in. She
knelt by her masters body. With one hand she
loosened his cravat. With the other she pointed
to the end of the table.
Mrs Zant still kept her place; but there was
another change. Little by little her eyes recov-
cred their natural living eSpression-then slowly
closed She tottered backward from the table,
and lifted her hands wildly as if to grasp at
something which might support her. Mr. Ray
burn hurried to her before she fell-lifted her i'll
his arms-and carried her out of the room.
One of the household servants met them in
the hall. He sent her for carriage. In quar-
ter of an hour more Mrs. Zant was safe under
his care at the hotel.
That night note written by the housekeeper
was delivered to Mrs. Zant
THE doctors give little hope The paralytic
stroke is spreading upward to his face If death
spares him, he will! live helpless man. I shall
take care of him to the last AS for you-forget
him."
Mrs. Zant gave the note to Mr.. Rayburn.
Read it, and destroy it," she said SIT is
written in ignorance of the terrible truth"
He obeyed-anG looked at her in silence wait
in tn hoar har fac Tha favv
words that she addressed to him, after struggle
with herself. fell slowly and reluctantly from
her lips.
She said: 'No mortal hand held the hand of
John Zant. The guardian spirit was with me-
The promised protection was with me. know
it. wish to know no more"
Having spoken, she rose and gave him her
hand. He opened the door for her, seeing that
she needed rest in her own room.
Left by himself he began to consider the
prospect that was before him in the
future. How he to regard the
woman who had just left him2 AS poor
creature weakened by disease, the victim of
her own nervous delusion9 or as the chosen
object of a supernatural revelation-unparallee
by any similar revelation that he had heard of,
had found recorded in books? His first dis
covery of the place that she really held in his
timation dawned on his mind, when he felt him
self recoiling from the conclusion which present
ed her to his pity, and yielding to the nobler
conviction which felt with her faith, and raised
her to place apart among other women.
XIV.
They left st. AIMS the next day.
Arrived at the end of the journey. Lucy held
fast by Mrs. Zant's hand. Tears were rising in
the child's eyes. Are we to bid her good-bye2"
she said sadly to her father
He seemed to be unwilling to trust himself to
speak; he only said, My dear, ask her yourself"
But the result justified him. Lucy was happy
again.
THE END.
A Fierce Little Animal.
London Telegraph.
Tho farcerass IF tba ynn1a 10 rarbonc nm