Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-21

tat INV W Wv
nation depends on no one man, now,
ever great; but we only comprehend
our own infinite listleness when We con-
template the vastuess Of the universe,
unused the poet.
"Bat each man has his place and his
work. and, felt or unfe!t, he influences
not merely bis fellows, but UNBORN
generations. Moreover not less surely
than in life does our influence in subtle
unseen ways extend and widen after
death thrilling through the centuries
long after our visible selves are again
resolved into their original chemical
constituents, enunciated the Professor
solemnly.
"The logical and incontrovertible
truth Of that statement Is attested by
the fact that the simple elements which
went to the chemical composition OF my
great-grandfather are just now urgently
persuading me that / am desperately
hungry; for myself l have no special
d, sire to feed, but his mysterious un-
seen influence is too strong for me :"
irreyerently interposed Louis Vansit-
tart, who had been listening in silence.
my great-grandfather must have been
a mani beg pardon mean an ag'
gregation Of vibrating molecules--with
an Internally good appetite" declared
the young man, giving his arm to a
popular authoress. with whom he dis
appeared into the adjoining supper
room, whittier two or three couples fol-
lowed them amid general laughter.
Palma Bardi retained her place on
the tiger-skins, and had fallen into a
silent, distracted mood when her hus-
band returned from the supper-room
with a tiny liqueur-glass in his hand.
my poor Palma" said he tenderly,
as he approached, "the excitement OF
these prolonged farewell gatherings is
fast becoming too much for your slen-
der strength; it is literally wearing you
out ~; and he placed the dainty goblet
in her hand. As he did so Andrea
Viscouti could almost have sworn that
something like light impalpable pow
der fell from the Professors slim fin
gers, yet the fancy was so absurd, so
wildly improbable, that he stroye to
dismiss it.
What have you given me?" asked
Palma carelessly, as, still holding
the untasted glass, she smiled her
thanks.
"Your favorite Chartreuse verte,"
he answered.
"Silvio is never too occupied to re-
member my fancies," said his wife
gratefully, though she delayed in an un-
accountable way to taste the perfumed
liqueur.
"Would Palma ever remember her
own weakness if were ABSENT" he
queried, still standing before her in an
attitude of curious attention, while he
bent his dusky, inScrutable orbs upon
her. 1t was strange that Professor
Bardi's eyes seemed to possess such an
inexplicable fascination for his lovely
wife-a fascination closely resembling
the influence of mesmeriSm-thought
DIR. Andrea Visconti, observing the
pair. For so long as he was near
her, or even when his dark,
piercing gaze fell upon her across
a whole roomful Of people, Pal
ma Bardi became in that instant
changed woman. Once or twice the
Doctors keen observation detected
slight shudder convulsing that perfect
bosom beneath the filmy yellow lace,
but only for an instant; then, by a
strong effort, she aroused herself and
threw off the mysterious influence.
However this might be, DR.. Visconti
surmised, rightly or wrongly, that at
times Palma Bardi was but passive
instrument in the hands Of the Profess
sor, whenever he chose to exercise a
power that could not be otherwise than
deleterious and injurious to her.
Palma touched the exquisite glass
with her lips, and at that moment the
Professor turned away in answer to a
sudden appeal from a vivacious little
lady who just then passed him. Sig
nora Bardi was in a capricious mood
tonight apparently, for the instant her
husbands eye released hers she set
down the untasted glass, and resumed
a conversation with Andrea Visconti,
who had remained near her almost all
the evening.
"Your friend is wrong in his pessi-
mism," she said, referring to the utter.
ances Of the poet. Life seems to me
so we'll worth living, so brimful Of
eager ioys-if only one could snatch
them ere they pass-that for one view
death with dread, with anguish al
most, when dare view it at ALL" She
extended her hand with an emphatic
gesture as she spoke, and in that mo
ment the fower-shaped Venetian glass
containing the Chartreuse cracked ant
shivered into atoms, the precious
golden green fluid it held dripping
slowly from the table to the floor.
"Were it Of another color, the
thick, slow drops would remind one
of-blood !" Palma exclaimed, shud'
dering; but next moment, with one o.
her facile changes Of mood and man
ner, she was laughing at her own folly
and gracefully explaining the cOntre
tennis to her host.
1.-The accident is not worth speak
ing Of" protested Louis Vansittart po'
litely. 81 would see twenty such
glasses broken before Signora Bard
should distress herself for such ;
trife."
at is a horrible omen at our part
ing. A glass broken thus, my ole
nurse used to tell me, was token o
death Shall we three ever NEE
again.? The portent is for one of US,
she said, lifting her mysterious yiole
eyes TO the two men standing before
her. The Professors voice interpoSeC
cheerfully before either could reply
saying
"Who talks Of omens and nurses
tales in the light Of this nineteenth
century? A glass is broken becaus,
somebody is careless or clumsy, usu
ally; but occasionally the accident il
owing to atmospheric influences. Eithe
way the matter is not worthy of tn,
attention you are giving it. For you
dearest" he added, as bis wife ross
hastily with strange air of terror anC
agitation, "you are sadly tired and over