The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-06-16

her. There was supple, cat-like litheness
which marked her every movement, and !
felt that she was the occult and tangible
center Of an atmosphers Of weird and n,
almost fear her and the next moment !
would hnd myself regretting that must
ever 20 away and leave her. Her glances
thrilled and bewildered me like some resist
less and overpowering emotion, and at the
significant rustic Of her garments, every
sense tingled and very nerve quivered.
The secret of her strange power over me
was beyond my guessing, but that IL was
sufficent TO overcome any resistance /
night .,.as sstemPt vas fSIily convincsda ed
mesmerist knew as we'll % knew the
history of my own life; but she employed
no such method. was in no sense dulled
or stupefied; on the contrary my. mental
perceptions were more than ordinarily
impeded, and was not only fully conscious
of the phenomena by which she was con-
trolling me, but was studying and ana
lySing 1t as coolly as II it was, even then,
2 matter Of the past instead of the present.
enough Of her subtle force to hold me sub
servient to her will and not a whit more.
She, manifestly, only sought to enchain
me sufficiently to prevent my resisting her,
but, at the same time, it was her aim to
leave mo, ss far IS possible, in normal
had something to communicate to me CON
corning her demon tormentor which she
feared might be unwilling to listen to.
There was much In her present manner
which 80 impressed me, and many little
circumstances connected with the departure
Of the reveler: now came flashing through
my mind, eAtthying me that had con-
jectured rightly. The more reflected upon
tie strange events Of the night the more
mysteriO1s and wonderful the woman
seemed to me. Every time that she had
French. my native language. To the rev.
elers she had spoken in Italian. Since we
were in Italy, and there was nothing in my
personality to indicate that / was French
man, how had she SO accurately guessed
my nationality Had she already guessed
fore, while 1 was still fonting under her
balcony, listening to her song!
For q brief time these and similar
thoughts made me even more uncomfort-
able than my recollections of the ghoul,
or goblin, with whom found her wrestling
when first entered her rooms.
Was she q sorceress! No! could swear,
standing there as was gazing down into
her pure face, that she was an angel. My
faith in her was complete, and could
My face must have betrayed my mental
processes, for ! saw all at once that she
knew my thoughts and was satisfied She
had entirely released me from the brief
condition Of restlessness or thraldom in
which, for few seconds, she had held me !;
my own will. Her beauty, however, was
more potent than the other spell by which
she had controlled me, and suddenly felt
that my whole heart was hers forever
She too, seemed to realize this, for
deep crimson flush all at once
st,r md
shoulders. was more than ever charmed
by this evidence of her maidenly modesty,
and impetuously extended my hands
toward her. For an instant only she hes
itated, then she placed both her hands in
mine.
shall you stay and test my wine." she
whispered, cOnfusedly
81 will ." cried. You know could not
do otherwise il would. To look into your
eyes, though, and to hear your voice is
more to me than the rarest wine in the
world. When heard you singing tonight
your music was SO perfect that l forgot
Italy, and thought tnat was once more in
my own fair France. But l am glad to
have SO sweet an awakening to my dream.
Yes, l repeated, kissing her hands; Il will
stay and drink your, wine; l will stay until
Her color deepened, and she bowed her
head.
And that" she said, Twill be when you
are tired of me"
She called for wine, but we scarcely
tasted it, though we sat together in the
moonlight until long after the hour of mid
night was struck from the clock towers.
Times unnumbered q shadow came upon
her face, and saw that she was about dis
closing something which panied her, and
SO each time ! diverted her from her
purpose, and in the end went away with
out knowing what she would have said.
When had stayed until feared that the
lateness of the hour might distress her,
reluctantly arose to go. 1t was then that
my ardent imPetuosity. overcame me al
together, and begged leave to come to her
DO not deny me,"' pleaded, "for love
you and want to win you for nv own,
From this night shall have no separate
existence-my whole being is merged into
yours, and the hours spend apart from
you henceforth can never again be called
life"
Emotion after emotion thrilled her as
spoke until she seemed to have felt every
thing that the heart can feel. She made
me no answer, but, pale and trembling,
stood helplessly with her hands in mine.
Will you not speaks" l murmured,
bending over her.
''Speak !" she cried, show can II There
Ia more to say than you, in your widest
imaginings, can ever dream. You should
have heard me before you said 20 much.
wretched words which should come from
my lips would choke me il tried to cay
them.
Then leave them unsaid."
Justice to you demands that I should
"Justice to me demands nothing which
can distress you" interpossd.
You do not know how much have to
say about"
aStop" cried. There are two thinQs
wish to know. II you will tell me them,
all is done"
"spssE! What are they"
.Are you wife"
Us any living man the possessor Of your
Again the rich crimson tide swept over
her face neck and shoulders. She placed
mine, glanced shyly up into my eyes, and
then looked down.
why do you not answerp asked,
fearing that my fondsst hopes were vain.
'Do you not knowi" she cried; "csn you
not see-are you really 70 bliudf'
feared to look at her. It seemed to me,
then, that had been beguilsd to her rooms
merely to furnish her sport. / had forgot
ten the danger had rescued her from,
and only remembered that l loved her to
BE- made, as believed, the object of her
mirth and caprice.
Il see," said, turning away. Iam net
so blind az you think. am nothing to
you, because you already love-"
She seized me by the shoulder and turned
me around. Then she threw herself into
II love you," she murmured.
1t was the first, the only happiness of
my life, and felt that all the sorrow and
misery OF the old dead days but made this
moment the sweeter. I lifted up her
beautiful blushing face, bent my head. and
touched the lips Of woman. Earth never
knew purer kiss.