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


"what do you think of the Bar
disg- was yansittart's first query as
soon AZ the friends we're alone. An
drea Visconti almost started at the
question. or what was he thinking IN
his secret soul q, that moment? But
ae lit his cigar very deliberately before
he replied slowly
81 think they are brilliant, rarely
gifted. well.matched. inscrutable pair. ~
"Yes, yes" rejoined the other impa.
tiently. "what they seem to the world
at large is patent to us both, aud beside
the question. What they actually are
is the thing ! desire to know. There's
a something below the surface which |
can't fathom--a something, to speak
frankly. that don't like"
ain the signora or her husband?"
inquired Visconti, as his thoughts re-
verted to the scrap Of paper which his
fingers now sought, but on second
thought restored to its hiding-place I'M
read.
"No the signora is as fair and flaw
less as an antique statue, and | believe
from my soul she is as noble as she
looks" answered Vansittart. 1T is
Bardi | mistrust-Bardi, the popular
idol Of the hour. Isn't there some
thing inexplicable in this selection OF
an obscure post at the antipodes, when
A splendid career lies before him in
Europe? More than that" he went on
after a moody pause. Though the
mans your countryman, my dear Wis
cont, you must not take my words to
heart as an affront to your nationality,
but, to my thinking, there's something
uncanny' about that fellow, if you
understand that North-country ex-
PRESTON"
81 do understand" smiled Visconti,
"and even share your prejudice. That
inexplicable something has been the
subject of keen investigation with me
tonight, and suspect [ hold clue"
"Well? said Yansittart, as his
friend paused there, and seemed inclined
to subside into meditative silence.
"Out with it, man, unburden your soul
of its load of mystery ="
"Well, them" answered ViscOpti
slowly and with visible reluctance,
you'll probably think me mad, but
for some time I've suspected what I'm
now most certain of, namely, that
Bardi exercises a subtle, occult in
fuence over that woman, an influence
resembling the most powerful form Of
mesmerism, and which can only have
most terribly baleful effect upon her in
the long run. Pernicious and danger
GUS to mind and body alike"
"On my soul, Visconti," calculated
his friend, 81 think we are both mad
together I've been trying for days to
shake off an insane fancy Of that kind
which has somehow obtained strange
hold on me. You believe in meSmeric
influence, Visconti?" he added.
LAS a physician and Psychologist |
find it impossible to avoid the conclu-
sion thrust upon me that existing in
nature are enormous Misunderstood
forces, known to us at present as ami
nal magnetism and mesmeriC influences,
which fully believe are capable Of OBJ
tanning results simply hideous to con-
template, since we are at present aware
Of no force sufficiently strong to combat
or nullify them"
"Then you don't consider this
growing conviction Of mine a mere
nightmare delusion; the conviction
that Palma Bardi is fast becoming a
passive instrument in the professors
hands, animated by his superior will ?"
asked Vansittaft anxiously.
"0n the contrary, it seems to me
you've scarcely stated the case strongly
enough" was the quiet reply.
Vansittart's next question was Curl
ously irrelevant.
"Who broke the glass;" he de-
manded.
"No one," returned Visconti, brief
ly. sit simply shivered into frag-
ments on the table where it stood un-
touched"
An odd circumstance" unused the
artist, "and one that seemed to greatly
discOmpOse Signora Bardi."
A few days later, and Palma Bardi
was standing on the deck of the South
ern Cross. The final adieus had been
made. She had looked her very last on
English shores, and the coasts of Eu-
rope receded slowly from sight, as the
passengers on board the noble ship set
their faces seward for many a weary
day and lonesome night.
Among the throng on shore which
had assembled to bid farewell to the
departing vessel stood a young man,
alone and unnoticed in the seething,
anxious crowd. His face was white to
the very lips, and his great dark eyes
were full of wild, unspoken anguish,
a passionate yearning, and hopeless
despair.
" Oh, God to be so helpless" he
muttered, gazing at the forms on deck,
"powerless to shield you from harm,
while | would give my life, my own
soul, to save you; and yet, and yet it
cannot be-" lie turned from the I'M
endurable vision with q smothered.
passionate oath, and was quickly lost
in the crowd.
| SCENE u.-FROM THE ANTIPoDES
TO FLORENCE.
1t is midwinter in New Zealand.
The binding glare of the burning
noontide is almost intolerable, and the
vertical rays of semi-tropical sun are
beating pitilessly upon the wild wealth
| of blossoms in Palma Bardi's garden-