The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02

chair. Inc old Jews momento suppod IEOm N
grasp and rolled upon the floor. The vision
collapsed / was in my room again. laughed
at my experience. concluded that had been
dreaming. and reasoned correspondingly that it
was high time for me to get to bed.
But when had turned off the gas and was
comfortably established among my pillows, / re-
membered that l had forgotten to shut the idol
up in it's egg-shaped prison. Why this circum-
stance struck me of Importance can't say;
but the fact is that Immediately climbed out
of bed and approached the table whereon had
left the idol lying. There, indeed, it still lay.
What, however, was my surprise. upon remark
ing that like the brilliant in the Arabian Nights,
it betrayed itself by its own light! There in
deed, it lay, shedding phosphorescent glare for
distance several inches round about it. So my
heather god had his halol OF course the most
natural explanation was the simplest Doubt
less the substance of which it was nodded did,
in truth, contain phosphorus; and that explana-
ton l at once accepted. So. without more ado,
as the breeze from an open window was playing
with my night-dress. picked the idol up to re-
place it in its case. But dropped it the second
after A sharp quick Jingle darted up my arm
to my elbow as though had touched an electric
sponge. Puzzled more than ever, l mustered
my courage and picked it up again. Whatever
its quasi electric property had been, it refused to
manifest 1t a second time. the tingle was not
repeated I got back into bed, with renewed ma
terial for wonder.
At last I sunk into restless sleep, and was
specters.
The next morning, of course. the first thing
did was to pinch the griffin's belly and resume
acquaintance with my fetch. Daylight made
no appreciable difference in its appearance.
could handle it, also, with entire impunity. 1t
seemed to have forfeited its electric quality for
good. Before starting for my Office l attached
it, by means of the loop in its serpentine belt, to
my watch chain. where it hung like very pre-
sentable trinket.
That day 1 CHANGED to encounter friend at
the restaurant where it was my custom to lunch.
He is an erudite gentleman, interpreter in
one of the courts. Almost as soon as we had
shaken hands he exclaimed, with a lively interest
mantling his physioguomy "Why. what is
that2" pointing to the new ornament dangling
from my button hole.
''Ah,s said, 81 am glad You have noticed it.
l don't know precisely what it is Perhaps you
can enlighten me-"
'Let me see it," he said, extending his hand.
/ took it off, and while he was studying it
through his eye glasses, told him substantially
all that have TOLD the reader in the foregoing
was certainly very unique curio and an unmis-
taxable antique. 'What" he continued, what
is this inscription upon It's backF'
inscription 1 queried. II did not know
there was an inscription. WhereF'
Here" he answered, tracing with the point
of a toothpick the line of gold which I had be-
lieved TO be embroidery. This is device or
legend. 1 think it is Sauskrit. It would be
worth the trouble of having it translated"
by all MEANS" acquiesced. ut may con-
vey some information regarding its origin and
nature. Whom do / know who understands
Sanskrit2
81 know man who does-a lawyer whose Of
fee isn't ten minutes distant from this spot.
Suppose we call upon hint"
Capital! Dear me, how lucky was to run
across you'll"
We hurried through our lunch, and in due
course of time after it were seated in the law
yers Office My friend an old friend of his, 80
that he didn't object to being interviewed during
business hours.
"Oh. yes" he affirmed, sit is device in San
skirt, verse, and thereupon with the assist
ance of dictionary, he read Us the translation.
won't you write it downs" / said.
"Why certainly" he responded, suiting the
action to the word. This is what he wrote:
am the slave of him who bears me.
But am also his master.
Not until my heart be pierced
Will my potency be undone.
1 thanked the lawyer cordially and we went
away
Some days later got aboard Sixth avenue
horse-car at the Central Park terminus of the
route, with the intention of paying a visit in
Seventeenth street. Ensconcing myself in q
ner near the platform. ] soon became absorbed
by the affairs was bent upon.
don't know how long had been seated thus
when my revery was violently interrupted by a
had been toying with the IDOL and this was the
result
"Ah," 1 thought. NOW the electrical condi-
tons have been restored. Let us see whether
their cause is apparent"
glanced down at my watch-chain. There
hung the idol. as innocent as You please. l
touched it again. In lieu of the tingle. expert
enced two fine darts of pain In my finger as
though it had been pricked with pin. Then
the exceptional symptoms ceased, and the idol
in my clasp was as harmless as dove
l raised my eyes, considerably mystifed. AS
they swept over the space before them. they
were arrested by something which banished all
other existences fathoms deep in the inane A
face, directly opposite me, womans face, beau
tiful beyond any words A face that burned
itself into the tissue of my life, disclosing un-
conceived attitudes of joy and anguish. Describe
her2 Should attempt to do So she appeared
to me. everybody would scott and cry, incredible;
save only those who have seen her with their
own eyes, and to them my warmest description
would seem pitifully cold and inadequate.
Suffice it that gazed upon this woman's face,
and was changed in doing so as completely as at
the Masters fat the water was changed to wine
She sat there calm and proud in her imperial
beauty, unconscious of the spell she was weav-
ing around my heart He eyes, aglow beneath
their lashes, were fixed on the talisman that
hung from my chain.
So gazed upon her as boldly as chose with
out running the risk of giving her offense.
bus at last Sne SI6rLou ana seemed 10 SNAKE
herself free from brown study looked out of
the window to learn her Whereabouts, and sig
nailed the conductor to stop the car.
No doubt it was ungentlemanly course to
take, and favored of the Bowery, but forgetting
my engagement in Seventeenth street, got out
and followed her, maintaining judicious dist
ance, so as to be unobserved.
followed her back up Sixth avenue. hoping
that she would lead to her dwelling-pla and
that with certainty of its location to work upon
might in the future be enabled to find out who
she was. She disappointed me. however by
turning into one of the large shops that stu
ated on the thoroughfare in question. near its
junction with Twenty third street. I followed
her into the shop only to lose her in the cloud of
ladies that was dense about the counters.
To search for her there would have been as
futile as to search for needle in stack of hay.
So posted myself at the door by which we had
entered, and stayed for an hour and more like a
sentinel, getting thoroughly chilled through, and