New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09
THE COUNTESS EVE.
SHoRTHoUSES'S QUEER STORY.

power and beauty, but IL is not BOOK Tor al
readers There subjects the inteIlectual ap-
prchension Of which is not n question OF culture
hut Of constitution There are some ears lncapa-
bic of distinguishing those extremely RAPID air
wave vibrations which constitute the highest
notes Even TO the strongest eyes the violet ray
in the spectrum conveys only the impression OF
darkness The analogy holds with mental capa-
blities also To somc intclligcnces the conception
Of a SUPRA scnsucus world-an unseen universe -
in which ghts and passions ard evil and good
acts may perhaps take on form AMI become In
their turn influences rcacting, benchciaily or NAL
efficiently, on mankind-haS always been not
merely easy but natural Nor has this class OF
minds at any time been narrow one. In al
ages it has furnished a philosophy, theory OF
life and its significance which has seemed reason
able enough to be preferred by numbers TO the
csotcrc doctrines commonly given forth In those
noriods when the mysteries of the Christian re-
ligion were most deeply pcndcrcd, and when,
more than at any time before or since, men were
so moved by religious emotions as to translate
faith rtc action and live their creed daily, what
came 10 be called mysticism attracted and con-
troIlcd many Of the purcst and noblest souls.
The blghting stigma of superstition had not then
been put in operation TO destroy psychical devel-
opment and to throw all the weight OF the prcva-
lent progressive movement in favor Of materlallsm.
Since that period the tendency 10 atrophy in
the spiritual vision has been steadily growing,
and at present, though reaction has set in, the
limitations of the average intelligence arc sharply
marked off by the capacities of the grosser senses
To all such as are rooted in modern materlallsm
Mr. ShorthouSc's story Will be as caNlare to the
general" They will in it no more than "A
fantastic mystfed, cloudy imagination having
nothing in touch with the practical violating
all the principles Of realistic art, introducing
phantoms and impossible prncipaities and
powers and in short. too vaporous and fanciful
10 be received seriously. Nor is there the least
reason to expect that this view will he surrcn-
dered for more apprcciative one by those who
hold it. naturally at first; for TO the man whose
ears are so made that the crickets chirp IS in
audible TO him it is useless 10 try and explain a
sound he never can hear. But to the reader IN
whom the spiritual elements are responsive The
Countess Eve" will certainly appear one Of the
most delightful rs also one of the most subtly
written, books he has read. The author has
shown dccacy and certainty OF discrimination
an touch in ono Of the most difficult OF all liter
ary tasks: that namely, OF employing super
natural elements in such a manner as to avoid
bathos on the one hand and unintelligibility on
the other.
The story is mystical, yet it never loses its
hold upon the readers interest and sympathy.
The author succeeds in extending the atmosphere
Of mysticism in which the action is carried IN
so as 70 include the audience and The supra
sensual illumination, now heavenly bright, anon
lnrid as reflection from the pit of AchcrOn
which at intervals flashes upon the scene, places
the spectator no less than the actors en- rapport
Al n tba -no llus
made visible for the moment Nothing in the
story is more remarkable than the skill with
which this is effected Nothing, if we except
the motive, that is to say, the happiness of
man and wife the peace of mind, the honor, and
possibly the lives, of these two, and third, who
is the agent Of evil, which put in awful
icopardy by the husbands committed Sin. This
committed Sin has become an entity, malign in
tcliieencc, and il pursues its destiny in planning
other sins Of its own nature. The Count has
seduced young girl, who has, as he believes
committed suicide in remorsc. His remorse embit-
ters his existence but his Sin remains active and in
search Of prey-which ii finds at last, or thinks
il has found, in his young bride, the lovely
Countess Eve Tho ready agent Of evil is La
VALERIE, handsome young actor, almost dcsti-
tute Of moral sense, living for the day only,
"A creature Of impulse and passion. At his first
meeting with the Countess he sits looking at her
after supper in the great hall Of the chateau,
while his friend De Irie is playing tie violin:
The plaintive note changed into the clear, holy
iov of a pure love that meets its fellow and is
clad, and La Vallierc's eyes cleaned with sudden
terror Undesirable in words, for from behind the
gay, Towering screen, out OF the weird darkness
beyond. there glided faint, shadOwy figure and
stood beside the Countess couch, leaning towards
at first, the figure became momcntariy more dis
tinct. A strange, absorbing feeling took posses
sion of La valercs mind, in answer, it seemed,
TO a corresponding effort on the part Of the APP
pcarance itSelf-an intense desire for a clearer
vision for though the figure apparently conccn-
trated its attention entirely upon the Countess.
yet there emanated from it, so to speak, an hides
cribable enuencc Of temptation and attraction,
Turing La ValliercS fancy 10 cndeavor TO more
clearly, TO be better acquainted with what he saw
As the bewitching strains Of the violin continued
and this mysterious intruder became more clear
and distinct TO his excited sense, it seemed TO
La Vallierc that q figure. habited as French
able, was leaning on the arm Of the CounteSs's
seat and whispering in her ear. II seemed that
is presence was unperceived by the Countess her
self, by any OF the other persons in the room
hut after n few seconds OF this strange inter
coursc-if such il could be called-the attitude
and manner Of the Countess changed incxplicably.
She raised her eyes from the fire and her look
had undergone n surprising change The hopeless
WEAKNESS gone, and in its place an cx-
preston Of startled, cXpectant interest and excite
ment subdued AMI clnstencd, but real and strong
Did La Vnllicrc decei &c himself or, in the soft
dreamy light across the trcmulous motion OF the
fan, was this altered look directed towards him
l..
10 say-'In place Of stony indifference Of cold
abstraction and repugnancc almost, shall not
find can ! not find, the love for which / yearn-
the sympathy and Observation-Disclosures? And
If elsewhere, surely here"
This may be considered the key note 10 the i'm