The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-29

After Percival his former body inhabited
By the spirit OF Manuel Novarez borne away in
his carriage, after the unsuccessful attempt t.
enter the Novarez mansion, he went back up
stairs to await the opportunity to see Mercedes
He startled by what had happened, go thai
he trembied with fear and apprehension wher
the maid ushered him into most exquisitely
furnished little boudoir. Mercedes sat wrapped
in huge fur msntel. while the maid arranged
her hair for the night She seemed to him a
hundred times more beautiful than when he had
last seen her two years before. Her supreme
loveliness gave him courage. AS she threw
aside the robe and stretched outher hand toward
him. he saw the delicate lace of her night dress,
which but half concealed the white skin and
graceful lines of her breast.
How very late you are tonight DEAR" she
said, without turning fully towards him, for her
head was restrained by the maid who was braid
ing her hair. Perclval seized her hand and
kissed it passionately once and again. A slight
flush ran Mercedes face and neck; she
withdrew her hand hastily from his; some IN
conscious intuition of her pure heart seemed to
have warned her. She smiled, however, in an
other instant at her own constituencies
Twill you speak to me. Manuelp she asked,
reproachfully. "You did not formerly stay
away from me so long
81 was thinking of you all the time" said
Percival, bending over her.
mot all the time. for do you know, Manuel. I
can tell when you think of me even at dis
lance. You will laugh at me. but feel it is
true"
The maid had finished arranging her mistress
hair for the night, and left the room. Percival
trembled to find himself alone with the woman
he loved Mercedes flushed again as she looked
into his eyes, fixed upon her with such a pas
sionate, longing gaze There something in
his look strange so different from the usually
gentle, tender expression of those eyes, that she
was startled. She arose. and, drawing the man
tie more closely about her, started toward the
door of the bedroom. Percival-Novarez slipped
his arm about her waist. and walked by her side.
At the threshold she stopped looked up timor-
ously into his eyes. then broke from his clasp.
ran into the bed-chamber, closed the door and
bolted it.
Pale and trembling she sank into a chair.
"Percival WARMERS look" she cried, family.
'What can it meant Can Percival be deadl
That gloomy and despairing sparkle in Manuel's
eyes! I cannot understand it ALL"
Mercedes went again to the door and listened;
Percival had gone Then she went to bed. her
heart filed with an indehnable anguish and
fear. She finally fell into troubled sleep. tor
tured by strange, vague dreams.
Percival cursed himself and his own folly in
adopting Ramayana's plan. when he found the
door of Mercedes chamber closed in his face
He felt like banished spirit of evil. After
wandering about for some time he found an
apartment which had every appearance of be-
longing to the master of the house
When he awoke in the morning Percival
thought the matter over and promised himself
to act in a more moderate fashion towards Mer-
cedes. A valet came in and assisted him to
make his toilet He followed the man down
stairs and happily CHANGED upon the dining
room. This was fitted up elegantly the
rest of the house; the finely carved woods of
wainscot and side-board, the beautiful frescoes
of the ceiling, the silver and china on the table
and buffet were all in the most exquisite taste.
He looked around carefully to familiarize him
self with the room. In the midst of this
templation his ear caught the rustic of dress
behind. He turned and saw Mercedes enter the
room, in spite of her troubled night, looking
fresh and beautiful in her dainty morning gown.
He felt his heart flutter as the sense of her won-
of the night before had vanished
She looked at him tendery and spoke few
words of affectlouaie greeting in Spanish.
Percval startled by this. A strange pro-
cess took place; the words entered the intelli-
gent accustomed to such sounds and reach
ing the brain they were in some way converted
and he half understood them. He was confused
and embarrassed. His mind seemed a blank.
This was a contingency he had not anticipated.
Percival could speak French fluenty and he uu-
tongue to him. a blush spread ovea his face
and he bit his lips in irritation
II should judge, my dear, said Mercedes in
English. "thaE you did not hear or did not IN
ierstand me-"
THE habit of using another language STAN
mered Percival Novarez. ''Do you know. some
- tf halrn tan
tive tongueln
.'Ah! what You saying9" exclaimed Mer-
cedes sadly You could not forget the Ian
guage OF your fathers-the language in which |
ron first told me that you loved mel"
The meal passed almost in silence Mercedes |
Ieemed under gloomy spell, from which his |
rec her. After she left tho Percival |
walked mp and down in agony OF spirit. His /
owe seemed as hopeless as it had been. even |
when he only Perclval Warmer He saw |
The weakness of his position He should have |
robbed Novarez not only of his body. but of his |
his mental equipment, every thing |
hat made him an Northumberland Mercedes |
husband.
groom came in and asked which horse he
would ride that morning, Sohrab or RusteInl
lie selected one without any reason for the
hoice, and was soon galloping along one of the
,ark bride paths.
1t was late in the day when Percival Novarez
eturned 1t was Thursday and ne found Mer-
edes in the 6rawiDg-room ready TO receive her
'isitors She was very gracious to him, and he
ave her some account of his visit to DR. Rama
yana and accounted for his peculiar actions by
the strange power which the Hindoo |
lad exercised over him, seeming to deprive him
r the remembrance of many things. This plan
'ercival had formulated during his ride. Mer-
edes seemed appeased by his explanation and
eproved him very gently for ever visiting the
Id doctor.
just at this moment servant opened the
DOR and announced caller.
'Mr Percival Warmer
The real Percival was almost stunned by
hese words. He clutched chair to save him
elf from falling, The pseudo Mr. Warmer
dvaneed into the room, bowed low to Mercedes
nd inclined his head coidly to PercivalN Nov
req. The two men shot savage glances at each
Their
You not so friendly. Mr.. Warmer" said
fercedes, 'as you used to be. It is more than
wo years since have seen your face.
nd if / had not hunted you up, I'm afraid this
leasure-"
"Signora." interrupted Manuel Warmer, 81
ave travelled, and since my return have been
uito III. TWAS only your kind thoughtfuness