Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-12-17
BENEATH A SPELL.

This Is n tale OF wltcllcraft Tor all
that il took place in this enlightened
century.
Herzfeldt, Of Trinity, and ! were
great friends but | lost sight of him
completely after he left Cambridge.
A handsome, clever Austrian, mad
on athletics and popular in proper
ton. Three years ago | met him
again, quite by accident, during a
long continental ramble | INDUCED
in after being called to the bar. 1t
was in Vienna. Feeling rather seedy
l had gone to consult famous doctor,
when who should walk into the wait
ing-room after me but Herzfeldt.
He had come into his mothers proper
ty somewhere in the Thesis district of
Hungary, and he was married.
That was the great event, especially
as it was comparatively recent. No
doubt about its having been a love
match. His haggard face flushed like
boys over it, and it seemed ro-
mantle affair enough from his account
"a chance meeting on the other side
of the Carpathians, while on sport
ing expedition, with child of those
wild solitudes love at first sight
anyhow OH his side-a madness Of
love, which never rested till he car
ried her off us his bride. He dwelt u
good deal on her extraordinary beauty
and attractiveness. but not word
about her family.
"Only the necessity Of seeking adj
vice about some strange symptoms,
which of late have grown frequent,
brings me SO far to-day" he conclud-
ed, smiling; eve are still in our
honeymoon, though three months
married"
On my summons to the consulting
room, which here interrupted us, |
agreed to wait for him till he too
should be dismissed. This was not
however, until so prolonged delay
that | began to lose patience but the
look on his face as he emerged at
length, froze remonstrance and even
inquiry on my lips. He took my arm,
mechanically and walked out of the
house like man in dream.
"He gives me year." he said
quietly.
Good God what do you mean ?"
"a year, with great care, and
avoiding all emotions" He spoke
smilingly but his mouth twitched.
"This is curious piece Of news fol
Il bridegroom, is it not?' He took
my arm again, and on we went again
in renewed silence.
at is the heart, of course" he pur
sued, after little while, in u more
natural tone; "let us go down thi,
way, am bound for the chemists foi
the making up of certain recipe
which the doctor says may save my
life-for the moment, be it under.
stood-when the symptoms reappear
and which, in consequence, he says, ]
am never to be without. am sorry
to have victimized you with this bust
ness Fraser yet | am selishly glad to
think some friendly soul knows my
secret. OF course, | cannot tell her. u
"Why not? ?" exclaimed, impul-
sively; lit is surely her right to know
her duty"
"You cannot conceive what nonsense
you are talking" he interrupted me
with curious outburst of irritation
you Englishmen would Judge all
women by your wives and mothers"
He checked himself abruptly, as he
caught sight of my amazed counte.
nance, babe me hurried good-by, and
left me.
Wondering, and not little chafed,
/ stood and watched him. Half way
across the street he paused, hest.
tated, and finally came back.
ave are at my country-place," he
said, with sone constraint do you
think you could, shortly, spare few
days to visit man with one foot in
the grave ?"
The invitation was not pressing
but saw in his eyes that he like me
to accept, though there was something
in the background which made him
doubtful. At once | jumped at the
conclusion that he was jealous Of hi.
young wife, and | confess thought
it unworthy of him.
Well, to cut long story short, at.
ter a week landed at the little station
Herzfeldt had indicated. late in the
afternoon. There found mail phae.
ton, two splendid horses, and a villain
Gus looking Hungarian in picturesque
attire, waiting TO convey me across the
remaining fifteen miles of desolott
country.
We were traversing wide plair
absolutely denuded Of habitation,
wreathed with rising mists, aud
strangely dreary under the fading sky
There was still a broad belt of orange
livht In the west, and IA looked