, 1891-10-10
IMPERIAL MILLIONS
By JULIAN

lAOn-l
At the same table, on the other side,
Sallie was seated. "Do you mean to
tell me that woman is n dream?' she
asked in a low voice. Il know her."
Probably each person present sees
her with a different face, according to
their own nature or mental state" the
count returned. But she is nothing
but air, and will vanish again in a mo-
ment."
"She may vanish, but she is flesh and
blood" said Sallie, in the same under
tone. "She is Olympia Raven. How
came she here? She was not among the
guests. Perhaps by way of the magic
mirrorI'
The count smiled. "You must ask
her yourself" said he.
do You give me leave?"
"Undoubtedlyf'
Sallie rose at once. The count also
rose and said: "My friends, Mrs. Harry
Trent, whom you all know, declines to
believe that the apparition which our
juggler has produced yonder is not real
flesh and blood. She has kindly con-
scented to make trial of it. maintain
that it is an illusion only"
Don't go near it, my dear" said Mrs.
Vanderdonde. You'll be turning into
an apparition yourself if you're not
c%areful!"
There was a rustic and murmur of ex-
cited expectancy throughout the room.
Jugglery to match this exhibition,
though not unknown in India, had never
before been beheld by any of the counts
guests. Meanwhile the apparition stood
m~otionless, wrapped in its white robe,
with unwinking eyes fixed on vacancy.
Sallie stepped forward. She held her
closed fan in her right hand. A dis
lance of three or four yards separated
her from the figure. The juggler still
squatted on his mat. AS Sallie ap-
preached he bent forward and drew
some character on the foor with his
finger.
Within a pace of the %apparition Sallie
paused and looked earnestly at it. A
hush fell upon the assembly. No one
knew what to think or what was to hap
pen. Sallie stretched forth her arm, and
with the tip of her fan touched the figure
on the shoulder.
Immediately n thick mist or steam
arose, enveloping and hiding from view
not only the figure but the juggler and
Sallie as well. A loud voice, proceeding
none knew whence, pronounced some
words in an unknown tongue. Follow
ing this a piercing shrek was heard,
echoed by many women present. Every
n started; many sprang to their feet.
The mist cleared away. Sallie was stand
ing there alone. Both the juggler and
the ~apparition had vanished, leaving no
trace behind. But Sallie grasped in her
hand nc longer her fan, but a long
Japanese dagger with a carved hilt.
The point of the dagger seemed to be
dripping with blood.
She staggered, turned partly round
and would have fallen, but the count
was near her and caught her in his arms.
The company was all in confusion. A
nofa was brought, and Sallie was laid
upon it. She had tainted.
Garry her into the east room," said
the count to two of the Nubian servants.
doctor Venables," he added, turning to
the eminent woman's physician, who
was one of the guests, may l request
you to take charge of Mrs. Trent? One
of the maids shall attend, and anything
you need will be at your disposal. /
am indeed sorry" he went on, turning
to the others, chat this should have
happened. Had it been possible to fore
see it-but we understand so little of the
ways of these oriental wizards that we
must be cautious how we NEEDLE with
them. l presume he is as badly fright
ened as any one. l need not tell YOU
that he will be held strictly accountable
If anything serious comes of this; but l
trust there will be nothing. Mrs. Trent
has great courage"
Il dare say she will be better directly
observed Miss Fitz-Murray. Indeed, now
that they had recovered from their first
scare, the company were inclined.to rally
themselves and one another on the even
mg's sensation, and there was perhaps a
tendency to make Sallie the scapegoat of
the affair. If she had not interfered all
would have gone well. Some of the
Indies, who had been not far from faint
ing themselves, whispered to one an
other that nothing else was to be expect
ed of a woman like that; she had taken
advantage of having formerly been the
owner of the house to force herself upon
the count (who was too polite to deny
anybody anything(, and of course she
had made an exhibition of herself
Meanwhile, General Bristowe, Mr.. Roy,
lance, Mr.. Montague Gossett and other
gentlemen were discussing the jugglery
. performance, and had formulated at
least two theories to explain the whole
mystery. But all agreed that it was the
most astonishing thing ever witnessed
in New York, and when DIR. Venablel
appeared with Sallie on his-arm, looking
pale, but smiling and entreating tn,
general pardon for having so misbe
1u1
sumed its former geniality. The tables
had been removed, the music stormet
and palpitated, and the people VIII,
danced began to look at one another an,
beat time with their feet, as If appari
tions. wizards and bloody daggers wer