The record-union., 1891-03-01
PRELUDE.

DIJs
A seorching day in the East Indies.
Not breath of air to lift the oppressive
burning heat upon the tall, gay trees;
the leaves appear dead and withered;
flowers of the twining arclepias droop
their beauteous heads in helpless aban-
donment, bowling to the mercy of the
pitiless exterminator.
Beasts of the jungle shrink with lolling
tongues in search of water, while rays
from the blazing sun pour down hotly,
1iercely, drying and blasting each shrub
and blossom, seeming to laugh in high
derision at the harm it has wrought.
Only the slender bamboo raises its state
ly head in scornful Indifference and a
proud defiance towards the fiery darts.
In short, it is just the sort of day you
might term ''hotter than limbo"
My scene is a bungalow. The interior
q long, low, narrow room, partly dark
ened and hung with richest Smyrna
tapestries. Skins of the leopard, Tiger
and panther are strewn upon the matted
floor; rugs of all colors lie in variegated
confusion. Across the entrance hangs a
yellow silken curtain of heaviest, bright
est fabric, falling in straight rigid folds
to the floor.
is thicllly laden with groups of tropical
flowers and plants. Low willow chairs
are huddled together as if inviting tete-
a-tete. Upon the crimson-covered table
a vase filled with queer brown and yellow
bloSsoms-which scent the air with Ian
guorous sweetneSs-lies overturned and
The frip "trip Of the water dripping from
them with monotonous regularity is the
only sound which breaks the deathlike
stiffness. Directly in the center OF this
apartment stands Il couch, whereon re-
chnes woman whose softly Inodulated
breathing indicates sleep. Her beauty is
almost bewildering in its placid loyeli-
ness. The most striking wonder of all is
the hair, reddish gold, which, unconfined
strews the couch and sweeps the floor
Upon her forehead and beneath the thick
brown lashes of unnatural length, the
moisture stands in clusters like millions
of tiny crystal beads.
She lies in an indolent, luxurious posi-
ton. The loose gown, open at the throat,
discloses the beautiful neck from chin to
breast, whose fair, white roundness is
but family hid. One arm pillows the
head, and the loose sleeve falling back
wards, ii is seen, almost dazzling in its
whiteness. The other hangs carelessly
10y her side, and is caught and tangled in
the radiant veil OF hair. Upon the third
finger shines a plain golden circle-the
badge of wifehood. Thus she lies, whose
WoillrOuS beauty is III perfect Keeping
with her surroundings.
She moves slightly, sighs, and then
opens pair of eyes like BLACKLIST mid
night.
Almost instantly the portiere is
roughly thrust aside, and a cheetah-or
more commonly called hunting leopard,
an immense animal-enters, which, with
slow, undulating movements. comes
toward her. She turns and smiles
sleepy welcome. The beast crouches
upon the rug in front of the couch. Her
hand with the ring strays lingeringly,
caressingly upon his head, neck and
shoulders.
fails to notice the portiere has again been
lifted, and the intruder stands regarding
her with dlsapproving eyes.
The leopard rises in his massive mag
niiicence and utters low angry snarl;
his yellow eyes are fastened upon the
man, whom he evidently regards as an
antagonist.
The woman turns with start, and lays
her hands firmly upon the animals neck,
and as she slowly raises to her feet it
needs but glance to know she is soon to
bear the pangs of maternity. Shaking
back the heavy cloud of hair it falls in
masses almost to the floor, touches and
kisses the edge of the rug III which her
feet stands embedded.
She stands, and awaits with an air of
expectancy for him to speak. At last he
does so, and points angrily towards the
leopard, who sends forth 4 second vicious
snarl, no doubt fully comprehending the
words just spoken.
She laughs insolcntly, and bending for
ward with a light swift touch, sends
bell tingling, which brings in response an
old black ayah, who, with coaxing and
word of command from his mistress.
leads away the leopard.
banl and lirifa--foy- c,,nl, flo,-
stand facing one another; she in her
proud young womanhood he, long past
the meridian of life. His voice is low and
tremulous; he is talking earnestly, pas
sionately, pleadingly. He advances a
step towards her. She recoils. shudder-
ingly. His face shows traces of care and
griet, though signs of manly beauty are
still observable upon his aged counten-
ance as he awaits patiently for her an
swer.
With the same insolent, contemptuous
smile curling her lips, she turns her back
TO him.
And with a sigh deep and full of infin-
lite pain, he passes slowly through the
yellow silken curtain, whilst she arranges
the flowers in the overturned vase with
tenderest loving care.
Night-A woman fighting for life in the
throes of death. Each groan is echoed in
ard is COUGHING at the sick room door.
Every moan seems to penetrate the ami
mails body with sharpest, keenest pain,
as he writhes and rolls upon the floor in
nnmistakable agony.
A female child is resting in the old
ayah's arms and mother is gasping her
life away. Each breath brings her nearer
to death. Then, shudderingly, closing
her eyes she passes into eternity.
CHAPTER 1.
The incidents which am about to re-
late in the following narrative are so
fearfully horribly strange in their un-
naturalness that l pause, with my pen
npraised in hesitating doubt, debating
within myself, Is it best to proceed and
tell what know or to let it sink into
everlasting oblivion? Not that l expect
to find but few believers, and for these
few who have made nature and meta
physics study for their benefit and for
their benefit alone, l write these lines.
Wiseacres, learned and deep in magic
lore, will smilingly shake their gray
bility. This trash is beyond all power of
human comprehension. The man must
be mad to write such thing"
Well, be 1t as il may. / am about to
give the candid truth, and it will be of no
use for me to suppose this, nor suppose
that, and seriously expect to hear myself
called an ''erratic fool' for my palms. and
for those self-same critics who may mock
these pages l will simply remind them of
the old, time-worn phrase regarding
Truth being stranger than felton,
In fact feel it an actual duty to make
known this strange enigma which has
puzzled me almost beyond endurance,
and as / remarked before, for the benefit
of my few believers l viii state the plain
case.