The Forrest City times., 1891-08-07
AN IMPOTENT CONCLUSION.

dinner, and when my eyes hrSt fell up on him 1 felt certain had seen him somewhere before, though I had no recollection of ever having spoken to him, or of his name.
 A slim young man of middle height, we'll dressed and of fair complexion in fact. with an air of general washed outness not uncommon among young civilians who have de voted their childhood to hard study and spent their years of adolescence in the tropics. During the 10 years had myself lived in India l had en- countered dozens of men almost the facsimile of this one in appearance almost, but not quite. That deep mark coming down between his brows, winch were contracted in a pained frown, and the pale, unquiet eyes which looked at you from be- heath them, were sufficient to redeem him from the charge of being cast in too commonplace Q mould; while a sort of suppressed activity in his slowest movement proved that he was not a victim to that climatic lassHude which IS so hard to shake off even on the hills. Without judging from his pallor l could have told that this was not the result of health ful energy but of nervous eXcitability. He was suffering, but whether from physical or mental causes l could not say.
 Curiosity impelled me to question my neighbor, n small vivacious lady who had been introduced to me earlier in the evening as Mrs. Fame and who seemed more than usually informed concerning the ins and outs of Smila society
 That is young Greyle," she return ed promptly to my inquiry "A very rising light in the political department. It s a name which is always bound to get on in India, and he has plenty of Influential connections. He seems to haunG the houses of members of coun- cil, and when was asked here tonight l felt certain of meeting him"
 Not a very lively guest. He has scarcely opened his lips since he sat down."
 And at these dismal functions every Englshman is bound to do his duty?" laughing then with a softer note in her voice. she added But he, poor fellow, had a great shock some time ago, and has not yet recovered from it.
 Just then somebody else addressed her, and though was too interested not to make several efforts to discov CT more about Mir. Greyle. l hesitated to assert my primary right to my partners attention, as the conversa tion had become general, and seemed to owe all it's sparkle and it's fun to her.
 "I feel have been deirauded of you shamefully," l insinuated in the momentary hush which precedes the departure of the ladies.
 Comfort yourself with the reflect ion that you have been sacrificed for the public good. If had not talked no one else would have done SO, am sure. It is getting near the end of the season, and we are all more or less ex- hausted. am quite worn out"
 "A day or two of thorough rest .-"
 She stopped me with little horri- fled gesture.
 "lf 1t were known or even suspected that had spent an evening under my own roof, it would be considered sign of waning popularity, and lcould not bear up under such a supposition. No, shall go onto the end. Tonight, at any rate, you will admit that l have earned my dinner"
 She smiled at me over her shoulder as she went out, and was sufficiently Attracted by her gaiety and good looks to seek her out when we went into the drawing room. As l sank in to the seat beside her she whispered doletully:
 "I have dreadful presentiment they are going to play games. Look at the group near the doorway, they are carefully plotting something for our amusement.
 Ireplied that it was very likely. The last time that had dined here remembered they had had dumb cran- bo. and mine had been the mournful privilege to see three esteemed lights of the Indian Legislature and yet more exalted parsonage wallowing on the ground as fishes, while lovely lady angled for them from the sofa with a string and crooked pin.
 "Why can't they treat us as reason able beings, and leave us in peace?" fretfully.
 "They are afraid we might take ad- vantage of their kindness to fall asleep"
 The discussion in question was be- coming more and more animated; dis iointed sentences reached us where we sat.
 "I don't believe in it bit"
 "They talked of trying to discover the Whitechapel murderer that way"
 And you really believe in Spiritu- alism, Mrs. Jerome9"
 Then one of the most thrilling voices l had ever heard-so low and sweet, yet with such reverberating ring that 1t penetrated to the farthest cor ner of the room--answered seriously:
 1t ii not quite the same thing. I am sure there is in everybody psy- chic force which might be cultivated, though, perhaps. not for our good. l have seen some strange things done that way-I have done one or two things myself which could not be ex- explained by natural causes-but--I am always frightened" breaking off ~ith littla tvomulo,,a ip1rawp