The Forrest City times., 1891-08-07

our amusement, and had left the room while it was discussed what sh~ should be asked to do.
 Do you think she could be 'willed' to take cigarette out of this case and light it?" asked one, "Or blow out the candles on the piano?" said an- other; and more suggestions were made, all of which were impatiently set aside by short materialistic- looking man who had before expressed his utter want of faith in all such manifestations.
 "Of course she could do that, or anything else of the same sort. lit tie ordinary intelligence, combined with an unconscious accentuation or relaxation of pressure from the per son who is supposed to influence her | will, is sure to produce the desired result. Will her to do something perfectly impossible, and she will still blow out candles or light cigarettes. That Is my argument"
 "How do you propose to prove it?' asked our host.
 Very easily, indeed. Let us will her to find the thief among us."
 There was general flutter of | dissent.
 "I don't feel easy in my conscience, !" laughed Mrs Fane. Childish peccadil- loes in reference to illegal sweets and unauthorized pots of jam rise up against me and convict me-"
 And some ofus have stolen hearts" :" murmured. with quick side glance
 "Then let it be murderer suppose none of us can object to that on personal grounds" rejoined the dis believer so testify that, without further demur, the proposition was agreed to 1 by some Of us with unconcealed Ill humor, by all unwillingy, for 1t is 1 always more interesting to have our senses affiliated by the idea that we are In the presence of some mysterious power than to witness a dead faileure
 Every one was airing different opin- | ions or relating past experiences, and l there was quite babel of sound, when a voice peremptorily requested silence 1 and at the same moment Mrs. Jerome stepped forward and stood in the center of the room. She would not allow her eyes to be bandaged. She simply closed them, apparently giving herself up to the firm clasp of the man who was to assist her, and who, I after ward learned, was her husband. So [ sl'n and frail she looked that It seem 1 ed, without Che eH..>cu4 of his strong hands around her throat, she must have fallen, for her | face was white as death, and she was trembling so violently that even the most careless was inn | pressed. seeing that she believed in her own power. She was in q long white gown of picturesque, but not the most fashionable make, unrelieved by any color; and her hair of reddish tiaxen was almost straight, but so wiry in texture that It stood like an aureole around her brow, when, with a harassed gesture, she passed her fingers through it as though per plexed and at loss how to act. Was she waiting for the inspiration that could not possibly come? For the first time it struck me that they were treating her unfairly and with seant courtesy, she being so evidently in earnest and so anxious to succeed. Yet her husband had not objected to her being put to the test, He appear ed to have full confidence in the out come, and her eventual triumph over those who had doubted the sincerity oi her professions.
 By merest chance, at that moment my glance lighted on MT. Greyle, the man who had so interested me at dinner. His face was turned away from me, but his attitude struck me as strange in the extreme, although familiar. l was sure l had seen him standing so before; as now, seeming to shrink from observation, his fingers tightly clsnched as they hung closely to his sides, his head thrown back as if in forced defiance of some danger.
 Suddenly l remembered how and where we had met It was three years ago, up here, in the rainy season, when Slmla gaieties had come to a stand still for few short days on account of the tragic death of young and very beautiful girl. She had fallen over steep place while walking round Jakko. Either the earth, loosened by the heavy rain, had given way beneath her feet, or she had Intentionally lent oNCi to ocC SOliCAiliitE OIi Ntlc liiliSidc. 1t was not discovered how the ac- cident befei, but this young man. who was known to have been desperately in love with her, was the first to pass and discover what had happened. The shock had almost turned his brain, and for long time he lived in retirement, avoiding all notice, and able to bear no reference to the affair It was at that time had seen him and this accounted for his gravity and repressed excitabiity, for 1t takes time to heal awound like this, nor do the nerves easily recover from such a strain. was thinking this when, as l watched, l saw him start and press one hand convulsively to his heart, while his face, now shown to me in profile, became ashen gray in hue. At the same time l heard the soft frou- frou of e trailing skirt, and, turning involuntarily, saw that Mrs. Jerome was moving with swift unfaltering steps toward him. Ter lips parted in suspense, her slender neck bent for ward so that her husband had to stretch out his arms not to lose touch of 1t as, with an expression of disap- polntment on his face, he followed. She put out one hand gropinoly, and Tn another moment 1t would have come in contact with Mir Greyles body, as, apparently fascinated, he made a forward movement, but as suddenly shrank back horror-struck and gaspingfor breath like a hunted animal at bay. Some woman scream ed. and in the confusion that ensued