The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-04-16
Hrhe, Of ali IN Les,enag PoverU Govt Report Aug ~, 1852
@!a':'!;!! q! Bsti9s BsMassz
ABSOLUTELY PURE
A MIDNIGHT SPELL.

The low range OF small bill ID over which
Bro wing Carter was waking sss softly
10 by the iull. summer moon. From bis
position The youug man could overlook
the level green country At bis tight. sud
the quiet sea ., bis left
II vas evident. however. tbs, be ssw
neither. 10 bic eyes uss ,Le isr way
look of expectation, and ~ he moved along
10 buoysnt eestacy be vas qnite uncon'
scious Of the slipping sand aud tangled
dune grass
Presently he came to break 10 the hills
sort Of euley which the sea bad once
cut Here the coarse dune grass had fel
uctsn,ly given place TO 3 fner species.
and, in the center OF the hollow stood =
soliisry tree. Its twisted. storm whipped
arms looked gaunt aud appealing in the
food Of moonlight.
Al sight OF the tree The young nan
made low exclamation and quickened bis
already swift pace As be approached, he
scanned closely the scsntily leayed bran,
cbes II was not till quite near them that
be was certain OF their species.
He heaved sigh Of deep satIsfac-
! ton.
An oak! ! thought So.
! There wss . strange excitement in his
manner aud bis hand trembled as he took
out bis watch.
A quarter to twelve Ten minutes to
wait. The incsntation takes but five.
Rather impatien,ly the young man eat
down al the foot Of the old oak. and took
from bis pocket small, cslf,bound vol
ume, very old aud very musty.
He bad recently found it among lot OF
old books which had been left him by his
great uncle, man Of much mystical learn
ipg. who. 10 earlier times, woald doubtless
have suffered under the accusation of
witcbcraft.
Garter. at the time OF his uncle's death.
bad rather wondered at the odd bequest.
Blu, the elder Carter had evidently seen
10 the nervous. sensitive temperament OF
the young man that which would make
him tit disciple OF theosophy
The package OF books, however, remain
ed untouched until one afternoon, Carter,
from sheer leziness, was seized with Q de
sire to examine the box R,tber to bis
own establishment, be found himself at.
traeted by the mystical medley which be
mot, and presently went TO work to study
couscientiously that which had found so
great place 10 bis uncle's life.
In such reading be had spent the last
SIX months. until bis somewhat poetical
character became more than ever impiac
tical. and be logged to grasp the occult
power Of which he read. 10 this mood
he first opened the little calf bound book.
An introduction in English announced
that it WAS Q collection OF incantstions
from different tongues, whereby the spirits
OF the dead, and even Of the living, might
be controlled. The book was Ia manu-,
script, and, oddly enough, these incanta
,ions were written in English characters,
although the words were all strange.
To night Browning Carter had come,
under the mystical shadow Of the oak,
that be might try the power OF the spell
which was to show him the spirit ual form
OF the woman he should love
With much psipstskiDg be had learned
TO repeat the words, which meant moth
ing to him. 1t had also given him some
troubie to master the musical intonstion
on whose vibrations SO much depended.
When bis watch pointed to i've minutes
to twelve be rose. A quiver OF excitement
ran over him. He took up his Position
some twentyifeet away from the tree. Keep
ing time to the lovely rhythmic chant. be
began 10 move slowly around the tree in
gradually decreasing circles.
The stiffness wss the tremulous one Of
Summer night, save for the weird chant
ing there WAS not . disiipguisbable sound
Even The soft tapping cf the sea Was m,
heard 10 the little hollow.
Slowly Carter turned around The tree.
each time coming nearer TO the rugged |
trunk. until be was 80 close 10 1t that be |
brushed II - be went round. 10 the dis
tsnce village clock slowly struck twelve |
The chun, grew softer and slower. snJ, at
the last stroke, erased.
Carter leaned dizzily sgiiust ihe old |
tree
For the tirst time, looking between the
danes. lie noticed the sea Suddenly 40
odd, nunlb sensation crept over him.
0o, ou the quiet moonlight ~stsr ts'
nre vas moving. Slender sod white robcj |
il seemed 10 be walking upon ihs ~Al-r |
slowly 1t sjvsrced, Siih su nDns,ursliy |
steady motion.
t,rownins Carter ie.ned heavily assiust |
the supporting oak Nearer snd nearer
came ,br slender. white figure. and the
young maa could see tbai u ~ss somsn
and tha, over Ils sbou'ders bulg long. |
dark h.ir. She moved slosiy scross the I
white s,nd oi;he bach ssd entered the |
little acll3v.
For moment she paused, while tbs
bear, Of the ~sicher beat siloly. Closer
then the n.ure eame. and a. II came lie
ssu tbs, The asrk bsir irsnei sn inieLse |
white iscs sDd dark. vide open Eyes,
wLen but lev lee, sssy. she turned !
her head. and The youag nan felt . ~sve
Of sadness roll ov.r Lin. oo the white
face wss . look oi intense snguisb.
Then the figure moved on. pssi The glnnt
o.k and out Of the little hollov. Sudden.
~ shs disappeared. and Carter. With qoiv-
sr,pe linbs, sank 10 the ground He uoaid