The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-08-06

our amusement, and had left the
room while it was discussed what she
should be asked to do.
"Do you think she could be 'willed
to take q 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 i'll all such
manifestations.
"Of course she could do that, or
anything else OF the same sort. A 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. 'WilP 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.
Every easily, indeed. Let us will
her to find the thief among u.s."
There was % general flutter OF
| dissent.
81 don't feel easy in my conscience"
laughed Mrs. Fame. 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 u quick side glance.
'Then let it be a 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
by some OF us with unconcealed i'll
humor, by all unwillingy, for it is
always more interesting to have our
senses Initiated by the idea that we are
III the presence of some mysterious
power than to witness dead faileure.
Every one was airing different opin-
ions or relating past experiences, and
there was quite babel ofsound, when
a voice peremptorily requested silence
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'll after
ward learned, was her husband. So
slim and trail she looked that 1t SEEM
ed, without the support 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 i'm
pressed, seeing that she believed in
her own power. She was in a long
white gown OF picturesque, but not the
most fashionable, make, unreleved by
any color; and her hair of a reddish
fiaXen was almost straight, but so
wiry in texture that 1t stood like an
aureole around her brow, when, with
n harassed gesture, she passed her
fingers through it as though per-
picked and at a 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 scant
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
OF her professions.
BY merest chance, at that moment
my glance lighted on Mr.. Greyle, the
man who had so interested me at
Inner. His face was turned away
rom me, but his attitude struck me
rs strange in the extreme, although
amiliar. | was sure | had seen him
standing so before; as now, seemingto
shrink from observation, his fingers
lightly clenched as they hung closely
20 his sides, his head thrown back as
in forced defiance OF some danger.
Suddenly l remembered how and
where we had met. 1t was three years
,go, up here, in the rainy season, when
oimla gaieties had come to stand
'tiil Tor few short days on account
IL the tragic death OF a young and
'ery beautiful girl. She had fallen over
steep place while walking round
Iakko. Either the earth, loosened bv
he heavy rain, had given way beneath
Ter feet, o; she had incautiously lent
'ver to see something on the hillside.
t was not discovered how the ac-
ldent befel, but this young man, who
vas known to have been desperately
n love with her, was the first to pass
md discover what had happened.
The shock had almost turned his
ram, and for a long time he lived in
etlrement, avoiding all notice, and
lbe to bear no reference to the affair.
t was Mt that time had seen him
md this accounted for his gravity
nd repressed excitabiity, for it takes
lme to heal awound like this, nor do |
he nerves easily recover from such q
tram, was thinking this when, as
watched, | saw him start and press
ne hand convulsively to his heart.
'hlle his face, now shown to me in
rolile, became ashen gray in hue. At
he same time heard the soft frou-
'ou of trailing skirt, and, turning
voluntarily, saw that Mrs. Jerome
'as moving with swift unfaltering
tops toward him, her lips parted in
dispense, her slender neck bent for
ard so that her husband had to
tretch out his arms not to lose touch
1t as, with an expression of disap-
ointment on his face, he followed.
She put out one hand gropingly, and
another moment it would have
ONE in contact with Mr.. Greyle's
ody, as, apparently fascinated, he ,,
lade forward movement, but as
lddenly shrank back horror-struck ,
nd gaspingfor breath like a hunted :
nimal at bay. Some woman scream :
l, and in the confusion that ensued d,
he caustic remark of the man who :
ad been the cause of this apparent