The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-15
UNDER TIE SPELL.
S:ranG, Exp romeo with O Mad
Renders Greg Daughter.

Tho wind howlcd around tho gables
Ike mad witch OF the night. and the
occasional roar OF thunder mudo tho
windows rattle Tho spirit OF tho storm
vas abroad In the midnight land.
Eut ut intervals. when tho wind
seemed 70 die OF its own madness, and
the thunder lullcd. or fed far down tho
distant and affrighted horizon. there
came to me from the room above wall
any al weird rs that OF tho wind. echoes
OF pan and bttcrcst anguish.
Tho mind reader lay dying In that
room. lie that had held converse with
death and made tho spirits OF tho de-
parted do his bidding was now ontoring
With painful steps tho borders OF the
spirit land.
knock at my door.
"Mothcr asks you TO como upstairs
Ec Is breathing his last"
followed tho weeping girl into the
room, where lay the dying man.
lli' wife and children were taking
thu ir last farewell OF him.
lilo fixed his stony eyes upon mo as
entered
"Ilclva." he gasDcd, fccbly. motion
Ing to the eldest daughter. IL woman for
whom had always had dislike, which
almost amounted to hatred. "IIclva,
draw near; and you. my friend" bcckon-
Ing nc also 10 approach. come hithcr
and Join hands with her"
] involuntarily drew back, hut tho
strange power which this man had OK
crtcd over other men did not leave him
In his dying hour. Ills cyos stared into
mine. and though he did not rcpcnt tho
command. was irrcsisiibly compelled
to do as no wished.
join hands with hort"
claspcd tho hand Of lIclva. and so
nc stood.
"l:o to hcr husband: no to him q
wifo," ho gasped. My spirit Is on
llclva. and let her spirit DO on you!"
There car1c startled cry from n dark
corner OF tho room. Tho swimming
eyes OF Laura, tho daughter OF this man
tho young. tho Decentralization I
loved 80 we'll. were fixed upon mo. and
then she foil to tho floor.
Then thcro came II dcafcning peal OF
thunder; vivid flash. roar Of tho
wind, ard tho spirit OF tho mind reader
wont out into tho night and storm.
mean to DO brief In this narrative. 20
shall not dwell upon tho scene which
followed. Eut 1t wns ono which shall
mover forget. Tho wailing OF tho
women, all savo Iiplva. whose cold,
white face nnl stony. passionicsy eyes
never betrayed an emotion: tho agonizcd
countonancc Of Laura; the wild stare in
tho glazed eyes OF tho dead; the dark
ness within and tho darkness without!
horror seemed to seize me- heard
tic sound OF invisible footsteps in tho
room; fancicd ! saw tho spirits hc had
conjurcd in lifo bending over him and
glazing OF him. dead: and thon-
rushed from the room and locked
myself within my own.
did not attend tho funeral Of tho
mind reader rrXt day left noto for
Laura. telling hor that { had changed
my lodging to another Fart Of tho city,
and thut would sec her soon again. and
60 quit tho house forever.
week passed. and had heard moth
ing from the mind.roadcrs family
nothing from Laura.
1t was night; had retired to my room
In tho hotel. and was reading. when I
door. opened IL and-stood face 10
face with liclva
What co you want?" cried. almost
Cerccly. why did you como hcrc?''
81 camo for YOU she said. and stood
mo;ionltss.
What! you must he mad to enter this
building at this Time Of EiSht. What 10
your rnission?
"llarn you forgotten our contract?"
She sad. In hrr cold. hard tones And
Go you think to escape tie? There is
"ork Tor both OF US to DO. and tou must
h"itll your promise to the dead!"
Non tire madr' cried You must
ieavc h,ro-you niIet return to your
home"
IN" 'oo''s OF tho woman really MANNED
nc. for there was that look in her ewes
which seemed to be!ony To mudcrss