Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-06-26

color aud many feet in length was
bound round his waist. A gold bracelet
in the shape Of n serpent was worn on
his left wrist lie looked like a Hindoo,
and it soon became evident that the
counts friends were TO be treated to an
exhibition of oriental jugglery.
After making n low saaan to the
company, the man, holding his bare arms
extended before him, began 10 rub the
palms of his hands slowly together, and
in a few moments fine gold cord APP
peared dangling between them, and
gradually lengthening till it reached the
floor. 1t increased rapidly, coiljng itself
as it did so, until as much Of it as could
be contained in a hat lay at the mans
feet He now grasped tne end Of it in
his right hand and shook it ont in the
air, until the whole length Of the cord
was undulating before him in u thou
sand flying curves. Suddenly the move
ment changed from vertical to horizon
tai, until it seemed as if the cord were
weaving itself into fabric before their
eyes; and, in fact, in a wonderfully brief
time a mat a yard in diameter had been
thus manufactured. which the man spread
out on the floor and seated himself upon.
He lifted his eyes and gazed upward,
and the audience, following his gaze,
perceived scrap Of white tissue paper
floating downward toward him. He
held out his finger and the paper rested
upon it; it futtered there for u moment
be breathed upon it and it grew rapidly
larger; it was now white hen. which
d.. ~ Il. 1
placed it on the floor; if ran about, but
finally settled down and immediately
laid an egg. No sooner had it done this
than the man seized it by the neck,
whirled it around and it was once more
a scrap of white tissue paper, which
hoated up and disappeared in the vault
ed ceiling.
The man took the egg between his
forefnger and thumb. looked attentivoly
at IT and put it on the floor again, bal
ancng il on its end. Then, lifting his
hand a little he pointed downward at
the apex Of the egg. Presently a steam
or smoke began to issue from the apex,
arising like a vapOrOus pillar and aug
menting in volume until it was several
feet in height aud girth. 1t now took
on revolving motion, which became
exceedingly rapid, aud it was seen that
| it was assuming shape and sOidity; and
amid a general lnurmur of anazement
from he audience it stood before them
as a human fgure-a beautiful girl en-
veloped in white robe as soft ~ mist.
She remained erect and apparently un-
conscious of her environment, her dark
eyes We're fixed in a gaze Of profound alb
straction, as if, just created, she were
marveliuC at tha mystery of being.
Am | awake:' exclaimed Mrs Van
derdonde in a cracked voice. "beCause,
if | am want to get away. This IS
wicked"
you have hit upon the true explana-
ton, as | understand it, madam said
the count, VINO sat beside her, smiling.
This is all illu>ion. 1t doesn't really
take place. These jugklers have the
faculty of hypnOtizing their audiences
just to the right point, so that one im-
AGNES one sees all that the juggler wants
him to see, and yet rema>ls, in the
ordinary sense, awake. But you are not
awake; you have been dreaming, and
so have We all. Letus see what the next
variation will be-
At the same table, on the other side,
Sallie was seated. do you mean to
tell me that woman is a dream she
asked in a low voice. Il know her"
"Probably eacn person present sees
her with different face, according to
their own nature or mental state, the
count returned. But she is nothing
but air, and will vanish again III mo-
ment."
she may vanish, but she is flesh and
blood" said Salie, in the same UNDER
tone. "She is Olympia Raven How
came she here; She WAS not among the
guests. Perhaps by way of the magic
mirror
The count smiled. you must ask
her yourself" said ne.
800 Won rive me leave?"
Undoubtedly"
SallIe rose at once. The count also
rose and said: MY friends, Mrs Harry
Trent. whom you all know, declines to