The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-26
! YOUNG LADY WAS SEATED AT A PIANO

tacles. Miss Vesey was . fine young
woman, about 10 years of age. The most
prominent feature in her really intellect
ual countenance was pair of large and
radiant black eyes.
"I'm engaged in his cast" she added.
81 have called" remarked Miss Mac
leod, perhaps deeming it wiser to ignore
fathers weakness, with reference to an ad-
vertisement about some apostle spoons"
Miss Vesey, still seated ON the music
stool, clasped her hands behind her head.
s'Oh, that's one Of his swindles," she
said.
zone Of his swindles ~ echoed Miss Mac
leod.
HES agent for Birmingham firm. He
finds it good dodge to put in advertise
ments like that. Each person who buys
thinks she gets the only set he had to sell,
but he sells dozens every week. It's drink
has brought him to it. But I'm engaged
in curing him all round. The worst Of it
is that when begin to cure him he runs
away. He was Just going to run away
when you came to the GATE
IF what you say is correct" said Miss
Macleod grimly, 81 should say this case
was incurable- by the police"
"Ah, that's because you don't under
stand my means of cure; I'm magician. -
a magicianW
There was pause. Miss Macleod eyed
Miss Vesey keenly, Miss Vesey returning
the compliment by cycling her.
Miss Macleod was a woman of the day.
Openly expressing unbelief in all the
faiths that were old, she was continually
on the lookout for a faith that was new
She had tried spiritualism and theosophy.
She had sworn by all sorts of rogues and
humbugs-until she found them out to be
rogues and humbugs, which, to her credit
ho safA n nnff oE hor 30
Just at that moment she was without a
fetish. So that when Miss vesey calmly
announced that she was magician she
did not do what, for instance, that very
much more weak-minded person than her
self, her nephew, would have done; she
did not promptly laugh her to scorn.
"What do you mean by saying you're a
magician ?" she inquired.
II mean what say. have my magic
here
Miss vesey laid her hand on the piano.
II suppose you mean that you're fine
"More than that. With my music I can
do with men and women what / will. l
can drive the desire for drink out Of my
father for days together; / can make him
keep sober against his will"
Miss Macleod turned towards her
nephew.
This is my nephew. Exercise your
power upon Nun.
Aunt" cried the Rev. Alan.
Miss vesey laughed.
"Shall I?n she said.
you have my permission. You say
| YOU can do with men and women what
! you will. He will be rich man one OF
these fine days. Make him marry YOU"
| The curate's distress was piteous.
| Aunt! Have you no sense of shame ?''
Suppose / try" observed Miss Vesey
her face alive with laughter. I'm sure
! I'm poor enough. and I'm already con-
| nected with the clergy"
Aunt, l entreat you, come away II
| you will not come, then must go alone.
| cannot stay to see the church insulted.
! Miss Macleod turned to Miss Vesey.
''Will you let him go?"
Certainly not" laughed the young
lady. IF only to pay him out for being
| The Rev. Alan literally wrung his
hands "fhis-this is intolerable. Aunt
1t is impossible for me to stay. You'll find
me there when you get home"
The Rev. Alan. in a state of quite indie.
scrioable confusion, turned towards the
| door. But before he could move step
Miss Vesey struck chord on the piano.
.Stayp' she said.
| Before the agiiated believer in the prom
| riety of the unmarried state of clergymen
| could say her yea or nay she cast her spells
4 anu ucf haHNo-lpOu the keyboard OF
| the instrument, so that il burst out into q
! concourse of sweet sounds. The Rev. Alan
| was IN his way, a born musician. The
| only dissipation he allowed himself was
| music. The soul of the mean-looking
| wrong-headed little man was attuned IL
! harmony. Good music had on him the eff
feet which orpheus with his lutte had on
| more stubborn materials than curates-i,
bewitched him. Miss Vesey had not
| played ten seconds before he realized tina,
| here was a dispenser of the food which his
| soul loyed-a mistress of melody. What
ii was she played he did not know--il
| seemed TO him an improvisation. He stood
| listening-entranced. Suddenly the
| musicians mood changed. The notes OF
! triumph ceased. And then came instead 4
| strain of languorous music which set ali
the curate's pulses throbbing.
Come here"
As if unconseiously he advanced towards
| the pianist, hat in one hand, handkerchief
i'm another, his whole bearing eloquent of {
state of mental INDIGESTION. He went quite
| close 90 her.
/ Again the musicians theme wa,
| changed. The lansuorous melody faded
| Then came a succession of wild sounds. As
! Of souls in pain. The eurate's organize