The state herald., 1891-08-14
BENToN's BELIEF.

she said.
''It's against all the rules Of com.
mon sense" replied Benton. %rhe
very idea Of an illitsrate woman hav-
ing such a power, IL sihhply ridiculous. ="
He had nttarked clairvoyancy merely
beca0sb Miss Dale defended It She
always knit her brows at him 40
thoughtfully, regarded him 40 earn
estly from those bright hazel eyes, and
pursed up that dainty little mouth OF
hers 30 bewitdhinglN thul Benton
could never resist the temptation of un
argument with her.
Before coming to Sollege Benton
had known Ethel Dale slightly. They
both lived In St. Louis, and had come
cast Mt the same time, he to enter
Harvard, and sho to live with M aunt
in Boston and finish her education
there. In his freshman year he talked
TO his acquaintances about the pretty
little Western girl" he called on so
often; In his Sophomore year he spoke
OF Miss Dale" only to his most lnti-
mato friends; and now In his Junior
ycar-well, he never mentioned her
name at all, but was never prone to
talk OF the ideal woman" and the
"Western girl Easternized." The
only bit OF sentiment he was guilty OF
was to sit alone by his fire and imae-
inc two bright eyes peeeing at him
through tho weaths OF his tobacco
| smoke,
noh, was just as skcptical ms YOU
once she Continued, 'but / was con
vertcd. We used to have quite an in
telligont scamstrcss in St Louis who
became clairvoynnt after she left us.
happened To notice her advertise.
mon, In Boston paper and went TO
see her. She didn't know who | was
Mt all, and still she told me the most
wonderful things about myself"
"llow does she 20 about it?" asked
Benton
"Wail she takes you into n dark
room and sits down directly opposite
tc you The theory is, you know, that
your thoughts show themselves BY the
twitching OF the nerves III your fingers;
so all tsNagh the scance she holds
your hand Then she falls into a
trance and tells your fortune. She
calls you some strange Indian name
she called me 'Pocahontas'--and, talks
In n shrill, piping voice that's awfuily
weird. All Of sudden she SAYS good
by and won't sas ane.her word. You'd
better have scance some day; its
great 'an, and I'm sure you'd enjoy IT,
| I've been round TO sec her quite often.
just to talk with her. and she isn't a
bit of fraud"
But Benton absolutely refused 10 10.
| .." -.---...-s ..-- .s.s.s ~.s --...st -
bad. hc said, and he did not believe in
encouraging such tomfoolery Miss
Dale tried In vain 10 convince him
and really felt somewhat piqucd when
he said goodnight apparently entirely
rnmovcd by her persuasions. In
reality Benton had thought of going
from the first, and now ms he walked
out 10 Cambridge. he decided To visit
the clairvoyunt nt his earliest oppor-
tuniiy.
A few days after this conversation
Benton went to have scancc. IIo
rang Miss Johnson's bell twice before
anybody came. The door was finally
opened by n short delicate woman.
with rathor n pleasant expression.
Sho looked Us most scamstirs-es do,
except thBt ihcre was moro intclli-
genco abou, her fncc.
lis Miss johnson inPn Inquired
Benton.
Tho woman scruilnizcd him closely.
"'m her; sit down and walt I'll be-
rcndy In II moment; and when the door
opens walk righ, In" She pointed 10
n door just opposite, and herself went
out by third door which Benton
heard her boil, ON the other side. lie
was kept waiting for almost quarter
Of nm hour and was jus, becoming Inn
patient, when the door slowly swung
open. II was perfectly dark inside,
bu, Benton entered withou, hesitation.
Hc WIS hardly In, when n dark
figure brushed past him. locked the
door. and took out the key. Benton
could feel his heart give n sudden
bump against his side and his hand
insiinctlrcly felt for his witch. The
dark figure now camc towards him and
said In tfemulous voice. Two
dollars plcnsc.n Benton kcp, n firm
hold ON his purse ns he passed over
the money.
As soon M his eyes became used 10
tho darkness Benton noticed that tho
clairvoyan' was short nnd rather
slight; In cnse nf row. he thought
he could cnsily manage her She was
dressed entirely In black. with black
veil over her fncc. md n heavy black
shawl wrapped completely around her
body. Her hnir wns cntlfeiy concealed
| by covering of white lncc which
looked unnn,urally bright In compur.
iron with hcr dark clothing. She
moiionod him 10 sit down nnd drew
up her chair directly opposite. Her
whole appearance WIS No strange aud
uncnnny that Benton could not help
shiycring slightly ~ sho reached out
for his hand. for he expected 10 feel
something moist and cold. To his
nstonishmcnt hcr hand WINS sof, and
warm. nnd H. very touch seemed To
dispel his fear.
After sitting In this position for
romc moments tho clniryoynnt bognn
TO breathe heavily. nnd finally gave u
doop sigh. Nv this time Benton Ind
entirely recovered his nerve.
Tho clniryoynnt slowly nodded her
head. 81 viii tell you nbou, your
past life, brave" -ho said. In n .hrill.
piping voice, The ,ono sounded 80
Affected and unnatural TINT Benton boz
onmn more and mora sr-p,ical
Tho chniryoypn, seemed n little net.
tied. mud benton could feel u slight
iremor In her hand
"i will tell you about your past
brave" she rnid n, length.
Tn. result war perfectly startling.
She told him some Of tho most minute