Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-17
CLAIRVOYANCE.

but neither of them had enoticed it.
Arthur was gazing fixedly at vivid,
ardent fame in the fireplace; Helen con-
templating a vacillating flame near by,
now blue, now rose, that escaped like a
capricious will-o'-the-wisp from a par
italy consumed log.
At length Arthur broke the silence.
Ibid you have many visitors today"
he asked.
'.Quite a number-there were Mrs
Schuyler, Henry Harrington, old Mr.
Cheyne, Bessie Murray
"And who else?'
mo one particularly-the usual as
sortment of every Tuesday, but Bes-
sie''-
"Well, what about Bessie?'
''She was peculiar-pale, seemingly
i'll and agitated, but in spite of all pref
tier even than usual. While speaking
ON Indifferent topics, she feverishly tore
bits off the lace on her dress; then, all
of sudden, she drew closer to me and
took my hands in hers.
"'Do you believe she asked, that a
woman who has been deeply loved can
live without lover"
"What did you answer"
''Nothing - astonishment kept me
mute; and even now am still striving
to find out just what Bessie meant"
''Her meaning is evident enough.
Your friend is neglected by her husband
and greatly courted in society. She is
yet innocent, but has reached that point
where woman needs a confidant to
hold her back from the edge of the abyss
or to excuse her if she slips thereon"
'Poor Bessie-poor Bessie" and Helen
returned to her contemplation of the red
and blue flames on the hearth. Then,
bestowing ON her husband look of in
effable tenderness, she went on, "How
happy l am, my Arthur, for your love
for me is still unchanged"
"Yes, my darling
''They say, though, that happiness is
myth, yet it seems to me that God must
have given it to all, only we do not know
how to keep it-and generally in
family it is the husband who is its guar
dian. Arthur, you have nothing to say?'
because l agree with you, my dear
Helen. You talk like a good book"
''rThen 1 bore you-so much the worse.
i shall continue: If Bessie's husband had
remained faithful to her, they would
both still be happy. Why have his feel
ings changed for one so lovely and so
good? Explain to me what it is that
makes a husband cease to love his wife"
''What a child you are!'
+'Truly? All see and hear around
me in society astonishes me more and
more each day, and often regret hav-
ing left my country home There Bessie
would not have been neglected"
1'Still harping on Bessie. Did you re-
ceiye no other visitors as interesting? 1t
is one of the pleasures of people of the
world to view, as in magic lantern,
the eccentric types of humanity"
Il saw Marie, who told me something
extraordinary, almost incredible, and yet
it seems it is true"
''Tell me what it was"
''It is a clairvoyant story. l laughed
over it at first, as you are doing now,
but ended by trembling"
s'We shall see if l am as impression
able"
1.-The clairvoyant of whom I speak-a
woman-lives in an obscure quarter of
the city, and it appears can read your
thoughts accurately, and even those of
persons not present if she is given lock
of their hair"
'sBosh!'
''She told Marie how to find some lace
that had been stolen from her.
A'Mere chance"
ssAnd spoke to her of a secret known
'cIly to herself"
"a woman never possesses a secret
known only to herself"
''She revealed to her those of her hus-
band'-
''Often there are mysteries that are
slach for none save those most directly
interested"
SIN spite of what you say quite long
to go and consult that woman. Suppose
/ take her a lock of your hair?"
s'Oh, nonsense"
please let me, dear Arthur. 1t would
be such fun. I'll tell you everything she
says"
''No; l don't desire any fun of that
sort
why not?"
Because"
@"Because,' is not an answer. 1t is
what we reply to children whose curios-
ity we do not wish to satisfy"
"'What you ask is improper"
Improper! For what reason? do not
understand you"
~You understand nothing! 1t seems
to me, though, that three years of city
life ought to have somewhat sharpened
your wits"
"sOh, Arthur! Your words wound me
deeply. No, do not understand how
two persons who love each other can
have anything to fear from clairvoyants.
You believe in them, them"
-'I believe in the credulity Of women. 81
"'Arthur, beseech you, let me cut a
lock of your hair"
Il forbid you."
Silence reigns in the drawing room.
Helen is deeply distressed, Mechanic
ally she looks toward the fire, but its
aa1nes are gone, it is almost out. and
from the midst of its ashes rise images
nn1 voices that remind her OF the past.
AS one in dream she gazes and listens.
First it is the old home that appears
10 her, and all her childhood is seen
again. Then, grown older, her mother
speaks to her of Arthur, their neighbol
4l,o rf A ri vybn bo1 al.