The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-09

1
| | laughed.
GU don't seem to comprehend that it
IS all trick, a weakness, probably, of
one OF the nerves leading TO the eye, or
perhaps OF that part of the brain through
/ whlch we see. In my case. an unusual
| excitement of the nerve may produce
| TINS result. 1t may be an unusual phe-
nomenon, but it is a perfectly natural
/ one.''
Pm glad cannot see myself except in
a looking glass ~ cried Ida
1T was some time,' / continued, be
fore l succeeded III getting a special illu
sion of the kind / wanted; but at length
one night, after taking large quantity of
strong tea, did find that L could see a
dim and shadowy figure resembling my
! self seated opposite TO me. Now can
call 1t up whenever | will; and some
times-sometimes it visits me even when
l do not really desire its presence"
Perhaps you really do desire it in
spite of yourself said Ida, and I was
startled by the truth Of the remark.
Il dare say you are right l replied.
$50 you have dual self?''
at almost seems so; for in all our dis
cussions and contests | take, of course,
the better part-the side of my superior
nature. This spectral illusion-this moth
ing, this figment OF my brain and nerves,
Is the shadowy impersonation of my
lower nature
| docs it ever seem to speak ?'' asked
my companion, in an awestruck whisper.
Il speak for it, / replied. did not
care to add that l had sometimes tancied
lit was the purest fancy, of course-that
heard word or two, or laugh, in a
| tone that seemed an echo of my own"
| 'And-does it move?"
Il am not sure that it cannot move.
| Of course, it altogether depends on
whether / wish to Imagine it moving or
| M hI1fS I1xv of
yourself, when l see it, it is at rest
At this point, Ida called for my judg
ment upon blue and brown section of
paint on her canvas, which, from the sur
roundings, | thought was intended to
| represent either fragment of jelly-fish
or a sunset; and our conversation took
another direction.
For some reason, which | never fully
understood, Ida did not seem to care that
should present myself at the house of
| her aunt IA wealthy widow. | believe),
with whom she lived. We continued,
after our engagement, to meet either on
| the cliffs or on some retired spot on the
| beach; regularly, at every interview,
appointing time and place for our next
meeting.
On Tuesday evening-it was a wintry
night toward the end of November re-
ceived a note from Ida. 1 knew it must
| be from her, though / had never seen her
handwriting before. Who else was there
to write to me? We had not met for two
days; and l was looking forward, with
the keenest delight, to seeing her on the
morrow. My disappointment, there
| fore, was bitter, when, eagerly opening
| her letter. l found that it contained
nothing but trivial excuse for not keep
ing our tryst on the following day. l had
! carried my letter into the garden, so that
/ might read it in perfect seclusion; and
paced the somber walk between the
garden and the plantation in mood of
| jealous irritation for some minutes
When had at Length reasoned myself
out of this temper, l fell into a state of
deep detection. 1t was in vain that
told myself that the incident meant
nothing; a forboding of evil filled my
heart.
l thought of the proverbial fickleness
OF the sex; and for the time l gave my
self up to believe the worst of them.
But Ida-she is different" whispered
my good angel in my ear.
My only answer to the appeal was a
low knocking laugh-a laugh which was
! Immediately echoed from the wood be-
side which l was walking. For the mo-
ment l was THRILLED with superstitious
dread. The sound was fac-simile, re-
| pllca Of my own 4,.ugh. But soon recoV-
cred myself Surely, I said to myself, it
would be odd if there were such a thing
as an aural as well as an optical illusion!
Could one imagine sounds till one actu-
ally heard them? The thing was evil
IDENTIFY possible. l had been deceived by
! a figment Of my own morbid fancy in the
world of sound, as L habitually allowed
or compelled my fancy to deceive me in
| the realm of sight. Yet peered among
the trees to see whether / could discover
any one who might have been laughing
at or with me; and-doubtless it was
purely a trick of the imagination-it
| 10 mn hot T toI,e rIrrl,+ -,
dim, unsubstantial form, strangely re-
| sembling my own outward appearance,
gliding from shadow to shadow among
the trees.
On the following day my humor led
me to go as usual to the place where
had been in the habit of meeting Ida. 1t
was melancholy visit. Every rock
| every bush spoke to me of her. / fled
from the spot, not caring which direction
l took. l hau reached lonely part of the
seashore. When, shortly turning rocky
promontory, L came upon Ida face to
| face.
She was not alone. A man was with
her-a man tall, strong and handsome
but did not waste a second look upon
him. My eyes were fixed on the girl,
who chung with both hands to ner com
panion's arm. There must have been
something strange and wild in my looks,
for Ida neither smiled nor bowed She
eyes, and did not accost her.
With feveriSh Impotence | waited for
our next meeting. 1t came; and the first
moments / spent with Ida told me | had
lost her. Even now l do not dare to re-
call the anguish that pierced my heart as
she told me, with an affectaton of care
! lessness, that she wished to break off our
| engagement. She had acted hastily, she
said, and inconsiderately. We were not
well suited for each other-I would soon
find some one more worthy Of me-and
so forth.
who was that man / met walking
with you two days ago?' I asked sternly.
She turned pale and made no reply
Your new sweetheart? Or perhaps
an old one?''
Her pallor gave way to an indignant
| blush. did notlisten to what she said
in answer. l saw that / was right. [ had
| been fooled-taken up as one takes up a
| novel, to while way an hour with it nd
| then throw it away. Now that she had
no more occasion for me l was dropped
like q thing of no value. What did the
girl, happy in her new conquest, care for
my broken heart?
When | left her l felt like a soul that
had been turned away from the gate Of
| Paradise. | could not rest. / continually
| haunted the shore and the cliffs that |
might catch passing glimpse of her, to
assauge the thirst that ragged within me.
Otter saw her-the same man always
by her side.
Weeks passed, and winter succeeded to
summer almost at a bound. Some
engagements of the household of which
Ida was a member. / saw her no more
openly on the sands, but constant watch
| ing made me aware that she still met her