Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06

it was. he might as we'll get all the comfort on;
OF this sudden and incomprehensible loss OF
reason. He would turn back. make his way
around to the sitting room window and take
one more look at that lovely vision, which,
pray God. had no. flown. No; there sat the
angelic visitant TO his humble home the sof.
light still resting upon her brown hair. her fair
hands pursuing their silent labor Just as he had
seen her through the half-opened door a few
moments before. Here he stood for a long
while. so it seemed to him, drinking in the
lovely vision like the freed captive drinks in
the air. the sunshine and the soft breeze so long
unfelt by his brow Suddenly turning away
fiumley broke almost into a run along the path
leading to DIR. Winters. but the cool night air
strengthens and steadies him. He turns back.
He cannot bring himself to leave the house
which shelters that head SO dear to him, even
II u only be a vision.
Around and around "The Laurels" he wan
ders but every time he comes opposite to the
window OF the sitting room some strange infiu-
euce keeps him from approaching it again. His
feet seem nailed to the ground every time he
attempts to step out of the path. This new
and mysterious sensation, apparently the re-
suit OF some hypnotic influence, again turns
his thoughts to the black bearded and spec
tacled German, whose muffied cultural tones
ring in his ears, and whose nervous, explosive
manner comes wildly back to him.
-, was not this German professor an adept in
the hypnotic art? Has he not set a spell upon
"os not u SUBJECT his, moved Dy MS
will swayed by his thoughts, influenced by his
mindT'
Such were the questions which Plumley now
propounded to himself. At last he seemed to
have hit upon the explanation of the mystery.
But anyway, sleep was impossible. and be-
sides, he had locked himself out of his house.
he would return to DIR. Winters and consult
him.
As he turned again toward the path leading
TO winter house the tall clock, real or phantom
standing In his hallway cbimed the hour of 3
IN silver tones. Piumley uttered an explana-
uon OF horror and broke into a run. A deep
sense OF relief came over him as he caught a
glimpse through the trees Of a light in DIR.
winters sitting room. OF all persons on the
earth Is surface doctors are the most careless of
their own health, though SO full of good advice
and prudence for other people. Even the
German, after his fourteenth pipe. had gone to
bed, but the doctor was still smoking and read
ing work upon the digestive organs with an
appendix against tobacco.
At the curate's gentle tap on the pane he
opened the door.
what. you back. PIumley; what is the matter
with you? His IIained eye at once perceived
that the others visit had a personal object
In as few words rs possible the curate gaSped
out what had occurred My impression Is
he ended, that l have lost my wits, Winter"
Il have heard good many people say that
of you, was the others quiet reply. "A man
who gives all his goods to feed the poor and
never thinks OF himself has of course they say,
a screw loose somewhere. It's natural enough
sun seeing how the poor curate S face fell
that Is not my opinion. You are only a
monomaniac. my dear fellow. And as TO what
has so disturbed you l can explain it in two
minutes he very people who say these things
OF you have very grea. respect for your
acter, and almost the whole parish have
dubbed together to show it. The Laurcls'
have been newly furnished for you by gen.
eral subscription. They thought it would be
nice surprise for you to get the things put in
while you were from home. and as their only
chance of this was my little dinner tonight.
they took advantage of the opportunity. l
promised TO keep you here till midnight, but
our metaphysical friend retained you two hours
later"
But. DOCTOR" gasped Plumley," you have
not told me all-or rathet I've not told you
aiI-the vision
lis not vision at all, my dear Plumley,'
remarked DIR. Winter. calmly, but genuine
reality. That lady seated in your work room
Is Jane Copcutt, come back to you after all
these years to undo the wrong she wrought
Sit down and let me tell you all about it,
Piuin4ey attempted to obey, but he dropped
heavily into the easy chair which DIR. Winter
had drawn up for him. He had tainted. Win
tor knew that this was the best thing for him
to do and leisurely applied some restorative.
Then as the curate came to himself he handed
him glass of wine.
Come. come" said Winter in kindly tome
there's nothing to cry about''-for Plumley
was now sobbing like child. Jane never
married Hargreaves. She fell ill, very i'll, and
her lille was saved by some power stronger than
medicine. The physician in charge then as
sured her father that her health would never
again be robust and that to consummate the
marriage would simply mean her death. Mean
time Copcutts business affairs took a turn for
the better, but as 1t was necessary to take Jane
no faf E~ux, H. ol..~l
his business and devote himself to her entirely
TWAS several years before Jane had recovered
her health completely. aud then it fell to her
lot to pay back to her father some of the tender
care she had received from him. For ten long
years she devoted her life to him. his good
angel and his comforter. Copcutt died year ago
and SIX months ago Jane wrote to me. She is
a fellow conspirator of mine. 1t will soon be
daybreak, and then if yoa feel like it we'll walk
over to The Laurels' and take breakfast with
Il fut mist