New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31

| Ia.
heard of after monhs ef naa4rs in Hydernoad; o or
Jerusalem or the hsart v. Sulnea. vel az me
subject of numerous psychological experiments.
lie could mesmerize any oge-what other gil t'
he had is not nOT PGt en ne d cI ea OBJECT
| his making this use Of the girl because
| size did not wish TO cross Paul ana nave
that Asenath discovered, through some of his
| experiments, the existence OF an occult power IN
herself Before long. she had Paul completely
| under her control. ! had not yet come here Dut
Mother Glen told me about IT, and that any enorV
10 break the spell made Paul perfectly, furious [ln1
He taught her to read; ana to sire, ana pieS in
| fell sick but it, thought not dangerously.
Asenath unused him, and he would not eat or drink
unless she bade him.
That. though may have been mere within,
such as the sick often take
| She shook her head. You have not heard all
| Two Of the scrvants-Mammy Clara ana Bellnda-
| declare that they overhead Ascnath forbid Paul
| ever to touch food again, and tell HIM that shc
would pretend to bid him eat. but he must not 90
so. And il is certainly true that ne al iast re-
| fused all sustcnancc and died OF starvation.
What horrible idea"
"Shortly before Paul was stricken down., ileien
| proceeded, he disposed of all his propcrty-lt
was in securities Of various klnds-and we nave
never been able to find out what he ana WIN the
money hc received. Thousands and thousands of
dollars took wing somehow IL was never nrouGhl
here. so she could not have stolen it actually but
am as sure that Ascnath knows where that money
is as | am that live
Now Helen. be sensible, do"
Mother Glen was sensible woman. and she
believed rs do She said the glrl was uncahn ny
Moreover SHE declared Ia me- that Ascnath had
set out 10 conquer her as she did Paul, and that
it only by constant resistance that she pre-
vented her from gaining her object ihere C WAS
brain was in condition of siege for months IL
could not stand the strain. She was seized WIN
paralysis and died. blame Asenath Tor her
death.
did not say much in reply. Ny odd experience
of few minutes before puzzled me- Ilccns ac-
count Of the girl threw weird light upon what
felt bound, as a reasonable man. to consider
merely curious phenomena. subjective in character
and due TO some unexplained physical cause; !
Glen about the culpabiliy of allowing his delicate
wife TO contend with such an annoyance as Asc-
nath who if not a sorceress. certainly was
fractions and troublesome servant.
1t is strange that Robert does not remove her.,
said I.
IIcen's face flushed and was drawn by mo-
mentary spasm. She looked at me in troubled
silence as if she could not decide TO speak what
she wished to tell me.
Il am afraid for Robert" she said at length,
almost i'm n whisper: there is something in that
girls dcmeanor TO him that it sickcns to think
of-and which I dare not try TO explain, even 10
myself II seems impossible that she can dare
TO think that hc"-she went on hurricdly after n
pause" YOU see. he believes in psychic powers
and is not his guard. He calls her unearthly
FRANKS mere mischief that few years discipline
will take ont of her. Robert intends her 70 marry
Lucas"
She spoke the last sentence quite loudly, and, as
the Girl and her driver Were passing by tec
window, they overheard. Lucas squat. stolid-
looking mulatto, with face like that Of
satiated animal cLucklcd and pokcd at Ascnath
with the CAD.
The Girl stopped She threw down her burden
flung back her head. and turned upon Helen
wild and vicious stare. Her face, streaming with
perspiration full Of threat, She sasped for
breath from emotion or the hcavincss OF her
toll She raised one hand. wiped her brow with
its open palm. and flung the drops of sweat in
shower AT Helen.
May every drop curse you" she said, between
her labored breathS.
Helen looked at her with quiet scorn. $50
on, Lucas" she said, calmly.
Ascnath shook herself, like chained animal.
She ground her teeth and turned upon Lucas in
fury as if she would rcnd him. He did not quail.
but raised his CAD threatcnngly and pointed TO
the barrow-handlcs and. after a mOmcntary stTug
gle with herself, the girl took them mp and went
on, painting under her toll
She shall continue that until she drops said
." But Helen, that surely is cruel
Not more so than drawing the fangs OF
snake I have discovered that she is ,psycehcally
negroes the place know this and are rejoicing
now-they all feel more secure for knowing that
| she has been disciplined.
While she was speaking | saw Robert Glen
coming along the walk to the house Helen saw
him, too Leaning out the window, she called
Lucas and bade him take his charge to the old
barn. He hGrrcdly departed, driving the girl
who now seemed dOuby unwilling TO drag her
lcad-litcrally like an OK, and very unsparing
Of the CAD
Robert greeted me cordially; but it was evil
dent to me that there was cloud between his
wife and him. lis ruddy face assumed stern
expression when he looked at her, and his voice
had hard tone when he addressed her Her
manner to him had an appealing, almost fawn-
ing, air which it distressed me to see.
1t was some days before found chance to
speak to Robert the subject Of the girl. | had
better have held my tongue, for he ncttled
in an instant, shrugged his shoulders, and curled
You Northern people know nothing whatever
about the management Of slaves. Helen leads that
girl the life Of toad under a harrow because
the other darkeys say she hoodoos' them, and
because my mother had some irrational ideas
about demoniacal possession. ! declare 10 you,
Tom. that if did not know Ilelens delicate
should be ashamed Of her treatment Of Asenath,
who is a good, wclltraincd house-seryant, and
valuable. ~
But she is an annoyance that Helen should
not have to contend with now
How is She 10 he got rid of?' he demanded,
impatcntiy. I'VE never sell any of the people
on TINS estate, and She wont taka her freedom
as q gift | can't Kill her
Then dropped the subject When next saw
Helen She had been CRYING, and she begged me
not 10 speak 10 Robert about the girl again.
| saw more of Ascnath for some time and
learned that she had been put steadily to work
One morning news that the loom house
had been entered in the night, all the yarn carried
on the woven cloth cut 70 pieces, and the loom
and wheels so shattered that would be
necessary Even the walls Of the building were
half-destroyed
This is some Of Asenaths work. :" said Helen
Robert. who had been annoyed by the news,
seemed additionally
Pshaw, Helen" he said sharply; it would
take the strength of several men to do some of
this mischief"
She has it at command. Lucas shall take
her in hand again"
No, We will have no more Of that Robert
said sternly. Now, hear me, Helen, have told
Lucas that if he obeys YOU in that respect again
he shall be ioggcd within inch Of his life,
and | mean it,"
Hcen's face turned very white, her hands fell
into her lap, and she sat if stricken helpless
and hopeless. | fastened away to avoid hearing
more, compromising now what the trouble in
my sisters life was. and with prescntment OF
coming evil that would be- greater.