San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-03

IL WAS uOJHiuS less Iudu Tile TcCtIpU, ny
Mrs. Colwood, of a letter from Lady Beau
champ. What a letter that wasl 1t came
like a sunbeam falling across the rugged
field of a mothers sfrrow and conveying
sweet comfort. 1t was from a woman who
knew how to write with unobtrusive sym.
patty to a distressed sister. 1t told the
broken hearted one of the presence on that
last Sabbath evening of the two young
sailors at the Havre mission and of the
evident interest which they had taken in
the simple services.
That communication has ever since lain
hidden in the village woman's breast. If
Lady Beauchamp had never lone anything
for others except to write that letter, she
would not have lived in vain.
The uncertainty as to the fate of the Au-
dacious troubled me. ! lost appetite-an
unusual thing with me-and was unable
to settle down to work. Whenever | en-
deavored to comfort mourners-and such
were plenty in Northwood-the words
which | would have spoken stuck in my
throat.
What had become of the brig and it's
crew?
was sitting, reading in my study on an
evening in early April. My wife was pres
ent sewing. The boys had gone to bed.
The servant entered. What prompted
me | am unable to say, but it was an ire
sistible impulse. ! waved my hand gently
toward the abigail, who Immediately sank
back into a chair. She had fallen asleep.
A few passes made in the usual manner
sufficed to throw the girl into a
bulistic condition,
How shall what followed be best de-
scribeds
The narrative will be unquestionably de-
nounced as an utterly unreliable romance.
1t will be accepted as a positive proof that
the writer is wholly destitute of the crit
ical faculty. Nay, more; not a few will
from henceforth conclude that | am facile
princeps in the reprehensible art Of lying.
These things cannot be helped. Facts are
given exactly rs they occurred. The causes
which underlie the phenomena disturb
philosophy and elude my search. My
brethren, many of whom ungenerously
hint that l am a willing ally Of the prince
Of darkness, may assist me somewhat. !
am, | trust, not past praying for.
Turning to the girl asked If she were
asleep. She replied, 81 nm"
ZIG uCAt oOcp was aSOulutdhu, oShCo W
all possible force of my will, that she
should SO annihilate the restraining in
~luences of time as-to cause it to be to her,
at that moment, the third Tuesday in Feb
ruary.
This occasioned many convulsive spasms,
coupled with considerable twitching of the
facial muscles. In the end science tri-
umphed, and in a minute the sleeper an
nounced that it was so.
what is the day of the month";" in
quired.
Quick as thought the reply came, st is
Tuesday, Feb. H."
A glance at any almanac for that year
will show that the answer was correct.
Somnambulists do nothing, whether i'm
portant or trivial, instantaneously. Time,
however brief, is needed for the perform
ance of every act, rs well as for the concep-
ton of each thought. All things are ef-
fected by direct action of the mind. As
the subject yields to the will Of the oper-
ator certain spasmodic movements indicate
a condition nearly approaching to trance,
while the compressed lips n puckered
brow bespeak intense concentration Of
thought.
Time had been conquered. 1t was as
though it had not been.
There remained space.
In order to accomplish my purpose it was
essential that l should transport the maid
servant from Northwood to Aldeburgh, a
distance of fully $50 miles. This was not
to be a bodily transportation, u a mental
one. The corporeality was to remain sit
ting in my easy chair, while the girl herself
wandered freely through space. was plan
ming to stand face to face with a soulless
body.
succeeded in this purpose also.
Under the combined influences of will
and of suggestion the girl was conveyed by
train to London. A cab bore her to Liver
pool street, whence another train hurried
her away to the pleasant little Suffolk wa
tering place.
All this occupied about five minutes
not more.
Further questions elected such a graphic
description of the red tiled houses, stand
ing back from the sea. of the pebbly beach
and of Offordness, that | am persuaded
the clairvoyant must have seen all, as if in
some panorama. Yet she had never visited
the eastern countries.
The true difficulty began here. How
should the Audacious be found?
Clearly only by the girl waiting upon
the beach until the vessel hove in sight,
and then joining it. This would scarcely
be more difficult than the events which
had preceded.
1t was not long-in reality not quite half
a minute-before she gave me the welcome
intelligence that the brig vas in sight.
Here occurred a slight pause; then she
continued ct am on hoard
Let me attempt to describe what fol-
lowed in the person of the clairvoyant as
nearly as may be in her own words:
II am on board the Audacious. Captain
Colwood is at the wheel; it is very cold,
and both he and his brother HarrY are