The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-01-09
The count smiled. "You must ask
her yourself" said he.
ssDo you give me leave?"

''Undoubtedly!"
Sallie rose at once. The count also
rose and said: ssMy friends, Mrs. Harry
Trent, whom you all know, declines to
believe that the apparition which our
juggler has produced yonder. is not real
flesh and blood. She has kindly con-
sented to make trial of it. I maintain
that it is an illusion only"
ssDon't go near it, my DEAR" said Mrs.
Vanderdonde. "You'l be turning into
an apparition yourself if you're not
CAREFUL"
There was rustic and murmur of ex-
cited expectancy throughout the room.
Jugglery to match this exhibition,
though not unknown in India, had never
before been beheld by any of the counts
guests. Meanwhile the apparition stood
motion1ess, wrapped in its white robe,
with unwinking eyes fixed on vacancy.
Sallie stepped forward. She held her
closed fan in her right hand. A dis
tance of three or four yards separated
her from the figure. The juggler still
squatted on his mat. AS Sallie ap-
preached he bent forward and drew
some characterson the floor with his
finger.
Within pace of the apparition Sallie
paused and looked earnestly at it. A
hush fell upon the assembly. No one
knew what to think or what was to hap
pen. Sallie stretched forth her arm, and
with the tip of her fan touched the figure
on the shoulder.
Immediately a thick mist or steam
arose. enveloping and hiding from view
not only the figure but the juggler and
Sallie as well. A loud voice. proceeding
none knew whence, pronounced some
words in an unknown tongue. Follow
ing this a piercing shrek was heard.
echoed by many women present. Every
one started; many sprang to their feet.
The mist cleared away. Sallie was stand
ing there alone. Both the juggler and
the apparition had vanished, leaving nc
trace behind. But Sallie grasped in he1
hand no longer her fan, but long
japanese dagger with carved hilt.
The point of the dagger seemed to be
dripping with blood.
She staggered, turned partly round
and would have fallen, but the count
was near her and caught her in his arms
The company was all in confusion. A
sofa was brought, and Sallie was laid
upon it. She had tainted.
s'Carry her into the east room," said
the count to two of the Nubian servants
doctor Venables," he added, turning to
the eminent woman's physician, who
was one of the guests, "may I request
you to take charge Of Mrs. Trent? One
of the maids shall attend, and anything
you need will be at your disposal. /
am indeed sorry" he went on, turning
to the others, ''that this should have
happened. Had it been possible to fore
see it-but we understand SO little of the
ways of these oriental wizards that we
must be cautious how we meddle with
them. presume he is as badly fright
ened as any one. I need not tell you
that he will be held strictly accountable
if anything serious comes of this; but
trust there will be nothing. Mrs. Trent
has great courage"
observed Miss Fitz-Murray. Indeed, now
that they had recovered from their first
scare, the company were inclined to rally
themselves and one another on the even
ing's sensation, and there was perhaps
tendency to make Sallie the scapegoat of
the affair. If she had not interfered all
would have gone well. Some of the
ladies, who had been not far from faint
ing themselves, whispered to one an
other that nothing else was to be expect
ed of woman like that; she had taken
advantage of having formerly been the
,f @lo1 10
the count (who was too polite to deny
anybody anything), and of course she
had made an exhibition of herself.
Meanwhile, General Bristowe, Mr.. Roy
lance, Mr.. Montague Gossett and other
gentlemen were discussing the iugglery
performance, and had formulated at
least two theories to explain the whole
mystery. But all agreed that it was the
most astonishing thing ever witnessed
in New York, and when DR.. Venables
appeared with Sallie on his arm, looking
pale, but smiling and entreating the
general pardon for having SO misbe-
haved, the complexion of affairs re-
sumed its former geniality. The tables
had been removed, the music stormed
and palpitated. and the people who
danced began to look at one another and
beat time with their feet, as if appari-
tions, wizards and bloody daggers were
but diverting preliminary to real en-
joyment. Society uniformly deprecates
serious views, and, if it's spirits have
been dashed for moment, laughs so
much the more lightly the moment
after.
But while the ball was at its height
Sallie took an opportunity to withdraw
making private signal to
the count as she did so. He followed
her to the east room, where for a mo-
inent they were alone.
81 have to thank you for a delightful
evening" she said. 81 can never forget
It,"
"The pleasure has been mutual" re-
turned the count, bowling.
''I feel that I know you so much bet
ter than did before I came here" Sa1l1e
continued. "Before you had seemed
mysterious and enigmatical; you were
something like prince in fairy tale;
you might undergo transformation at any
into hobgoblin, or a wisp of
strawl But nsw-well-now I think
there can never again be any doubt be-
tween us as to our true relations to each
other"
81 am glad to hear you say SO" re-
yponded the count courteously.
Sallie eyed him for moment, and
then stepped close in front of him,
changing her tone of polished sarcasm