Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-11-05

would think obscured by the clouds of
mysticism" replied the rich Mrs. Aus
tyn, his friend and patron. you have
never shown any patience with the
charlatans who pretend to expose and
eNpound the secrets that wise Provi-
dence has ordained we should not
fathom. And yet you are taxing our
crcdulity with u statement that would
be marvellous, if true"
81 must insist upon my veracity in
this instance" smiled the artist.
'Now don't stop to argue, mamma"
urged the elder of the Austyn girls.
There is story in this, and after Mr.
Robeley has told it you can reclaim him
from the darkness of his supersttions
and air your theories. Now do tell us
all about it," and three pretty sisters
sighed their curiosity in chorus.
Just so you don't ask me to eX-
plain,' said the artist, with quizzical
look. 81 shall give you the remarkable
facts and leave you to wrestle with
them. Eight years ago | was in Paris,
pursuing my studies, and lived the life
of Bohemian from choice rather than
from necessity We fellows held TIE
responsibilities of life very lightly and
laughed ut all human phenomena that
would not yield to the test of material
ism. | was chief among the scoffers,
and found barefaced fraud in every
thing from clairvoyancy to the pierre
ing of the future through the medium
of tea grounds.
"Then as now l occasionally broke
entirely away from my usual surround
ings and was one day sauntering alone
through Rue de Bouges. AS | passed
one of the most pretentious houses
was startled by u scream for help and
dashed through the open doorway, to
find a woman battling with flames that
with great leaps and flashes were con-
suming the white draperies of what
struck me as a consecrated altar out
of place. Our combined efforts soon
mastered the incipient conflagration.
AS the woman anointed my hands with
some soothing lotion / saw that she was
as dark as n gypsy. Her hair rippled
back from her forehead in waves of blue
black her eyes were brilliant in the
same deep coloring, and her strong,
even teeth suggested polished ivory.
She was an amazon in size, yet the
sweeping curves of beauty We're such
as TO fascinate the artist, while her
motions We're as supple and graceful
as those of q tiger.
"'You are gentleman, and there is
but one way in which l can offer return
for your services she said, as turned
to leave. Her voice was soft as the
notes of the flute and her accent gave
lmsuspected charms to my mother
tongue. Il was born of royal blood in
India. Through study of the sacred
Nedas and the pure doctrine of Karma
attained the power of divination.
Your people would classify me among
fortune tellers; but l am poles apart
from the vulgar humbugs that trade
upon ignorance and superstition
Promise you will come tomorrow, for
| am upset by this accident. Then
will be both your historian and your
prophet. / shall count on You, m'seur.
Though l mentally sneered at the
woman's pretensions and lay awake half
the night assuring myself that l would
never seek her out, | was at her door
ten minutes before the appointed time
next day. She had either assumed her
| professional air or was under the spell
! of her supernatural attainments. Twill
not describe the Inner Temple of Mys
teries' to which she conducted me, but
ia the weird effect of it's hangings, gro
tesque casvings and mythical symbols
it challenged the most hardened skep
ticism. Throwing the white light of t